A&O Shearman‘s projects and energy team is prominent in project development and project financing across energy and resources, and the associated infrastructure sectors. The team has experience in green and sustainable energy, LNG, petrochemicals, mining and minerals projects. Practice co-head Matthias Voss brings his expertise in hydrogen, decarbonisation and energy transition to the group. He leads the team alongside Scott Neilson, who counts project sponsors, project companies and financiers among his clients, particularly within the sustainability and energy transition sectors. The team acts on both the sponsors’ and lenders’ side, often involved in market firsts; the group advised the lender on the first large-scale wind farm project in Uzbekistan and the project sponsors for Nigeria’s first deep seaport. Xue Wang focuses her practice on energy transition and green energy projects and the team often assists clients with ESG objectives. Hitomi Komachi, an expert in energy, natural resources and infrastructure projects, was promoted to partner in May 2023. The team now also includes Etienne Gelencsér and Karl Pires as a result of A&O and Shearman & Sterling merger in May 2024.

Shinichiro Kitamura leads Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)’s projects and energy team, whose size and international reach means it can provide both on-the-ground support to foreign clients investing in Japan and advice to Japanese clients looking to invest outside of the country. The practice is at the cutting edge of the energy transition, and assists clients in increasingly prominent areas within the sector such as solar and wind power. Ean Mac Pherson is the co-head of the firm’s renewable and clean energy group and works with international offshore wind developers on their projects in the Japanese market, as well as with Japanese clients investing in mining and oil and gas projects outside of Japan. Mac Pherson leads the group alongside Naoaki Eguchi, who is also a key figure in the PFI/PPP field. The LNG practice is another key focus area for the team; Samir Desai has over 25 years’ experience in the development and financing of oil and gas projects, including LNG. Jon Ornolfsson joined the team from Morrison Foerster in January 2023, and leads the energy, mining and infrastructure work, bringing his experience in project development and financing within the power, chemical and other energy-related infrastructure sectors. Senior associate Hojung Jun is experienced in the development and construction of industrial plants, as well as in infrastructure and mining projects.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is at the forefront of developments within the energy sector; the projects and energy team offers advice on investments into the hydrogen chain and battery metals and assists clients with the energy transition. The mining of battery metals has been a particular growth area for the team recently and practice head Andrew Blacoe brings a wealth of experience advising Japanese clients on their investments into mining and metals. As head not only of the energy, infrastructure and mining practice, but also of corporate for North Asia, Blacoe’s expertise spans both the conventional power and renewable energy sectors and beyond. The team continues to advise on significant LNG mandates and a range of renewable energy projects, such as offshore wind farms, as well as on M&A and project development within the sector. The group advises a range of Japanese clients on their outbound investments and has long-term relationships with Japanese trading houses, energy companies and banks. Lachlan Clancy, who is recommended for energy transition projects and transactions, joined from King & Spalding LLP‘s Singapore office in September 2023.

King & Spalding fields an experienced projects and energy team made up of industry experts. Practice head John McClenahan is at the forefront of projects and energy developments, leading the group’s involvement in growing areas within the industry, such as green hydrogen projects. The team covers a broad range of sectors on a multi-jurisdictional level; Mark Davies works on off-shore and on-shore wind and solar projects in Japan and Asia more widely; and senior counsel Michael Arruda has been advising international oil and gas companies for over 40 years. The team is involved in innovative transactions within the natural gas space, including blue ammonia projects, and Aaron Lee has played a key role in the consolidation of the group’s mining practice. Daisuke Shimodaira acts as lead associate on a number of the team’s transactions, drawing on his experience in international project finance within the energy sector. Senior associate Jonathan Wang also plays an active role in the group, representing both sponsors and lenders in the offshore oil and gas and power generation industries. Lachlan Clancy left the firm in September 2023.

LNG projects are a key focus of the energy practice at Latham & Watkins Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise, and the team acts for both sponsors and lenders on a number of LNG mandates. Stephen McWilliams leads the Asia project development and finance group from both Tokyo and Singapore. The team advises domestic and international clients on projects across the Asia Pacific region, from lenders and borrowers to developers, acquirers and state-related entities; Richard Chul Kim counts Japanese, Korean and other international sponsors, lenders and government agencies among his clients. Hiroki Kobayashi brings his expertise in the oil and gas and power industries, and the team also advises on matters across the petrochemicals, infrastructure and renewables sectors. Michael Yoshii retired from the firm.

Prominent in the offshore wind space, Linklaters‘ projects and energy team continues to be a go-to practice for a host of prominent clients. John Maxwell is head of the firm’s Asia energy and infrastructure team, advising an impressive roster of sponsor, borrower and financier clients. The team advises on international investment into Japan and from Japan into Asia, and is active assisting lenders and sponsors in new energy investments, including oil and gas, power and renewable energy projects. Hirofumi Taba brings extensive international experience of the energy and infrastructure market, advising clients looking to invest in Japan. Ilia Ditiatev joined the team from the London office in 2023.

Aled Davies heads Milbank’s project, energy and infrastructure finance team, as well as the banking and finance practice, acting for Japanese financial institutions and development finance institutions on significant project finance mandates. Andrew Pendleton also counts a number of ECAs among his clients. The group is active across the power production and transmission, minerals and transportation sectors and particularly prominent in the oil and gas industry, where it is involved in both upstream oil and gas exploration and LNG projects. Justen Fleming brings particular expertise in the LNG sector and is involved in a number of LNG project financings. The team also counts battery chain projects as a particular area of recent growth, with an increasing number of mandates from international clients.

Paul Harrison leads the projects and energy team at White & Case LLP - White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association), advising on projects across the sector, from oil, gas and petrochemical projects to renewable energy projects and the energy transition. The team’s full-spectrum approach means that it is well positioned to advise on both inbound projects and overseas investment and counts lenders and sponsors among its clients; the group advises ECAs, commercial banks and private equity providers, as well as financial institutions, developers and Japanese utilities and trading companies. Kristian Bradshaw brings extensive project development expertise and senior associate Michael Richter focuses on construction and financing in the energy sector. As well as conventional power projects, such as LNG and nuclear matters, the practice is active in key developing areas, including hydrogen projects, sustainable aviation fuel and carbon capture. The addition of Masahiro Tanabe from Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise) in February 2023 has further strengthened the team’s expertise in battery storage projects, another recent growth area for the practice. Julien Bocobza joined the team from Norton Rose Fulbright in June 2022, bringing international experience in renewable energy and infrastructure projects. Alexander Woody left the firm in June 2022.

The ‘exceptional‘ projects and energy team at Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo) advises clients across both inbound and outbound projects. Practice co-head Yusuke Abe focuses on inbound investments, bringing a particular expertise in renewables and infrastructure projects, while outbound matters are primarily handled by ‘responsive and experienced‘ co-head Hans Menski, who specialises in the development and financing of power and energy, infrastructure and oil and gas projects. The group noted the continued push into the offshore wind space, as well as access to critical minerals becoming a growing trend within the sector. The practice sports a full-service development and finance offering, from advice on corporate, commercial and regulatory matters to arbitration and dispute resolution: Natsuko Sugihara and Michihiro Nishi have a particular focus on domestic and cross-border M&A matters and private equity transactions. Bolstered by the integrated regional and global projects team, the group advises Japanese and foreign investors and sponsors, as well as international financial institutions, commercial banks and government entities. The group also has a strong team of counsel, including Masafumi Shikakura and Suguru Kimura. Akihiko Takamatsu left the firm in March 2023.

Advising Japan-based clients on outbound energy and infrastructure projects is a particular strength of the team at Norton Rose Fulbright. The projects and energy practice provides a full-service offering, extending beyond project development and finance to include advice on corporate and M&A matters and dispute resolution. George Gibson, head of the firm’s Tokyo office, leads the team; his broad experience across a range of sectors sees the group advise on power, water, oil and gas, petrochemicals and nuclear projects. Paul Coggins focuses his practice on the international shipping and offshore sectors and has led the team on a number of LNG vessel matters. The firm has an extensive and varied client base, including ECAs, international banks and sponsors, and counsel Andrew Clarke advises Japanese corporate clients and utilities. The addition of Akihiko Takamatsu in February 2023 from Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo) has strengthened the team’s advice inbound energy and infrastructure projects, with particular expertise in solar PV and renewable energy projects.

Its focus on renewable energy makes the team at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP a one-stop-shop for clients looking to enter the renewables sector. The firm advises on the full life cycle of various renewable energy projects, from wind farms and solar power plants to biomass projects. With over 18 years’ experience in the renewables field, Minako Wakabayashi took over as practice head after Yoichi Katayama retired from the firm in March 2023. Wakabayashi leads the energy team in its work in corporate PPAs and M&A transactions, which are recent growth areas within the sector. While Yuko Inui brings expertise in inbound renewable energy projects, the group has also seen an increasing number of outbound deals, advising Japanese clients on renewables projects and related transactions outside of Japan. Southeast Asia has been a particular new focus area for the practice that has seen it collaborating with the team in Singapore on various energy transactions, including corporate PPA deals.

In collaboration with its teams around the world, Jones Day’s Tokyo-based projects and energy practice is able to advise on inbound, outbound and domestic transactions. With a particular focus on downstream renewable energy projects, practice head Katsumi Shirai advises international financial institutions and investment funds and multinational corporations. The team is active in the offshore wind area and also noted a recent forward push in the geothermal space. Lukas Kratochvil has played a leading role in the group’s work on geothermal projects and his expertise spans the energy sector, including mining and the entire oil and gas value chain. With the support not only from the firm’s global network, but also from the Bengoshi lawyers in the Japan office, the team’s capabilities extend to support its energy clients across a variety of practice areas, including dispute resolution and bankruptcy.

With their ‘high standard of expertise, commercial sense and legal skills’, Michael Graffagna and Dale Caldwell lead the projects and energy team at Morrison Foerster. Both partners have extensive experience in conventional power projects, including LNG and gas-to-power, as well as in renewable energy, mining and transportation projects. The practice is a one-stop shop for clients in the energy sector across Japan and on an international scale, with Graffagna handling outbound deals and Caldwell working on domestic and inbound transactions. The team also works in tandem with the firm’s wider Asia energy and infrastructure group on outbound energy and infrastructure projects across the Asia-pacific region. The practice sees projects through from structuring, planning and licensing to construction, financing and operation. Limited recourse financing is a particular focus area for the team and Masahiro Shiga and Yukhi Asano bring broad finance-related expertise to the team. The group’s diverse client base reflects its sponsor focus, ranging from financial institutions to developers. The team is also uniquely positioned to advise technology companies and handle tech-driven renewable energy transactions. Jon Ornolfsson left the team in December 2022.

The Tokyo-based projects and energy team at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP advises both national and international clients on large-scale energy and infrastructure projects across the renewables, petrochemical and power sectors. Simon Barrett leads the energy and infrastructure practice in Japan; his practice extends beyond the development and financing of energy and infrastructure projects to cover dispute resolution within the sector, the acquisition and disposal of assets and regulatory and compliance matters. Olivia Matsushita advises an extensive and diverse client base within the sector, including both Japanese and international clients. The group draws on the firm’s global network to advise on matters within the renewable and clean fuel space, including hydrogen and ammonia projects. Australian-qualified special counsel Peter Bungate further strengthens the team’s cross-border capabilities.

The team at Sidley Austin Nishikawa Foreign Law Joint Enterprise, co-led by Tomoki Ishiara, has carved out a niche advising new entrants to the energy and infrastructure industries. Practice co-head Daniel Lin is a ‘very skillful lawyer‘ in the energy sector, advising clients on cross-border energy and infrastructure transactions. As a New York-trained lawyer, senior managing associate Shigeyuki Ito strengthens the team’s international reach, with his focus on global financial services; the group handles clients’ investments in the sector throughout Southeast Asia and China. The group works with the firm’s teams across various practice areas, from regulatory to funds, to advise energy and infrastructure clients on an international scale.