Japan > Projects and energy > Independent local firms
Index of tables
Projects and energy: Independent local firms
Leading individuals: bengoshi
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- Hiroo Atsumi Atsumi & Sakai
- Naoaki Eguchi Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office
- Takao Higuchi Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
- Hideyuki Okada TMI Associates
- Hiroaki Takahashi Davis & Takahashi
- Yoshiyasu Yamaguchi TMI Associates
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune has a leading reputation for PFI projects beginning with its involvement in the very first PFI in Japan. The firm specialises in advising on the public sector side of PFI deals, but it also has experience acting for lenders and contractors. Lawyers demonstrate a ‘market-leading breadth of knowledge’ and regularly handle projects in the telecoms, health, prisons and energy sectors. Takashi Akahane and Reiji Takahashi are the main contacts and are well-known in the market.
At Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, team head and corporate finance partner Minoru Ota is recommended for his ‘ability to keep ahead of market trends’ and for his ‘prompt and efficient service’. The firm’s practice spans both project finance and transactional energy work and clients include both sponsors and lenders. Among the firm’s recent highlights, it advised General Electric on the establishment of a smart-meter joint venture company with Fuji Electric Holdings. The firm also advised Nippon Export and Investment Insurance on the project financing of LNG project in Indonesia.
Nishimura & Asahi fields a ‘leading PFI and infrastructure lawyer’ in Hiroshi Maeda, but clients also single out Nagahide Sato for her ‘specialist knowledge’ in this area. The firm has experience in acting for both lenders and borrowers on project financings and PFI deals and scores points for its ability to ‘always see the transaction from the client’s point of view’. Energy, transport and infrastructure are all areas of expertise, and the firm recently advised JBIC on the financing of various infrastructure projects.
Atsumi & Sakai is particularly strong on the infrastructure side, leveraging off its strong finance practice to advise both banks and sponsors on the funding of major projects. Finance head Hiroo Atsumi is the main contact and projects specialist Miho Niunoya is also recommended. Highlight transactions in 2010 included advising on a ¥20bn hospital financing.
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto’s projects capability sits within its finance practice and specialises in advising on the lender side of project finance mandates. The firm receives a steady flow of both infrastructure and power project instructions, with a notable strength on the PFI side. Takeshi Mukawa is recommended.
PFI is the mainstay of TMI Associates’ projects practice and the firm retains a focus on infrastructure deals. Hideyuki Okada is highly-regarded and specialises in advising on the lender side of project finance transactions.