Anderson Mori & Tomotsune advises domestic and international clients on high value projects both within Japan and overseas. The department has particular expertise in the energy and resources sector, and provides comprehensive support for the structuring and implementation of projects. Takashi Akahane leads the team, and is respected for his expertise in project finance and private finance initiatives, with a record of advising Japanese ministries, municipalities, and multinationals. Reiji Takahashi focuses on renewable energy projects, independent power plants, and resource development, while the England and Wales qualified Teruma Naito leads on outbound project finance, and handles power, water, oil and gas. Kunihiro Yokoi, whose practice includes power, renewable energy, transportation, and real estate matters, is also key.

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto combines advisory, litigation, and M&A specialists to field a team able to cover the full range of projects and energy law advice. The wind, biomass, photovoltaic and infrastructure sectors are notable areas of strength, with the department active on a range of high-value and complex matters in these industries. The department is particularly strong on cross-border matters, and benefits from its network of offices which extends across Japan and East Asia. The team is co-led by Masanori Sato, Takahiro Kobayashi, Takeshi Mukawa, Naoki Ishikawa and Shigeki Okatani. Yusuke Murakami and Yusuke Suehiro are also key within the department, with Murakami handling energy and infrastructure work, while Suehiro has particular experience in project financing transactions. Counsel Hironobu Noma has notable experience in this area, due to spending time seconded to the project finance department of Mizuho Bank.

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu is active on a wide range of energy law matters and infrastructure projects, and advises major power utility companies including Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, TEPCO Power Grid, and Hokkaido Electric Power. The department is highly active within the domestic Japanese market, but also has significant experience advising on overseas projects. The team is co-led by real estate specialist Shunpei Tanaka and Jiro Mikami, who has broad project finance expertise, with an emphasis on infrastructure and energy. Also key within the team are Kei Okubo, who has particular experience in the energy sector, and Kiyoshi Honda, who handles energy and real estate transactions. Takao Higuchi is well respected in this practice area for his knowledge of energy, infrastruture and project finance.

Nishimura & Asahi‘s long established project finance & energy group provides specialised legal services for project financing and the development and procurement of natural resources and energy. The department has a strong reputation for its work on infrastructure and power projects, and highly active in the renewable energy sector, with significant experience across solar, wind, geothermal and biomass. Co-leading the team are Tomohiro Sato, who specialises in project finance transactions relating to renewable energy projects, IPP projects, and PFI, and Nagahide Sato, who has significant experience in PFI and electricity business work. Core team members include cross-border project finance expert Maya Ito, energy sector specialist Sadayuki Matsudaira, and Norio Maeda, whose practice covers all stages of project development, from acquisition to financing. The international reach of the team is marked by its inclusion of gaiben partners Adrian Joyce, Alexander Woody and Nathan Schmidt.

Atsumi & Sakai has broad expertise in the projects and energy fields, with significant experience across LNG, petrochemicals, coal, mining, and renewable energy, for which wind power projects are a particular focus. The department is also notably active on infrastructure projects, with matters including advising Mitsubishi UFJ Reserach Institute, Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City on the development of the site for the 20th Asian Games, to be held in 2026. The department is co-lead by Miho Niunoya, Takeshi Takahashi, Michiaki Hosoi, Makoto Fujii, Keita Imaizumi, and Ryosuke Oue. Akira Shimazaki, who made partner in January 2021, is also noted.

City-Yuwa Partners has a strong record within the renewable energy sector, and advises a range of clients on projects both domestically and across East Asia. Solar and wind power are key areas for the department, which provides support from due diligence and financing, to construction and operation. The department also provides support to power companies for regulatory and compliance matters under the Electricity Utilities Industry Law. Masamichi Sakamoto leads the team, bringing experience across banking, finance, investment, real estate and energy. Yukinori Sasaki is another key name, and specialises in real estate financing and project financing.

TMI Associates provides comprehensive financing support, with experience handling the full range of renewable energy projects. The department also has significant expertise advising financial advisers, real estate developers and major construction companies on development projects, urban redevelopments, and PPP and PFI projects. Yoshiyasu Yamaguchi, whose broad practice includes structured finance, project finance, and real estate investment, leads the team. Other key names include finance specialist Takenobu Imaeda, Yoshikazu Noma, who has dual specialisations in banking and finance regulations and dispute resolution, and Mizuki Koshimoto, whose area of focus is inbound renewable energy transactions.

Kaynex Law Offices is particularly active on renewable energy developments, with significant experience in the acquisition and financing of solar projects. Founding partner Kota Kikuchi leads the department, and brings over a decade of experience in the practice area. Kikuchi works with both domestic and international clients, advising on the whole lifecycle of project develpment from sourcing and acquisition to regulatory matters and dispute resolution.