King & Spalding’s ‘excellent’ energy team in Tokyo offers a broad service covering natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, and renewable energy projects, with clients praising the team particularly for its expertise in the renewable energy space. Practice head John McClenahan has considerable experience advising banks and sponsors on energy and infrastructure projects, including in the hydrogen and ammonia segments. Mark Davies acts for sponsors and lenders in projects in the LNG, conventional power, renewables (both onshore and offshore wind power and solar power projects), and oil and gas sectors. Michael Arruda has over 40 years of experience advising global oil and gas companies on both inbound and outbound investments. Michael Meade is noted for his work on large-scale LNG projects.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Mark Davies is an outstanding lawyer who brings a high degree of expertise and market knowledge to our transactions. Mark is very commercially minded and is an excellent negotiator. These skills are very helpful in getting the deal done. Mark and his team are also very responsive compared to a lot of other law firms.'
‘King & Spalding’s energy and power team is excellent. Mark Davies and his team have worked with us on numerous wind power projects. They can work on the project documents for the renewable projects along with the finance documents. The same team will also work on the JV agreements to ensure all the legal agreements work as a set. Not many other teams can do this in such an efficient manner to achieve the desired results. The team works hard to understand our business and sensitive issues and is accommodating on billing requests.’
Key clients
- Verde Tech Group Ltd
- BW Gas Limited
- Consortium of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Korea East-West Power Corporation (EWP)
- Keppel Capital Holdings Pte. Ltd.
- Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO) - a leading Korean utilities developer
- Posco International Corporation (PIC)
- Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)
Work highlights
Advising Posco International Corporation and its consortium partners on the $1bn sub-sea expansion (Phase 2) programme and all ongoing operational matters and gas sales to China for the multi-billion-dollar Shwe gas project.
Advising Keppel Capital, a premier asset manager in Asia and the asset management arm of Keppel Corporation Limited, on the structuring, formation and documentation of the Keppel Asia Infrastructure Fund, LP.
Advising KEPCO on its successful bid, and now advising KEPCO on project development and project financing of the Jafurah Cogeneration power plant project in Saudi Arabia.
Lawyers
Leading partners: Gaiben
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
John McClenahan
Leading associates: Bengoshi
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Daisuke Shimodaira
Practice head
John McClenahan
Other key lawyers
Mark Davies; Michael Arruda; Michael Meade; Daisuke Shimodaira