Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo)’s projects group in Tokyo collaborates with offices across the firm’s international network to advise on oil and gas, mining, renewables energy, and infrastructure sector transactions with a Japan nexus. Yusuke Abe, who regularly handles domestic and cross-border project finance mandates, leads the team alongside Hans Menski, a name to note for cross-border energy, infrastructure, and oil and gas project developments and financings. Natsuko Sugihara’s varied practice includes projects M&A, while arbitration specialist Peter Harris handles disputes in the energy, natural resources, construction, and infrastructure sectors.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Hans Menski and Philip Sealey are adept transaction leaders who are able to help navigate market and transaction-specific issues, finding often unique deal-specific solutions to addressing risk.'
‘Hans Menski stands out as capable of finding a balance among various parties with different views and voices. He can spot key points quickly and come up with feasible solutions that cater to all parties' needs.'
‘Hans Menski has impeccable knowledge when it comes to ECA financing, has an excellent understanding of both big-picture items as well as detailed policy-driven items, and is very skilled at explaining complex items in understandable terms.'
‘The firm has in-depth knowledge of the markets in the region and is skilled in structuring and negotiating appropriate protections for the parties in financing documentation.’
‘We were advised very well on an international non-recourse deal with sponsors, borrowers, lenders and ECAs from a wide variety of countries. The team handled this excellently, being very capable across multiple jurisdictions and working well with local law firms where required. ’
‘The team has a client-first, consistent attitude.’
‘The CC team is very good at mobilising people from across its global network of offices and working efficiently across borders. They are also commercially minded and have a good understanding of how banks assess things, which is very helpful.’
‘The team helped us on a very complicated transaction involving 9 lenders and 4 sponsors. The team is very responsive and prompt and strives to come up with innovative ideas to help bridge the gap without sacrificing the lender's interests. The team has a global base which also helped with this cross-border transaction’
Key clients
- Japan Bank for International Cooperation
- Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure Co. Ltd.
- Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
- Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
- MUFG Bank, Ltd.
- Nippon Export and Investment Insurance
- Standard Chartered Bank
- HSBC Bank
Work highlights
Advised the lenders on the development and financing of a 584MW gas-fired power plant in Bangladesh, one of the largest power plants in Bangladesh and a significant project for the lenders and the local and international sponsors.
Advised the covered lenders on the terms of the ECA cover to be provided by seven export credit agencies, on the terms of their facility documentation and on related inter-creditor matters in relation to the project financing of the $6.4bn 1,022MW Hai Long 2 and 3 offshore wind project in Taiwan
Advised the lenders on the $1.1bn financing of seven 174,000 m3 LNG carriers.
Lawyers
Leading partners: Bengoshi
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading partners: Gaiben
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Yusuke Abe; Hans Menski
Other key lawyers
Peter Harris; Natsuko Sugihara; Philip Sealey