Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc. - Joint development of and project financing for solar power plants for offsite corporate PPAs

Sadayuki has a wealth of experience in supporting international clients in projects, transactions, and businesses in the energy sector. Sadayuki advises his clients on the best solutions for achieving their business goals based on his deep understanding of the relevant laws and regulations and practices in the full energy supply chain. He also has expertise in carbon-neutral projects and businesses, such as renewable power projects and hydrogen projects, as well as pioneering businesses involved in recent developments in the electricity market and the regulations thereon. Sadayuki serves as a member of an industrial safety rules committee and a hydrogen safety strategy committee, both of which were established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, and also is a member of an electricity capacity market committee, which is part of the Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators, Japan (OCCTO).

Amane has extensive experience in a number of project finance transactions and acquisitions in connection with renewable energy projects in Japan and other Asian countries. In addition to his broad knowledge of the complex regulations surrounding renewable energy, he also has a deep understanding of IPP business reinforced by his work experience in London at a major Japanese trading company. His clients include domestic and international energy project developers, investors, lenders, construction contractors, and utility companies. He advises, represents, and advocates on behalf of clients in a wide range of transactions in the renewable energy sector, including development of green-field projects, debt and equity financing, selling and acquisition of energy projects, and legal due diligence. He also has a wealth of experience in offshore wind projects from the emergence of offshore wind business in Japan in the mid-2010s, including advising clients in the public tender process under the Offshore Renewable Energy Act.

Nobuaki mainly handles financial transactions, with a particular focus on project finance transactions. He has a wealth of experience advising clients on PFI/PPP projects (including airport concession projects) and renewable energy projects (including offshore wind farm projects). He also has a broad understanding of Japanese renewable-energy related legislation. In the renewable energy field, he advises clients on financing and acquiring renewable energy power plants, financing plural power projects (portfolio schemes), and on developing projects using trust schemes (including financing through project bonds). In addition, he was previously seconded to a financial institution and trading company where he worked diligently on client-side transactions. He constantly strives to meet his clients’ needs and expectations by drawing upon the practical expertise and know-how he has acquired through his exposure to a wide array of legal transactions.

Miki Tsubono is a LPC partner and the head of our Sapporo Office. He established our Sapporo office in April 2023 and has supported clients mainly in Hokkaido.

Leveraging the extensive and specialized skills of over 900 professionals at Nishimura & Asahi across 22 offices in Japan and abroad, he offers comprehensive business law services tailored to each client’s specific needs. His experience encompasses a broad range of business law areas including M&A, general corporate, finance, corporate crisis management, restructuring and insolvency, dispute, competition law, intellectual property law, information law, labor law, and wealth management.

Recently, he has handled numerous projects in the GX/energy and agribusiness sectors in Hokkaido, including business development, investment, and corporate/project finance.

He has extensive experience in M&A transactions including cross-border transactions and carve-out transactions as well as business succession transactions in Hokkaido.

He also has experience working for a new business development division of a Hokkaido company and provides services related to general corporate matters including daily legal consultations, support for contract drafting and review, business decisions, and general meetings of shareholders, as well as company internal training.