- Construction & Infrastructure
The Influence of New Types of Projects on Japanese Construction Contracts
Traditionally, most infrastructure projects in Japan have been funded by corporate or public sources, and domestic standard form construction contracts generally were considered sufficient to manage construction risks. This trend changed significantly with the introduction of the Feed in Tariff (FIT) scheme for renewable energy in 2011, which led to the development of Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects that utilize non-recourse or limited-recourse financing. This increased reliance on project finance, in turn, has driven a rise in the use of turnkey EPC contracts. Given the historically limited number of turnkey EPC projects in Japan, an increasing number of these contracts are drafted with reference to international models, such as the FIDIC Silver Book and Yellow Book. Since the late 2010s...To read the full article, please see the PDF file
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Construction / Infrastructure Newsletter
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Shintaro Uno is one of Japan’s leading experts on FIDIC and other construction-industry contracts. He specializes in international engineering and construction of infrastructure projects around the world, with a particular focus on Japan and Asia. He has extensive experience advising on a wide range of projects, including semiconductor plants, data centers, high-speed railways, highways, submarine cables, coal-mining process facilities, Mass Rapid Transit, high-rise buildings, lithium hydroxide plants, various types of power plants, tunnels, ports, dredging, offshore wind, and water treatment and supply facilities, with primary contracts based on the standard FIDIC contract forms (including Redbook, Yellowbook, Silverbook 1999 and 2017 editions), Minkanrengo Building contract, Nikkenren Design Build, and ENAA.
On the contentious side, Shintaro successfully represents both employers and contractors in proceedings before Dispute Adjudication Boards, international arbitral tribunals, and national courts. He has particular expertise in arbitration under the SIAC, ICC, BANI, and DIAC rules.
Shintaro has been recognized as a Leading Individual in the Construction: International category by Chambers Asia-Pacific for three consecutive years (2023–2025), reflecting his reputation and track record in the region.
Over the past 14 years, Shintaro has been based in Southeast Asia, where he has advised on numerous complex disputes and crisis scenarios. His regional experience is especially extensive in Indonesia, where he has handled more than 70 contentious matters—including litigation, internal investigations, local arbitrations, and criminal cases—demonstrating his capability to navigate sensitive legal issues in cross-border settings.