Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

Shinichiro Kitamura leads Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)’s projects and energy team, whose size and international reach means it can provide both on-the-ground support to foreign clients investing in Japan and advice to Japanese clients looking to invest outside of the country. The practice is at the cutting edge of the energy transition, and assists clients in increasingly prominent areas within the sector such as solar and wind power. Ean Mac Pherson is the co-head of the firm’s renewable and clean energy group and works with international offshore wind developers on their projects in the Japanese market, as well as with Japanese clients investing in mining and oil and gas projects outside of Japan. Mac Pherson leads the group alongside Naoaki Eguchi, who is also a key figure in the PFI/PPP field. The LNG practice is another key focus area for the team; Samir Desai has over 25 years’ experience in the development and financing of oil and gas projects, including LNG. Jon Ornolfsson joined the team from Morrison Foerster in January 2023, and leads the energy, mining and infrastructure work, bringing his experience in project development and financing within the power, chemical and other energy-related infrastructure sectors. Senior associate Hojung Jun is experienced in the development and construction of industrial plants, as well as in infrastructure and mining projects.