Simon Barrett

Simon Barrett is a Japan-based projects and energy lawyer with more than 25 years’ experience advising sponsors, strategic investors, private equity funds, contractors, and lenders on complex, high-value energy and infrastructure transactions worldwide.

His practice spans the full lifecycle of major projects and investments, including project development, project finance, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity investments, restructurings, and related dispute resolution. Simon regularly advises on acquisitions and disposals of energy and infrastructure assets, minority and majority stake transactions, and strategic joint ventures.

Simon has advised on projects in over 25 jurisdictions across the power, oil and gas, LNG, chemicals, and transportation sectors. His power sector experience spans renewable generation, gas-fired, and combined cycle facilities, as well as nuclear energy. Within renewables, he has advised on biofuels and biogas, biomass, cogeneration, energy storage, geothermal, solar, and wind projects, and his nuclear work ranges from conventional large-scale reactor developments to next-generation small modular reactors (SMRs). Simon’s oil and gas practice is centered on LNG projects, together with a broad range of downstream and midstream developments. His infrastructure experience includes data centers, transportation assets, water / wastewater facilities, sports venues, and social infrastructure, often involving public-private partnerships.

In addition to transactional work, Simon frequently advises clients on regulatory, governance, and compliance matters, with a focus on anti-bribery frameworks, trade sanctions, internal investigations, and crisis management. 

Simon also has substantial experience in complex dispute resolution arising out of energy and infrastructure projects where he represents sponsors, contractors, and investors in high-value international arbitrations and litigation, including claims relating to EPC contracts, delay and disruption, cost overruns, termination, and joint venture disputes.  

“Simon Barrett delivers excellent client service and goes above and beyond our expectations.”
“He offers top-tier client service and experience with great sophistication, responsiveness and real understanding of the industry, market and our business.”
Chambers Asia Pacific 2026

Simon is consistently ranked as a leading partner in Projects and Energy by Chambers Asia Pacific and Chambers Global (Japan, 2012 – 2026) and Legal 500 Asia Pacific (Japan, 2017 – 2026) and his construction practice has been recognized by Chambers Asia Pacific (Japan, 2012 – 2026), Who’s Who Legal – Construction, and Who’s Who Legal Japan.

Renewables

•  Advised a Japanese trading house and its subsidiaries as major trade creditors of U.S. biomass supplier, Enviva Inc
• Advised a Korean renewable energy company on a battery recycling project in Hungary
• Advised a Japanese metals trading company on its investment in a Californian solar energy installation company
• Advised a Japanese renewables company on the refinancing of the Kawazu wind farm in Japan 
• Advised a Japanese IT solutions provider on a JV for energy saving solutions for commercial buildings in California 
• Advising a Japanese heavy equipment supplier on a carbon capture and storage prototype plant in Wyoming
• Advised a Japanese trading house as lead developer of a solar plant in the Kingdom of Brunei 
• Advised a Japanese construction company on multiple EPC packages in relation to an offshore wind development in Akita, Japan
• Advised the Japanese Government on hydrogen energy regulation in the U.S. and the UK

Conventional Power

• Advised a Japanese trading house as lead developer on the Facility D IWPP project in Qatar
• Advised a Japanese heavy equipment supplier on a bid for an EPC package for the Nam Ngiep hydroelectric project in Laos 
• Advised a Japanese trading house as a minority investor on the Shuqaiq 2 IWPP in Saudi Arabia
• Advised a Japanese construction company on its bid for various civil works packages on the Asahan 3 hydroelectric plant in Indonesia 
• Advised a U.S. power company on a plant EPC contract for Phase 2 of the Kribi IPP in Cameroon
• Advised a Japanese trading house on its subsidiary’s purchase of multiple power-related investments from China Light & Power (CLP) 
• Advised a Japanese trading house on its subsidiary’s bid for Mirant’s power assets in the Philippines 
• Advised a Japanese trading house on long-term fuel supply and offtake contracts for a coal-fired power plant in India

Nuclear

• Advising a Korean utility on its investment in a U.S. fast reactor company, including securing complex regulatory clearance
• Advising two Japanese trading houses and a Japanese shipping company in consortium on their investment in maritime nuclear energy company
• Advising a Japanese trading house and a Japanese engineering company on their investment into a fusion start up
• Advised a Russian nuclear energy company on an EPC contract for a nuclear plant in Turkey
• Advising a Japanese utility on the terms of contracts for the lease and buy back of excess stocks of enriched uranium

Infrastructure

• Advised a Japanese trading house on its fully documented bid for the third set of locks project at the Panama Canal
• Advised a Japanese trading house on a JV for the development of electronic vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Japan
• Advised a Japanese trading house on a strategic sealift project, involving the construction and operation of a fleet of new military transportation vessels procured under Japan’s PPP laws
• Advised a Japanese trading house on all aspects of a telecommunications infrastructure works package in Myanmar 
• Advised a U.S. memory chip manufacturer on the refurbishment of a fabrication facility in Japan, with seven multilingual EPC contracts signed with local contractors 
• Advised the UK government on a military accommodation refurbishment project
• Advised on multiple UK PFI projects representing both lenders and sponsors, including in relation to projects for court houses, hospitals, prisons, and street lighting

Oil and Gas

• Advised a Japanese heavy equipment supplier on its bid for an EPC package for the construction of LNG storage tanks in Taiwan
• Advising a Korean shipbuilding company as contractor on multiple LNG tanker upgrade contracts for a Qatari gas transportation company 
• Advised a Japanese heavy equipment supplier on a JBIC-funded gas-to-gasoline plant at Ovadam-Depe in Turkmenistan
• Advising a Japanese heavy equipment supplier on a second gas-to-gasoline plant in Ahal Province, Turkmenistan
• Advised a Japanese trading house on a proposed oil pipeline in East Africa crossing Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda
• Advised a Japanese metals trading company on the financing of its investment in a UAE oil and gas equipment supplier
• Advised a Japanese metals trading company on a high-value steel supply contract in connection with the South Stream oil and gas pipeline 
• Advised a Japanese trading company on a joint venture agreement for the construction of an oil refinery in Turkey
• Advised a Japanese trading company on the financing and development of multiple floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels including in Vietnam, Brazil, and Gabon 

Chemicals/Petrochemicals

• Advised a Japanese chemicals company on Phase 2 of the Petro Rabigh integrated refining and petrochemicals complex in Saudi Arabia
• Advised a U.S. chemicals company on the construction of a new polyol plant in Nanjing, China
• Advised a U.S. chemicals company on the construction of new polyol plants in Singapore and the Philippines
• Advised a Japanese trading house on contracts for the supply of chemicals to various European buyers
• Advised a Japanese trading house on a JBIC-funded EPC agreement for the construction of a fertilizer plant in Turkmenistan 
• Advised a Japanese construction company on a contract for the construction of a cosmetics manufacturing plant in Ibaragi Prefecture, Japan

M&A

• Advised a Korean consortium on a proposed majority purchase of a dual-fired power plant in the North-Eastern U
• Advised a Japanese utility on the disposal of interests in three gas-fired power plants in the U.S. 
• Advised a Japanese investment company on the acquisition of a stake in a Canadian lithium mining and processing company
• Advised a Japanese trading house on the acquisition of majority stake in a diesel-fired power plant in Sri Lanka
• Advised a Japanese utility on the acquisition of a California-based geothermal engineering company
• Advised a Japanese fast-food business on the terms of its franchise agreement with a U.S. food conglomerate and then advised on the company’s takeover via tender offer by a U.S. private equity group   
• Advised a Japanese trading house on the sale of its shares in the Tuban oil refinery in East Java 
• Advising a Japanese telecommunications company on its investment into a UK high-altitude aircraft company 
• Advised a Japanese metals trading company on the acquisition of 49% of the shares in a U.S. company involved in EV battery manufacturing
• Advised a Japanese IT network company on its sale of a U.S. subsidiary involved in electronic industrial and automotive parts manufacturing 
• Advised a Japanese telecoms company on its acquisition of Vodafone KK
• Advised a Japanese telecoms company on the whole business securitization of its interest in Vodafone KK
• Advised a Japanese electronics company on the purchase of a home video console after-sales servicing business in the U.S. and Mexico 
• Advised a Japanese trading company on its acquisition of an Indiana-based auto quality assurance and inspection business
• Advised a Japanese chemicals company on its investment in a U.S. biotech company 

Disputes

• Advised a Japanese trading house on a series of disputes involving the sale and purchase of carbon emission reduction certificates 
• Advised a Japanese metals trading company on a dispute involving a high-value supply contract for the supply of steel to a desalination plant in Chile 
• Advised a Japanese organic food company on a shareholder dispute, finally determined in the English High Court, with the founding partners of a high-growth tofu business in the UK 
• Advised a Japanese organic food company on its shareholder dispute with JV partners in relation to its U.S. subsidiary 
• Part of a team that successfully defended a Japanese heavy equipment supplier against a claim, finally determined in ICC arbitration, in relation to alleged defective steam generators applied to the San Onofre Nuclear Power Station in California
• Advised a Japanese engineering company on its exit from two large LNG projects in Mozambique and Qatar
• Advised the SE Asian government ministry on various disputes over claims for additional payments in relation to the Saigon East-West highway 
• Advised a Japanese engineering company on a dispute in relation to Woodfibre LNG in Canada
• Advised a Japanese heavy equipment supplier on a dispute relating to two LNG storage tanks provided to an LNG receiving terminal in India
• Advised a Japanese media company on a claim against the Weinstein Group relating to the right to distribute a Hollywood movie in Japan 
• Advised a Japanese oil and gas company on a dispute with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) over price escalation rights in relation to the Azadegan Oil Field

Trade / Regulatory

• Advised three Japanese companies in negotiating their exit from EAS, a company in Brazil, including advising on complications resulting from an ongoing corruption investigation and a depressed Brazilian economy
• Part of a team that advised a Japanese trading house in relation to the Macondo Gulf of Mexico oil spill incident, limiting its exposure in one of the largest multidistrict litigation proceedings in history
• Advised an Asian client on allegations of bribery at a recently acquired U.S. subsidiary
• Advised an Asian company on various criminal allegations against personnel stationed overseas 
• Advised a U.S. engineering company on its negotiations with Japanese government agencies over penalties imposed on our client as a result of historic bribery payments made in connection with construction projects in Southeast Asia
• Advised a Japanese metals business on the legal and regulatory impact of the inadvertent release of stormwater from its main smelting plant in Miami, Florida into a local canal system
• Advised a Japanese engineering company on U.S. sanctions impact in relation to the Yamal LNG project
• Advised a Japanese beverage company on U.S. sanctions in relation to its business in Myanmar
• Advised a Japanese engineering company on U.S. and EU sanctions in relation to various investments in Iran and Russia
• Advised multiple Japanese and Korean engineering and construction companies on their internal compliance policies
• Advised a Japanese IT network company on the impact of U.S. trade sanctions in relation to a software contract with a Russian counterparty
• Advising a Japanese company on U.S. trade sanctions, including dealing with voluntary self-disclosures to BIS and OFAC

Including matters handled prior to joining Sidley