Soichi Arai

Admitted to practice law in New York and Japan, Soichi is an international energy and infrastructure lawyer based in Hunton’s Tokyo office.

Soichi advises on a broad range of project development and M&A transactions, as well as commercial matters in the energy sector in the US and across the Asia Pacific. He regularly assists Japanese clients on their outbound transactions, especially to the US.

He was previously in-house counsel for a major Japanese trading house where he supported its energy business department. Clients commend him for his pragmatic, commercial approach to negotiating complex development and financing issues on energy transactions.

Soichi is recognized as a Rising Star for Project Development in the IFLR1000 2025.  

• Represented Kyuden International Corporation in connection with its acquisition of a 40% interest in a portfolio of 400MW solar power projects, encompassing 28 solar generation facilities located across California, Idaho, and North Carolina in the United States, including performing legal due diligence, negotiation, and finalization of the Membership Interests Purchase Agreement, Limited Liability Company Agreement, Asset Management Agreement, and other related contracts, and assistance through the closing of the transaction.
• Advised Kyuden International Corporation on a sale of its interest in a portfolio of 620MW gas-fired power projects in New England in the United States, including review of the Membership Interests Purchase Agreement and Limited Liability Company Agreement.
• Advising Kyuden International Americas on general corporate matters.
• Represented Singapore-based energy company in connection with its acquisition of a 49% interest in a portfolio of approximately 400MW renewable assets, including negotiation and finalization of the Share Purchase Agreement, Shareholders’ Agreement, Loan Agreement, and related contracts, and assistance through the closing of the transaction.
• Representing a developer in connection with the capital raise and development of a green hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Tunisia designed for the export to European markets through existing and planned infrastructure, including negotiating the Shareholders Agreement and Joint Development Agreement.
• Represented Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Co. in connection with its development, financing, operation, and expansion of its refining and petrochemical project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Represented a Japanese start-up company in connection with its carbon credit project in Ghana, including drafting and reviewing the Joint Development Agreement and Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement with one of the major Japanese utility companies.
• Representing a company based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in connection with a hydro- power project in Saudi Arabia.
• Representing a State Authority in the MENA region on the development and financing of a nuclear
• Representing a Japanese nuclear company in connection with its international

The following represents experience prior to joining the firm:

• Advised on additional investment in Tangguh LNG Project for the new liquification train (Train 3), including review of the Shareholders’ Agreement and other related documents.
• Advised on asset management work on a Jawa 1 GSRU and gas-fired IPP Project in Indonesia, including review of the Shareholders’ Agreement, Share Purchase Agreement, and other related documents.
• Advised on a private bid M&A transaction for acquiring 40% shares of a local gas company in Lagos, Nigeria from a private equity fund, including drafting, review, negotiation, and finalization of the Shareholders’ Agreement, Share Purchase Agreement, and Warranty Deed, successfully closed. This was the first ever participation in a downstream gas business in Nigeria by a Japanese company.
• Advised on the development of an LNG terminal project involving one of the Japanese major utility companies in Matabari, Bangladesh, including drafting and review of the Consortium Agreement and Joint Development Agreement.
• Advised on a rooftop solar power project at a gas industrial park in Vietnam involving one of the major Japanese utility companies and a Japanese government-related financial institution, including drafting and review of the Consortium Agreement, Gas Purchase and Sales Agreement, O&M Agreement, EPC Agreement, Parent Corporation Guarantee, and applications for JCM subsidy.
• Advised on a number of Master Sales and Purchase Agreements for LNG transactions in the Asia Pacific region.
• Advised on the development of an asset purchase transaction of a gathering pipeline system in Ohio, United States, including drafting and review of the Gas Gathering Agreement, Asset Purchase Agreement, and O&M Agreement.
• Advised on a dispute relating to decommissioning costs arising out of a natural gas field in Louisiana, United States.
• Advised on a litigation matter over an explosion involving a chemical plant in Houston, United

• Recognized as a Rising Star in Project Development, Japan, IFLR1000, 2025