Sidley Austin announced that Simon Barrett and Olivia Matsushita have joined the firm as partners in its Energy, Transportation, and Infrastructure practice in Tokyo, strengthening its cross-border capabilities in key global markets.
Both partners join from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, where Barrett served as Senior Partner in Japan and led the firm’s Finance and Energy and Infrastructure practice in the country, while Matsushita was Managing Partner of the Tokyo office and a partner in the same practice group.
Barrett brings more than two decades of experience advising sponsors, strategic investors, private equity funds, and lenders on complex cross-border transactions across the energy and infrastructure sectors. His work spans project development, project finance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity investments, restructurings, and related dispute resolution. He will also serve as co-managing partner of Sidley’s Tokyo office.
Matsushita has a broad practice focused on cross-border energy and transportation, acquisition finance, and project finance, including the financing of movable assets through sophisticated structures. She is known for advising debt and equity arrangers on Japanese operating lease and Japanese operating lease with call option financings involving Airbus and Boeing aircraft, as well as engines used by carriers across Oceania, Southeast Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The firm said the hires reinforce its strategic focus on expanding its global energy and infrastructure platform and enhancing its ability to support international clients navigating complex cross-border transactions. Sidley’s Tokyo office, established in 1988, plays a central role in advising on inbound and outbound Japanese deals, as well as regulatory, litigation, and enforcement matters involving Japanese clients globally.
Barrett and Matsushita are recognized as leading lawyers in Japan across multiple practice areas, including projects and energy, construction, and international asset finance, with rankings from Chambers and Partners and Legal 500.
KEY QUOTES:
“Japan is a core hub for significant cross-border deal flow. By adding Simon and Olivia, we will strengthen our ability to serve international clients and help them unlock new opportunities in the region and beyond. Expanding our cross-border energy and infrastructure offering remains a key priority for the firm, following the recent additions of Alun Evans in Singapore, John Thomas in New York, and Steven Tredennick and Paris Theofanidis in Houston.”
Yvette Ostolaza, Management Committee Chair, Sidley Austin
“Simon and Olivia are market-leading lawyers known for their deep experience in cross-border work in energy, infrastructure, and finance. These are transformational hires for our Tokyo office and for our broader Asia-Pacific expansion. Both are the go-to lawyers for both inbound and outbound energy investment for many multinational companies based in Japan and I know our colleagues are excited to start working with them on cross-border matters.”
Constance Choy, Managing Partner Asia-Pacific Region, Sidley Austin
