Scott Neilson
Partner
Tokyo

Scott Neilson
Partner
Tokyo
Contact details
Scott is one of the world’s leading lawyers in the energy, infrastructure and financing spaces. He has over 20 years of international experience in projects, export credit and multisource financings, acquisition finance and restructurings. Scott has advised export credit agencies, lenders, project sponsors and project companies on transactions in every continent except Antarctica. He also has deep shipping sector experience.
Scott is sought after by clients for his extensive international experience representing clients on many of the world’s largest and most innovative projects. His recent experience includes advising on the world’s largest project financing (the USD20 bn project financing for the USD34 bn Ichthys LNG project) and many first in country and first in kind projects, such as the world’s first project financing of a floating LNG unit and Africa’s biggest project financing at the time (the USD5 bn Coral South FLNG project), the first LNG-to-power project in Asia (the USD1.8 bn Jawa 1 integrated gas to power project in Indonesia which included a 1,760MW CCGT and an FSRU) and one of the world’s largest and Dubai’s first waste to energy plant (Warsan WtE).
Regarded as a true expert in his field, Scott recently authored the chapter on export credit agencies in the book, Liquefied Natural Gas: The Law and Business of LNG, Third Edition.
Qualifications
Professional
Registered Foreign Lawyer (Australia, New South Wales, England & Wales), Japan, 2010, 2014 (Tokyo Bar Association)
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2006
Admitted as solicitor, New South Wales, Australia, 2001
Academic
Bcom, Accounting, The University of New South Wales, 2000
LLB (Hons), The University of New South Wales, 2000
Graduate Diploma, Legal Practice, The College of Law, Sydney, 2001
Related articles

Publications: 25 September 2023
Part 5: Conclusion and potential solutions
What policy and support measures can help close the Net Zero financing gap? And what can different stakeholders do themselves to accelerate progress?
Publications: 25 September 2023
Part 4: Private finance is positioned to meet the opportunity and fill the needs gap
Publications: 25 September 2023
Part 3: Public finance and policies must play a catalytic role
Experience highlights
USD20bn project financing acting for the project companies, and on the subsequent USD8.9bn refinancing. This remains the world’s largest project financing. Global Deal of the Year, Project Finance 2012; Asian-MENA Counsel Deal of the Year 2013; Asia Pacific Loan Market Association (APLMA) Awards 2014 - Syndicated Project Finance Deal of the Year
JBIC, NEXI and other lenders in relation to the project financing of a USD$926 million loan for the development of a waste to energy (WtE) facility in Warsan, Dubai. This was the first WtE plant in Dubai, and one of the world’s largest. Deal of the Year 2021 – PFI Awards 2021
JBIC, NEXI and ADB and the commercial lenders on the USD1.8bn 2x800MW Jawa 1 FSRU and gas-fired IPP project in Indonesia, the first LNG-to-Power project in Asia. Asia Pacific Power – Gas Deal of the Year – Jawa 1, IJ Global Awards 2019. Project Finance Deal of the Year, IFLR Asia-Pacific 2019
USD5bn project financing acting for the lenders. This was the first ever project financing of an FLNG project and was the largest project financing in African history at the time. Midstream Oil & Gas Deal of the Year, IJ Global 2018. ECA-backed Energy Deal of the Year, TXF 2018

Qualifications
Professional
Registered Foreign Lawyer (Australia, New South Wales, England & Wales), Japan, 2010, 2014 (Tokyo Bar Association)
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2006
Admitted as solicitor, New South Wales, Australia, 2001
Academic
Bcom, Accounting, The University of New South Wales, 2000
LLB (Hons), The University of New South Wales, 2000
Graduate Diploma, Legal Practice, The College of Law, Sydney, 2001
Other noteworthy experience
Advising:
LNG Liquefaction
- Tangguh LNG Train 3 expansion project – USD3.745bn trustee borrower scheme financing acting for the lenders.
- Donggi Senoro LNG – All aspects of the project acting for the project company. This included a USD2.8bn project financing and was the first time the trustee borrower scheme was dispensed with and the first all Asian sponsored LNG project.
- Bonny Island LNG complex expansion project – Nigeria LNG and its shareholders on the financing of the seventh phase expansion of its Bonny Island LNG complex.
LNG regasification and LNG to power
- Jawa 1 gas to power in Indonesia – USD1.8bn project financing acting for the lenders. This was the first integrated gas to power project in Asia and is a 1,760MW gas fired power plant and an FSRU.
- Manzanillo onshore LNG regasification plant in Mexico – USD875mn project financing acting for the project company.
Power
- 50MW Tsetsii wind farm in Mongolia – acting for the lenders. This was the first dollar-denominated project finance debt transaction by JICA through its Private Sector Investment Finance scheme.
- 129MW Q10 offshore wind farm in the Netherlands – acting for the lenders.
- 210MW Westermost Rough wind farm in England – acting for the lenders. This was the first financing in the UK OSW sector which took construction risk.
- 1,800MW gas fired power plant in Sharjah, UAE – acting for the project company. Included a USD1bn financing.
- Acquisition of 5 CCGT power plants (2.2GW) and a gas pipeline in Mexico by Mitsui and Tokyo Gas – acting for the lenders on the USD750mn innovative limited recourse portfolio financing. 90MW geothermal power plant in Theistareykir, Iceland – acting for JBIC. The USD68mn buyer’s credit financing included JBIC’s first loan to Iceland.
Acquisition financing
- Acquisition of Jaguar and LandRover by Tata Motors from Ford – acting for the lenders on the USD3bn financing.
- Acquisition of RBC’s aircraft leasing business by SMBC and Sumitomo Corporation – acting for JBIC on the USD3bn financing.
Pro bono
- Scott advised UNOPS in relation to its investment in Acme Solar Holdings Ltd’s 250MW solar project in Rajasthan, India.
Published work
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"Japan's new energy strategy: Reflections on COP" (November 2021)
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"How COP26 will be relevant to future financings: Reflections on COP" (November 2021)
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"Spotlight on COP: The USD100 Billion Pledge" (November 2021)
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S Neilson, 'Export credit agencies' (2017) Liquefied Natural Gas, The Law and Business LNG, Third Edition.
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S Neilson, 'Home Loans' (2009) March Asialaw 14.
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S Neilson, 'Effects of the Credit Crunch on Asia' (2008) 1(2) Bloomberg Law Reports 14.
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S Neilson, 'Erosion of Security; Impact of Changes under the Water Management Act 2000 (NSW) on financier's security' (2003) Journal of Banking and Finance Law and Practise.
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P Lalich & S Neilson, 'Review of the Land and Environment Court's Jurisdiction: Discussion of issues relating to the Working Party review and reform of the Court' (2001) 7(1) Local Government Law Journal 49. Law Reports 14.
Recognition
"Scott Neilson is highly praised for his project finance expertise. He is regarded as a 'great go-to lawyer' who is 'very clever and very commercial,' with one client emphasising his regulatory knowledge, stating: 'He is very engaged and in touch with regulations and the market'."
Chambers Global 2023 (Japan: Banking & Finance – International Firms)
"Scott Neilson is a seasoned lawyer in Japan who has a stellar reputation for his work on both domestic and international project development and financing mandates. He also offers significant experience on energy sector investments, advising on both inbound and outbound transactions."
Chambers Asia Pacific, 2022 (Japan: Projects & Energy – International Firms)
"Scott is the cream of the crop of advisers; he's responsive and always provides on-point, meaningful insights and advice."
Chambers Asia Pacific, 2023 (Japan: Projects & Energy – International Firms)
Scott Neilson [is] whip smart and delivers excellent insights and technical support.
Chambers Asia Pacific, 2022 (Japan: Projects & Energy – International Firms)
Awards & accolades
Ranked Band 1: Projects & Energy in Japan (International Firms)
Chambers Asia Pacific, 2021, 2022, 2023
Leading Individual: Projects and Energy in Japan (International Firms: Gaiben)
Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Global Leader, Project Finance
Who's Who Legal 2022