Rintaro Hirano
Image of Rintaro Hirano

Rintaro Hirano

Partner

Rintaro focuses on Japanese-law debt finance, with particular depth in leveraged finance and private credit, alongside a strong track record in energy, infrastructure and real estate financing.

He has extensive experience on complex financing transactions supporting private equity acquisitions, M&A and large‑scale projects, and is frequently involved in transactions that combine global sponsor requirements with complex Japanese-law structures.

Rintaro regularly supports financial institutions, funds and corporate clients, including banks, private equity sponsors, developers and infrastructure investors. His work helps clients deploy capital efficiently in Japan’s evolving private equity, leveraged finance and energy and infrastructure markets, balancing commercial objectives with the technical demands of Japanese-law financing. Rintaro is also well-known for his ability to support international lenders, sponsors and investors navigating the Japanese market, particularly where transactions involve non‑recourse or limited‑recourse structures, project finance and asset‑backed financing.

Rintaro’s experience spans a wide range of sectors, including data centers, renewable and conventional power, infrastructure assets and real estate, and includes work on both milestone projects and cross‑border financings.

Experience

Representative matters

Relevant previous firm experience includes advising:

  • An international developer on development of a 44MW solar project in Fukushima, Japan.
  • An international cruise ship operator in relation to development an international cruise terminal building in Kumamoto, Japan.
  • JICA in relation to providing project finance to the concession project of Palau International Airport in Palau.
  • A major Japanese financial institution on structuring a non/limited-recourse financing structure for funding data center projects.
  • A Japanese debt fund in relation to providing a mezzanine debt in relation to a M&A transaction led by a global private equity fund.
  • A Japanese debt fund in relation to providing a mezzanine debt in relation to a M&A transaction led by a Japanese private equity fund.
  • A Japanese major utility in relation to development of an off-shore wind farm in Japan.
  • Mizuho Bank on a number of real estate non-recourse financing transactions.
  • Kansai Electric in relation to formation of a renewable energy fund.
  • Permira in relation to procuring LBO finance for its acquisition of John Master Organics.
  • Bain Capital in relation to procuring LBO finance for its acquisition of Toshiba Memory Corporation.
  • SMTB in relation to arranging project finance for a 20MW solar project in Shizuoka, Japan.
  • SMBC in relation to arranging project finance for development of a 112MW biomass-power plant in Miyagi, Japan.
  • SMBC in relation to arranging project finance for concession of a portfolio of 20MW hydro-power plants in Tottori, Japan.
  • Mizuho Bank and SMBC in relation to arranging project finance for concession of Kansai International Airport and Osaka International Airport (and Kobe Airport).
  • Development Bank of Japan and Mizuho Bank in relation to arranging project finance for concession of  Fukuoka Airport (and Kobe Airport).

Published Work

  • Rintaro Hirano, Others (July 2025) “Chambers Global Practice Guides: Power Generation, Transmission & Distribution 2025 – Japan – Law & Practice
  • Rintaro Hirano, Others (November 2024) “Chambers Global Practice Guides: Project Finance 2025 – Japan – Law & Practice
  • Rintaro Hirano, Others (November 2024) “Chambers Global Practice Guides: Project Finance 2025 – Japan – Law & Practice
  • Rintaro Hirano, Others (November 2024) “Chambers Global Practice Guides: Power Generation, Transmission & Distribution 2025 – Japan – Law & Practice”
  • Rintaro Hirano, Others (2024) “Chambers Global Practice Guides: Project Finance 2024 – Japan – Law & Practice”
  • Rintaro Hirano, Others (2023) “Chamber Global Practice Guides Alternative Energy & Power 2023 – Japan - Law & Practice”

Recognition

[Rintaro] communicates closely with clients, fully understands their needs and accurately provides the most effective advice based on his experience.
Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific 2026: Projects & Energy – Japan (Domestic)

Awards

  • Recognized practitioner: Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific 2026: Projects & Energy – Japan (Domestic)
  • Recognized practitioner: Best Lawyers in Japan 2026 – Project Finance and Development
  • Recognized practitioner: Best Lawyers in Japan 2026 – Structured Finance

Qualifications

Admissions

Attorney-at-Law (bengoshi), Japan, 2000 (Dai-Ichi Bar Association and Japan Federation of Bar Associations)

Attorney-at-Law, New York, 2008

Academic

MBA, INSEAD, Fontainbleau, France, 2009

LLM, Columbia Law School, New York, United States, 2007

LLB, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2000

Languages

Japanese, English
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.