James Hearne is a projects and cross-border M&A specialist with significant experience advising Japanese and international clients on transactions in the energy and natural resources sector.

James is an English law qualified lawyer with over 15 years' experience advising on complex cross-border investments, acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, strategic alliances, project development and project operational matters, as well as on general corporate and commercial matters, particularly within the energy, natural resources, power, mining, metals, chemicals, technology and telecoms sectors.

His energy and natural resources sector experience includes advising on:
・conventional energy projects (including oil & gas, LNG, power and coal projects);
・energy transition projects (including hydrogen, ammonia, CCS/CCUS, carbon farming, carbon credits, biofuels and battery storage projects);
・renewables projects (including solar, wind, hydro and biomass projects), and
・offtake, trading and shipping of energy products (including LNG, coal, hydrogen, ammonia and biofuels).

James advises:
・Japanese clients on their overseas projects (outside of Japan), outbound investments and cross-border transactions with international counterparties; and
・international clients on their Japanese projects, inbound investments into Japan and cross-border transactions with Japanese counterparties.

He has advised on transactions and projects across the globe, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania and South America.

Prior to joining Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, James worked for top-tier law firms in London and Tokyo for over a decade. He also worked in-house at a major Japanese general trading company for five years as a senior legal counsel and deputy general manager of the energy legal department, which developed his deep understanding of clients' needs, strong commercial awareness and clear communication skills.

James has been recognised as a "Next Generation Lawyer" for corporate and M&A work in Japan by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific law firm directory in 2018 and 2019.