Shigeki Obi
Locations
Languages Spoken
Japanese
Bar Admissions
New York Japan
Education
Columbia University, School of Law, LL.M. Kobe University, Graduate School of Law, J.D. The University of Tokyo, LL.B.
Shigeki Obi is Special Counsel in Hughes Hubbard & Reed's New York office and a member of the firm’s litigation department and the Asia Pacific practice group. He represents a variety of Japanese and international clients in commercial and investment arbitrations, and litigations across the country.
Shigeki is a member of the Arbitration Committee of the International Institute of Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR). He was the Chair of the CPR Arbitrator Disclosure Task Force, which published the Guidelines for Arbitrator Disclosure in August 2024, and is a judge for the CPR Annual Awards. The Best Lawyers in America recognized him as one of the “Ones to Watch” for 2026.
Before joining Hughes Hubbard & Reed, Shigeki was an Assistant Legal Counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, where he worked on investor-state and inter-state arbitrations. Shigeki was the first Japan-licensed attorney in the history of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Shigeki also worked for leading law firms in Japan, New York and São Paulo.
Shigeki received a J.D. from Kobe Law School, Japan, with the highest distinction, and an LL.M. from Columbia Law School. He is a graduate of the University of Tokyo (LL.B.). Shigeki is currently a part-time PhD researcher at the University of Amsterdam on international investment law.
Selected Matters
- Representation of a Ukrainian investor in an UNCITRAL arbitration against the Russian Federation
- Representation of a Japanese manufacturer in a SIAC arbitration against an Indonesian power plant owner
- Representation of Japanese suppliers in litigation against the manufacturer of parts subject to a worldwide product recall
- Representation of Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) in an ICC arbitration concerning a uranium supply contract, in which the tribunal dismissed the bulk of a $700 million claim brought by Canada’s largest uranium mining company
Recognitions
- Ones to Watch (Commercial Litigation), The Best Lawyers in America (2026)
Publications
- Guidelines for Arbitrator Disclosure, CPR Dispute Resolution, Chair (Aug. 2024)
- Israel-Japan Bilateral Investment Treaty, International Bar Association News Letter (co-author, August 30, 2019)
- Deposition in Japan for U.S.-Based Arbitration, Young ICCA Blog (June 15, 2017)
- Basics of International Investment Arbitration (1)-Introduction, 45 International Business Law 4 (The Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc. 2017)
- Basics of International Investment Arbitration (2)-Fair and Equitable Treatment (1), 45 International Business Law 5 (The Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc. 2017)
- Basics of International Investment Arbitration (3)-Fair and Equitable Treatment (2), 45 International Business Law 6 (The Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc. 2017)
- Basics of International Investment Arbitration (4)-Fair and Equitable Treatment (3), 45 International Business Law 7 (The Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc. 2017)
- Basics of International Investment Arbitration (5)-Fair and Equitable Treatment (4) and Full Protection and Security, 45 International Business Law 8 (The Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc. 2017)
- Basics of International Investment Arbitration (6)-National Treatment, 45 International Business Law 9 (The Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc. 2017)
- Basics of International Investment Arbitration (7)-Most Favored Nation Treatment, 45 International Business Law 10 (The Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc. 2017)
- Basics of International Investment Arbitration (8)-Expropriation, 45 International Business Law 11 (The Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc. 2017)
- Basics of International Investment Arbitration (9)-Umbrella Clause, 45 International Business Law 12 (The Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc. 2017)
- Basics of International Investment Arbitration (10)-Defenses, 46 International Business Law 1 (The Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc. 2018)
- Basics of International Investment Arbitration (11)-ISDS Provision, 46 International Business Law 2 (The Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc. 2018)
- Basics of International Investment Arbitration (12)-Nationality, 46 International Business Law 3 (The Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc. 2018)
- Basics of International Investment Arbitration (13)-Investment, 46 International Business Law 4 (The Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc. 2018)
- Arbitration in Brazil, Biz Buddy (Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, (September 13, 2016)
- Interim Draft on Amendments to the Civil Code and the Opinion of the Tokyo Bar Association, 13 The Tokyo Bar Association Journal 7 (co-author, The Tokyo Bar Association 2013)
- Overview of Draft Outline of Amendments to The Companies Act and its Impact on Practice, Junkan Keirijoho 1324 (co-author, Chuokeizai-sha 2012)
- Opinions of Companies as Public Comments on Interim Summary Report on Amendment to The Civil Law (Vol. 1), 12 Business Homu 3 (co-author, Chuokeizai-sha 2012)
- Opinions of Companies as Public Comments on Interim Summary Report on Amendment to The Civil Law (Vol. 2), 12 Business Homu 4 (co-author, Chuokeizai-sha 2012)
- Opinions of Companies as Public Comments on Interim Summary Report on Amendment to The Civil Law (Vol. 3), 12 Business Homu 5 (co-author, Chuokeizai-sha 2012)
- Opinion on “Interim Summary of Issues on Amendment to Civil Code (Contract Law Related)” (co-author, Tokyo Bar Association ed., Shinzan-sha 2011)
Speaking Engagements
- U.S. Litigation – Your U.S. Subsidiary Is Sued. Do You Need to Produce Documents?, Webinar, Mar. 10, 2021 (speaker, Epiq Webinar)
- International Arbitration – Potential Advantages for Japanese Companies, Webinar, Dec. 16, 2020 (speaker, AOS Webinar)
- International Arbitration – Document Production Strategies, Webinar, Nov. 19, 2020 (speaker, Fronteo Webinar)
- U.S. Litigation – How to Prepare, Protect Yourself, and Maximize Your Chances of Success, Webinar, Oct. 13, 2020 (speaker, AOS Webinar)
- Investment Arbitration – Practical Tips from Investment Arbitration Experts, Tokyo, Japan, 25 January 2018 (panelist, Young Arbitration Forum, the International Chambers of Commerce)
Activities
- Judge, Annual Awards Program, International Institute of Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR) (current)
- Chair, Arbitrator Disclosure Task Force, CPR (2023-2024)
- Member, E-Discovery Protocol Sub-Committee, CPR (2021)
- Secretary, Arbitration Committee, CPR (2019-2020)
- Tokyo Bar Association
- The Japan Association of International Economic Law (International Arbitration & ADR Committee, Study Committee and Investment Treaty Arbitration Committee)
News & Insights For Shigeki Obi
View All News & Insightsロシア産ガスからの「即時離脱」：市場への影響、契約上のリスク及びそれらをいかに予見・管理すべきか
欧州が、長年にわたって続いてきたロシア産ガスへの依存から、事実上一気に脱却しようとしていることが正式に明らかになった。2027年末までにロシア産天然ガスの輸入を全面的に停止するという欧州の決定は、ここ数十年の欧州エネルギー市場において、最も大きな構造転換の一つに位置付けられる。市場関係者にとって、もはや問題はロシア産ガスが欧州市場から退出するかどうかではなく、その退出を極めて短い期間の中でいかに管理するか、そして、その急激な移行が、契約実務、供給関係、さらには市場全体におけるリスク配分の在り方をどのように変えていくのかという点に移っている。
US Legal News for Japanese Companies
This newsletter reports on U.S. legal matters relevant to Japanese companies for the period from October to December 2025. In this issue, we discuss various matters, including the filing of cases in the U.S. Court of International Trade for potential tariff refunds.
日本企業のための米国ニュースレター
本ニュースレターでは、2025年10月から12月にかけて、日本企業に関連する米国法務の主要な動向についてお知らせします。今回の号では、IEEPA関税が無効と判断された場合に備え、米国国際貿易裁判所で相次いで提起されている関税還付に関する訴訟をはじめ、注目すべき様々なトピックを取り上げています。
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