Shigeki Obi is an associate 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 Dislcoure Task Force, which created 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 obtained a J.D. degree from Kobe Law School, Japan, with the highest distinction, and an LL.M. degree 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.
Recognitions
Ones to Watch (Commercial Litigation), The Best Lawyers in America (2026)
Publications
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 (15 June 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, 13 September 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 Engagement
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)
The Japan Association of International Economic Law (International Arbitration & ADR Committee, Study Committee and Investment Treaty Arbitration Committee)
Highlighted 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 a uranium supply contract dispute where a tribunal of international arbitrators dismissed the bulk of a $700 million claim brought by Canada’s largest uranium mining company
Representation of Grab, Southeast Asia's leading super app, in securing $706 million from MUFG, Japan's largest bank, and $150 million from Tokyo-based TIS Inc., a provider of network solutions and system integration services, for a total of $856 million. Grab and MUFG will also co-develop next-generation financial products and services
