Mr Benjamin Coffer > Chambers of Poonam Melwani KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
Quadrant Chambers Offices
Quadrant Chambers
QUADRANT HOUSE, 10 FLEET STREET
LONDON
EC4Y 1AU
England
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Mr Benjamin Coffer
Position
Ben has a broad international commercial practice, with a particular emphasis on shipping, commodities and insurance / reinsurance. He was named Shipping Junior of the Year at the Chambers & Partners Bar Awards 2019, and shortlisted for Shipping Junior of the Year for Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards in 2022. He has appeared in several of the leading shipping cases in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal in recent years, including The Thorco Lineage [2023] EWHC 26 (Comm), The CMA CGM LIBRA [2021] UKSC 51 (Supreme Court); Volcafe v. CSAV [2019] AC 358 (Supreme Court); The Lady M [2019] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 109 (Court of Appeal); The Maersk Tangier [2018] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 59 (Court of Appeal); and The Aqasia [2018] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 530 (Court of Appeal). Ben is increasingly appointed as an arbitrator and is a supporting member of the LMAA.
Career
Called 2008; Middle Temple.
Languages
French.
Memberships
LMAA Supporting Member; COMBAR; LCIA Young International Arbitration Group
Education
St John’s College, Oxford (BA in English, first class); The College of Law (Graduate Diploma in Law, distinction); Inns of Court School of Law (Bar Vocational Course, outstanding).
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Insurance and reinsurance
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3Benjamin Coffer – Quadrant Chambers ‘Benjamin’s advice is always clear and succinct. He is able to explain the minutiae of his legal reasoning in simple terms and his drafting work has consistently been excellent.’
The insurance and reinsurance practice at Quadrant Chambers is involved in a mixture of marine insurance and non-marine insurance cases, with members of the set being involved in a number of high profile insurance claims including the Russian aviation litigation, as well as marine cases arising out of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Guy Blackwood KC is involved in Aercap (and others) v AIG (and others), the case concerning the seizure of Russian aircraft from foreign lessors after the invasion of Ukraine. Simon Rainey KC has a broad marine insurance practice, while Luke Parsons KC has also been instructed by top insurance firm for marine-related work. Benjamin Coffer is another key name from the set.
London Bar > Shipping
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 1Benjamin Coffer –Quadrant Chambers ‘Ben is extremely smart, commercially minded and, importantly, gives pragmatic, realistic advice. He is a very strong advocate.’
London Bar > Commodities
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2Benjamin Coffer – Quadrant Chambers ‘He is particularly good in understanding the mind of the judges and the arbitrators and is very persuasive, cutting to the core of the issue.’
Quadrant Chambers is ‘very highly regarded for commodities and has many excellent barristers practicing in this area‘. The team is well versed in handling commodities disputes, acting for sellers, buyers and interested parties in litigation, and is also sought after for its strength in international arbitration, advising on matters under LCIA, ICC, GAFTA, FOSFA and RSA rules. Simon Rainey KC and Simon Croall KC are highly respected silks, with excellent reputations in acting for major trading houses and energy companies in disputes. Yash Kulkarni KC acted for the claimants in Africa Sourcing v Rockwinds, a challenge to an arbitration award issued by the Federation of Cocoa Commerce, which involved issues surrounding duty of disclosure. Among the juniors, Benjamin Coffer, who is often instructed to advise on arbitrations heard under trade association rules, and Ben Gardner are key contacts. Bolstering the team at the senior end, Paul Toms KC took silk in March 2024.