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Biography
John Benson serves as Co-Head of the Maritime Finance Group within the Maritime and Transportation Practice.
John regularly acts for funds and financial institutions as well as owners and operators on the full lifecycle of maritime investments from the acquisition of assets to the structuring and negotiating of asset-backed transactions to navigating the divestment of assets and restructurings.
John is admitted to practice law in New York and the Republic of the Marshall Islands and regularly provides clients with integrated U.S., Liberian and Marshall Islands maritime and corporate law advice.
Capabilities
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Education
Villanova University School of Law
- J.D., 2002
Villanova University
- B.A., 1999
Bar Admissions
- New York
- Republic of the Marshall Islands
Representative Work
- Advising a U.S. private equity fund on the structuring and execution of the sale and leaseback of six vessels.
- Advising a private equity fund on the structuring and acquisition of multiple vessels and direct implementation of a newbuilding program.
- Advising a private equity fund on the acquisition, financing and commercial arrangements in respect of two containerships.
- Advising an operating company in respect of debt restructuring.
- Advising a private equity fund on the sale of assets acquired through bankruptcy proceedings.
Recognitions
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2026: Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Finance
- Highly Ranked by The Legal 500 U.S. 2026: Transport: Shipping – Finance
- Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in Maritime, Admiralty, & The High Seas (2026)
- John is recognized as an “Expert Based Abroad” in the Marshall Islands and Liberia by Chambers Global, and as a leading asset finance lawyer by Legal 500 US, IFLR1000 and Chambers USA, with the last noting he is “highly knowledgeable about shipping company legal requirements across multiple areas, such as finance, asset sale and purchase, risk management and organization structure.”
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Education
Villanova University School of Law
- J.D., 2002
Villanova University
- B.A., 1999
Bar Admissions
- New York
- Republic of the Marshall Islands
Representative Work
- Advising a U.S. private equity fund on the structuring and execution of the sale and leaseback of six vessels.
- Advising a private equity fund on the structuring and acquisition of multiple vessels and direct implementation of a newbuilding program.
- Advising a private equity fund on the acquisition, financing and commercial arrangements in respect of two containerships.
- Advising an operating company in respect of debt restructuring.
- Advising a private equity fund on the sale of assets acquired through bankruptcy proceedings.
Recognitions
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2026: Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Finance
- Highly Ranked by The Legal 500 U.S. 2026: Transport: Shipping – Finance
- Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in Maritime, Admiralty, & The High Seas (2026)
- John is recognized as an “Expert Based Abroad” in the Marshall Islands and Liberia by Chambers Global, and as a leading asset finance lawyer by Legal 500 US, IFLR1000 and Chambers USA, with the last noting he is “highly knowledgeable about shipping company legal requirements across multiple areas, such as finance, asset sale and purchase, risk management and organization structure.”
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Seward & Kissel Highly Ranked by The Legal 500 U.S. 2026 – Jon Benson recognized for Transport: Shipping – finance
June 18, 2026
IINSIGHT
Customs and Border Protection Publishes Implementation of 60-Day Jones Act Waiver as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Disrupts Energy Markets
March 20, 2026
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Five Seward & Kissel partners selected to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in Maritime, Admiralty & The High Seas guide
June 3, 2026
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Seward & Kissel Highly Ranked by The Legal 500 U.S. 2026 – Jon Benson recognized for Transport: Shipping – finance
June 18, 2026
IINSIGHT
Customs and Border Protection Publishes Implementation of 60-Day Jones Act Waiver as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Disrupts Energy Markets
March 20, 2026
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Five Seward & Kissel partners selected to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in Maritime, Admiralty & The High Seas guide
June 3, 2026
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Seward & Kissel Highly Ranked by The Legal 500 U.S. 2026 – Jon Benson recognized for Transport: Shipping – finance
June 18, 2026
IINSIGHT
Customs and Border Protection Publishes Implementation of 60-Day Jones Act Waiver as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Disrupts Energy Markets
March 20, 2026
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Five Seward & Kissel partners selected to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in Maritime, Admiralty & The High Seas guide
June 3, 2026
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Seward & Kissel Highly Ranked by The Legal 500 U.S. 2026 – Jon Benson recognized for Transport: Shipping – finance
June 18, 2026
IINSIGHT
Customs and Border Protection Publishes Implementation of 60-Day Jones Act Waiver as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Disrupts Energy Markets
March 20, 2026
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Five Seward & Kissel partners selected to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in Maritime, Admiralty & The High Seas guide
June 3, 2026