LAWYER PROFILE

Paul Coggins

Asia-Pacific 2026

Watson Farley & Williams (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo Horitsu Jimusho)

Ranked in 2 practice areas

Banking & Finance: International Asset Finance

Japan

8 years ranked

Shipping

Japan

1 year ranked

About

Provided by Watson Farley & Williams (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo Horitsu Jimusho)

Practice Areas

Paul is a banking and finance lawyer based in Tokyo, focusing on the shipping and offshore sectors. He acts for commercial banks, ECAs and sponsors in the financing of all manner of ships and offshore units using various financing structures, including complex cross-border project and asset-based leasing and debt facilities.

Paul also has considerable experience drafting and negotiating commercial shipping agreements, including shipbuilding contracts and charterparties, and advising on the sale and purchase of ships, ship-owning companies and distressed shipping loans, acting for ship owners, charterers and financiers.

Before joining the Tokyo office in 2010, Paul spent time in London and Singapore with a well-known international shipping law firm and on secondment to the Asia Shipping Desk of a leading bank in Hong Kong.

Paul read Classics at Cambridge University and was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2008.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Asia & Pacific

Banking & Finance: International Asset Finance - Japan

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Paul Coggins is widely respected as a pre-eminent figure in ship finance.

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Shipping - Japan

Spotlight

Individual Editorial

Paul Coggins of Watson Farley & Williams operates a prominent ship finance practice in Japan. He advises sponsors and lenders on complex financing structures, including JOLCO transactions, and is experienced in enforcement matters such as ship arrests in liquidation scenarios.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

We highly rate him for his in-depth knowledge of maritime affairs, quick response and appropriate information sharing, utilising the NRF network when consulting in areas outside his specialty.
Banking & Finance: International Asset FinanceChambers Asia & Pacific
Paul has expertise in ship financing, is reliable, understands Japanese corporate culture and can provide follow-up.
ShippingChambers Asia & Pacific
Paul Coggins provides a fast and satisfactory service.
ShippingChambers Asia & Pacific