Ben’s recent experience includes securing a US$1.3 billion award on behalf of East Mediterranean Gas in a CRCICA arbitration brought against the Egyptian State oil and gas companies, a US$1.2 billion award on behalf of Rusoro Mining in an ICSID Additional Facility arbitration against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and defeating several attempts to annul ICSID awards rendered against Latin American States.

Ben has particular experience in negotiating and arbitrating disputes under agreements relating to the production, distribution, sale, and purchase of oil and natural gas. This includes numerous disputes concerning pricing, payment and invoicing, and force majeure provisions arising out of the termination of gas supply from Egypt to Israel following the Arab Spring, disputes concerning the validity of destination clauses in LNG sale and purchase agreements, and disputes involving upstream hydrocarbons and gas supply agreements in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

Ben was named a Thought Leader in international arbitration the 2021 edition of Who’s Who Legal, and was featured as key lawyer in international arbitration in the 2021 edition of Legal 500 Latin America. Ben was also selected as a “Rising Star” in international arbitration by Law360 in 2019, and was named among the Most Highly Regarded Individuals and a Future Leader in international arbitration in the 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 editions of Who’s Who Legal. Sources commented that he is “an esteemed practitioner” and “a rock star in his field,” who “exhibits ‘multijurisdictional experience coupled with excellent and tireless advocacy,’” and is “poised, knowledgeable, likeable and eminently qualified,” “very good with clients,” and “unparalleled in investment law matters.”

Ben teaches international investment law and arbitration at Brooklyn Law School, acts as Director of the New York chapter of AIPN, and is a member of the ITA’s Executive Board and Strategic Planning Committee. He also serves on the Peer Review Board of the ICSID Review, as a Corresponding Editor of International Legal Materials, and on the IBA’s Subcommittee for Investment Arbitration.

Qualified in both New York and Texas, Ben received law degrees from the University of Texas and Université de Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. He speaks English and French, and reads Spanish.