Alfred J. Kuffler

Alfred J. Kuffler has more than 40 years of admiralty, insurance coverage and defense, commercial contract, maritime products liability and construction law experience, representing national and international clients in the marine, insurance, transportation, energy, commodity trading and heavy manufacturing industries.

His maritime and admiralty practice concentrates on hull, cargo, pollution, salvage, charter, maritime contract matters, personal injury and general maritime lien issues, together with marine and energy insurance and reinsurance cases. Experience in the charter arena includes representation of both owners and charterers. Representation in maritime pollution incidents began with the original Clean Water Act in the early 1970s and continues to the present.

Fred's insurance practice has included coverage disputes, defense and prosecution of subrogation claims. Coverage issues have involved both direct and reinsurance matters in the marine and non-marine contexts.

Commercial cases have included disputes over leases for land and ships, the purchase and sale of commodities, and financing instruments such as letters of credit, used in international trade.

Fred also coordinated a nationwide project for the submission of amicus curiae, or friend of the court, briefs on issues of interest to his clients arising out of environmental coverage cases.

In addition to his broad trial experience, Fred has considerable experience with alternative dispute resolution procedures. He has represented parties to arbitral proceedings and private mediations, and has sat both as an arbitrator and mediator. He has represented a claimant with a major claim at the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal.

Fred's practice also has a transactional side, which involves negotiating and providing advice to clients on issues related to contracts falling within the areas of substantive practice, risk management matters, and environmental concerns within the marine industry. He has drafted insurance and reinsurance policy contracts. He also has negotiated and drafted contracts for a major project involving the importation of liquified natural gas, as well as terminalling agreements.

Between 1979 and 1999, Fred was a managing partner at Palmer Biezup & Henderson in Philadelphia. Prior to Palmer Biezup, Fred was an associate (1967-1976) and later a partner (1976-1979) with Rawle & Henderson in Philadelphia.

Fred graduated from Cornell University (LL.B.) and from Princeton University (A.B., cum laude).