Image of Zachary ODell

Zachary O'Dell

Counsel

Email

zachary.odell@aoshearman.com

Phone

+49 69 2648 5803

Offices

Frankfurt

V-CARD
Zachary's practice focuses on international dispute resolution, including commercial arbitration and transnational litigation and enforcement matters across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia.

He regularly acts as counsel to both claimants and respondents in a wide variety of commercial, post-M&A, construction, and energy arbitrations before and under the rules of the leading global arbitral institutions. He has also advised clients in connection with regulatory enforcement actions and white-collar criminal investigations.

Zachary has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal as a Future Leader in Arbitration since 2023 and by Handelsblatt / Best Lawyers Ones to Watch for International Arbitration in Germany since 2024. He is a U.S. national who also regularly lectures on U.S. written and oral advocacy at the Philipps University Marburg.

Experience

Representative matters

  • A German energy trader in an ICC arbitration seated in Geneva relating to short-term gas supply contracts governed by German law.
  • An Austrian company in a DIS arbitration seated in Frankfurt concerning a post-M&A dispute under German law.
  • A leading Latin American retailer in an ICC arbitration with New York seat under German law relating to a post-M&A dispute.
  • An Italian contractor in an ICC arbitration relating to the design and construction of a petrochemical plant in the Middle East.
  • Middle Eastern state petroleum company in an ICC arbitration seated in Geneva relating to a construction engineering project under Iraqi law.
  • Asian company in an ICC arbitration seated in London under English law relating to a sale and purchase agreement.
  • An Italian insurance company in an arbitration under Swiss Rules with Zurich seat pursuant to Swiss, Italian, Dutch, and Brazilian law relating to a sale and purchase agreement.
  • A European natural gas company in an ICC arbitration with Vienna seat under Austrian law in connection with long-term gas transportation contracts.
  • An Italian company in an ICC arbitration with Paris seat under English law relating to an oil and gas EPCC project in North Africa.
  • An Eastern European oil and gas corporation in SCC arbitration proceedings seated in Stockholm relating to a dispute arising out of alleged breaches of contract and related tort and statutory-based claims under Greek law.
  • An Italian oil and gas company in ICC proceedings arising out of procurement contracts subject to English and Algerian law for the design and construction of an oil and gas pipeline in the MENA region.
  • A global investment bank and financial service provider in connection with investigations and civil litigation involving financial benchmarks, including foreign exchange trading, conducted by the DOJ, CFTC, SEC and other regulators around the world.

Published Work

  • O’Dell, Z. (2021) “An Examination of the 2020 Revision of the IBA Rules of Evidence”, Munich: SchiedsVZ 6/2021 (Co-Author with Nettlau, H., and Hackstein, T.)
  • O’Dell, Z. (2022, Pierce, J.V.H. and Gunter P., eds.) “Why Arbitrate International IP Disputes” in The Guide to IP Arbitration, 2d ed., London: Global Arbitration Review (Co-Author with Herrington, D.H., and Mgaloblshvili, L.)
  • O’Dell, Z. (2019) “The Prague Rules and the Myth of a Civil Law Panacea”, New York: New York Dispute Resolution Lawyer (Co-Author with Emanuele, F., Santoro, C., and MacKinnon, A.D.)
  • O’Dell, Z. (2016) “The New York Convention and Insolvency”, São Paulo: Revista de Arbitragem e Mediação (Brazil) (Co-Author with Kreindler, R. and Rothe, N.)

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Listed Practitioner, Vienna International Arbitral Centre
  • Gender Champion, DIS-ERA Pledge Gender Champion Initiative (2020 – 2023)

Awards

  • Future Leaders, Who’s Who Legal Arbitration, 2024
  • Ones to Watch – International Arbitration, Handelsblatt / Best Lawyers, 2024
  • Future Leaders, Who’s Who Legal Arbitration, 2023

Qualifications

Admissions

State of New York, USA, 2015

Academic

LL.M. (with honors), Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, IL, USA, 2014

J.D. (magna cum laude, Order of the Coif), Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, IL, USA, 2014

B.A. (summa cum laude), University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA, 2007

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.