Ana Vermal is a partner in the Litigation Department and co-head of the firm’s International Arbitration Group.
Ana Vermal is a seasoned quadrilingual lawyer with extensive experience in both common law and civil law. With over 20 years of experience, she represents corporations from around the world on complex arbitrations arising from cross-border business transactions including acquisitions, joint ventures, distribution and licensing agreements. Ana handles arbitral proceedings under the rules of all major arbitral institutions, and is frequently appointed to serve as an arbitrator. In addition, she represents clients before courts in France and the United States in legal proceedings related to the enforcement or annulment of arbitral awards.
From 2018 to 2024, Ana served on the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). In that capacity, Ana participated in the Court’s judicial supervision of ICC arbitrations, including the appointment of arbitrators, decisions on challenges against arbitrators and the scrutiny and approval of ICC arbitral awards.
Ana is currently a member of the Arbitration Council of the DIS (Deutsche Institution für Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit), in which she participates in the Council’s supervision of DIS Arbitrations. Ana is an immediate past Vice Chair of the Arbitration Committee of the International Bar Association, co-heads the IBA’s Task Force on AI in International Arbitration and serves as the Argentine representative to the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR. Additionally, she is a frequent speaker on international arbitration topics.
Ana's wealth of legal and cultural experience is highly sought after by our clients. An Argentine and Spanish national, she has lived in Germany, Spain, the United States and France, and is fluent in English, French, Spanish and German. Ana is qualified to practice law in both New York and Paris.
Ana is widely recognized for her legal acuman and courtoom prowess. Chambers Global notes that clients praise Ana for her 'extremely strong courtroom presence and strong cross-examination skills." Similaly, The Legal 500 EMEA describes her as “a great strategic thinker” who “shows an unmatched commitment to her clients and a knowledge and understanding of case law and the intricacies of each case that distinguish” her. Who's Who Legal recognizes Ana "as a ‘brilliant and insightful counsel with vast knowledge of international arbitration proceedings’. She comes highly commended for her expertise in post-M&A and contractual disputes.”
Paris +33.1.53.05.68.16
New York +1.212.969.3233
Education
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University of San Diego School of Law, LL.M.
Sorbonne Scholar -
University of Paris I, Pantheon Sorbonne, D.E.A.
With Honors -
University of Paris I, Pantheon Sorbonne, MAIT
With Honors
Admissions & Qualifications
- New York
- Paris
Memberships
Member, Arbitration Council of the DIS (Deutsche Institution für Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit)
International Bar Association (Vice Chair, Arbitration Committee)
American Bar Association (International Law and Practice Section)
New York City Bar
London Court of International Arbitration
Arbitral Women
Club Español de Arbitraje
Awards & Recognition
Best Lawyers in France 2020-2025
Best Lawyers in America 2022-2025
Future Leaders in EMEA, Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2021
The Legal 500 EMEA: Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration 2020-2023
The Legal 500: Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist: Arbitration France 2023
Chambers Europe: France: Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration - 2017-2018, Up & Coming 2019
Chambers Global: France: Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration - Up & Coming 2017-2019
The Legal 500 Paris: International Arbitration: Disputes, Les Grand Avocats de Demain 2020
The Legal 500 Paris: International Arbitration: Disputes 2012-2014, 2016-2022
Option Droit & Affaires
Décideurs Stratégie Finance et Droit
Next Generation Lawyer 2020
Future Leader, Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2020
Who's Who Legal Arbitration 2018
Languages
- English
- French
- German
- Spanish
Matters
Recent representations include:
- Brazilian industrial company in several ICC arbitrations seated in New York arising out of breaches of representations and fraudulent omissions in connection with the acquisition of an Argentine company governed by New York law.
- French industrial company in an ICC arbitration seated in London arising out alleged misrepresentations with respect to the sale of a subsidiary to a U.S. purchaser governed by French law.
- Swiss pharmaceutical development company in arbitration held in Washington D.C. under the CPR international arbitration rules against U.S. foundation arising out of a charitable funding agreement.
- U.S. information technology company against insurance company in litigation in the United States to partially vacate a $130 million arbitral award.
- U.S. industrial company in a post-acquisition dispute involving price adjustment and indemnities against a Chinese buyer of several subsidiaries in Hong Kong, in a HKIAC-administrated UNICTRAL arbitration.
- A European recruitment company in an ICC arbitration based in London arising out of indemnification obligations relating to a terrorist attack.
- An Italian construction company in the enforcement of an arbitration award against an African state before a federal court in Washington D.C.
- A Panamanian investment company in an ICDR arbitration based in New York with its joint venture partner concerning the management and conduct of their mobile telecommunications business in Panama.
- A United States company in the partial annulment of an award before a federal court in New York.
- A UK-based supplier of diagnostic devices in an arbitration arising out of the wrongful termination of its distribution contract by a Japanese manufacturer, held in Kyoto under the auspices of the Japanese Arbitration Association.
- A Spanish hospitality group in an ICC arbitration in Spanish, based in Paris, relating to the acquisition of a company in Argentina.
- A US diversified holding company in three ICC/ICDR arbitrations relating to the management and sale of a telecommunications company in the Caribbean.
- Colgate-Palmolive in a series of ICC arbitrations in Geneva with one of its North African distributors and local manufacturers arising out of the termination and wrapping-up of their business relationship.
- A major Asian construction company in an ICC arbitration in Paris against an African government following the termination of a construction contract to rebuild the country’s main highways.
- A U.S. petroleum company in an ICC arbitration in Paris arising out of oil drilling contracts in Middle Eastern country.
- A German industrial conglomerate in an ICC arbitration in a complex post-acquisition dispute with a U.S. company in Paris.