Proskauer

Ana Vermal is co-head of Proskauer’s International Arbitration Group.

Companies turn to Ana when their most significant cross-border disputes require not only legal precision, but strategic judgment, cultural fluency, and the ability to navigate seamlessly between civil law and common law traditions. A seasoned quadrilingual lawyer qualified in both New York and Paris, Ana brings 25 years of experience representing corporations from around the world in high-stakes international arbitrations arising from acquisitions, joint ventures, distribution agreements, licensing arrangements, and other cross-border transactions.

Widely recognized as both an advocate and an arbitrator, Ana is regularly entrusted with significant international disputes under the rules of the world’s leading arbitral institutions and across a broad range of industries and jurisdictions.  She is known for her ability to master the legal, factual, and cultural dimensions of a dispute and translate that understanding into persuasive advocacy.  

Ana's experience sitting as an arbitrator gives her a distinctive perspective as counsel, informing her approach to case strategy, evidentiary presentation, witness examination, and advocacy before international tribunals.  Clients value her ability to anticipate how arbitrators evaluate legal arguments, assess evidence, and approach decision-making.

Ana’s standing in the international arbitration community is reflected in her extensive institutional leadership. Most notably, she served for six years on the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the world's leading arbitral institution. As a member of the Court, she participated in the supervision of ICC arbitrations worldwide, including decisions concerning the appointment and challenge of arbitrators and the scrutiny and approval of awards. This experience provided her with a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on the administration and adjudication of international disputes at the highest institutional level.

Ana also plays a leading role in shaping the future of international arbitration. She co-chairs the International Bar Association’s Task Force on AI in International Arbitration, bringing together practitioners from around the world to address the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies in dispute resolution. She also serves on the Arbitration Council of the DIS, is the immediate past vice chair of the IBA's Arbitration Committee, serves on the boards of Paris Place d’Arbitrage and the Swedish Arbitration Association, and is the Argentine representative to the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR.

Ana’s international background is central to the value she brings to 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 widely recognized for her strategic insight and advocacy. Chambers Global reports that clients praise her “extremely strong courtroom presence and strong cross-examination skills.” 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,” and highly commends her expertise in post-M&A and contractual disputes.