Overview
Zach Shapiro “is an excellent and compelling communicator” who “offers creative and out-of-the-box solutions” (Chambers USA).
Zach “shines when there is a time-sensitive, complicated issue to solve. He is sharp, practical, reliable and creative” (Chambers USA, 2026). He represents the full range of parties in all types of bankruptcy proceedings, including debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, banks, lenders, landlords, official committees, independent directors, special committees, purchasers, governmental units, and other parties in interest in chapter 7, chapter 11, and chapter 15 cases, as well as out-of-court restructurings.
Zach has represented clients across a wide range of different industries and business segments, including pharmaceutical companies, cryptocurrency companies, sports and entertainment companies, airlines, loan servicers, retailers, energy companies, restaurants and various service providers. He has also assisted companies with mass tort exposure in both in-court and out-of-court transactions.
Praised for his “encyclopedic knowledge,” clients note that “when Zach is giving you advice, you are getting the benefit of his extensive experience;” his “understanding of what can be accomplished in Delaware is second to none” (Chambers USA).
In addition, Zach advises boards, fiduciaries, and other stakeholders in connection with investigations and special situations, including transaction-related reviews and restructuring-driven disputes in both in-court and out-of-court contexts.
Zach also provides advice and legal opinions in connection with a wide variety of transactions, including “true lease” and “true sale” opinions.
PRACTICES
Select Experience
- The Cannabist Company Holdings Inc. (counsel to the foreign representative)
- Terraform Labs Pte. Ltd. (counsel to the debtors)
- Everstream Networks (special counsel to the debtors and special committee)
- Spark Networks SE (counsel to the foreign representative)
- Nicklaus Companies, LLC (counsel to the debtors and the special committee)
- Sunlight Financial Holdings Inc. (counsel to the debtors)
- Vintage Wine Estates, Inc. (counsel to the debtors)
- Zen JV, LLC (CareerBuilder / Monster) (counsel to the debtors and the special committee)
- Western Global Airlines, LLC (counsel to the debtors)
- Claire’s Stores, Inc. (counsel to the debtors in both the 2018 and 2025 chapter 11 cases)
- Avon Products, Inc. / AIO US, Inc. (counsel to the debtors)
- Exide Technologies (counsel to the debtors)
- Insys Therapeutics, Inc. (counsel to the debtors)
- Six Flags, Inc. (counsel to the debtors)
- Brooks Brothers Group, Inc. (counsel to the debtors)
- TPC Group Inc. (counsel to the sponsor)
- Exactech, Inc. (counsel to the secured lenders and purchaser)
- Accuride Corporation (counsel to the secured lenders)
- Fisker Inc. (representation of Magna International Inc.)
- 99 Cents Only Stores LLC (counsel to a purchaser)
- JOANN Inc. (representation of directors and officers and purchaser)
- Temple University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2007
Temple Law Review - Colorado College, B.A., Economics and Mathematics, 2003
Education
Publications
The Southern District of New York Authorizes the Rejection of Gas Gathering Agreements
ABA | June 1, 2016
In In re Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation, No. 15-11835 (SCC) (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Mar. 8, 2016), the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York issued a bench decision granting Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation’s motion to reject three gas gathering agreements and a handling agreement that were governed by Texas law. In doing…
The Third Circuit Affirms a Debtor’s Ability to Reject an Expired CBA
ABA | June 1, 2016
Trump Taj Mahal Associates, LLC, and certain affiliated entities (collectively, the debtors) owned and operated the Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Taj Mahal and UNITE HERE Local 54, the largest of the debtors’ employee unions, were party to a CBA that was negotiated in 2011 and had a three-year term. On September…
When Does a Chapter 11 Plan Extinguish a Secured Creditor’s Lien?
ABA | October 6, 2015
On October 26, 2009, Northern New England Telephone Operations LLC (NNETO) filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. On January 13, 2011, the bankruptcy court confirmed NNETO’s Chapter 11 plan. As of the petition date, NNETO owned several parcels of real property in Concord,…
State Law Permitting, Classic Retainers Are Not Property of the Estate
ABA | June 10, 2015
A classic retainer becomes property of the law firm immediately upon payment to the extent permitted by state law. If, after that payment is made, the client commences a bankruptcy case, the payment, to the extent it is properly characterized as a classic retainer, remains property of the law firm and is not property of the…
Pro Bono Activities
- Legal Counsel to 501(c)(3) organization
Recognition
- Chambers USA, since 2021
- The Best Lawyers in America, since 2021
- Super Lawyers, 2021
- Delaware Today Top Lawyer, 2021
Bar Admissions
- Delaware, 2008
- United States District Court, District of Delaware, 2009