Sectors
Zachary Zahn headshot.

Zachary C. Zahn

Associate

Zachary Zahn is a member of Foley & Lardner LLP’s Energy Sector and focuses his practice on energy litigation and bankruptcy/reorganization. He began at Foley as a summer associate, where he worked on various litigation matters in the Dallas office.

Zachary leverages his advocacy skills to represent clients in a wide range of legal matters. His experience at Foley includes representing clients in various business litigation disputes in oil and gas, solar, construction, and corporate governance-related matters, as well as trust and estate disputes, commercial arbitrations, and settlement negotiations. Zachary’s keen understanding of complex legal issues, coupled with a strategic approach, results in favorable outcomes for clients.

Prior to law school, Zachary worked as a Petroleum Landman for an upstream oil and gas company where he gained extensive knowledge of the industry and was responsible for assembling a 10,000-acre position in Ward County, Texas. Although his experience is primarily in the Permian Basin, he is knowledgeable in other prominent areas, including the Anadarko, Powder River, and DJ basins. Zachary continues to expand his knowledge into areas such as wind, solar, and other forms of renewable energy. His prior experience allows him to provide unique services, offering superior legal representation that is balanced with an understanding of his client’s internal needs.

Professional Affiliations

  • Member, State Bar of Texas
    • Member, Bankruptcy Section
    • Member, Oil, Gas, and Energy Section
  • Member, American Association of Professional Landmen
    • Registered Professional Landman (RPL)
  • Member, Institute for Energy Law
  • Member, The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law
  • Member, American Bar Association

Awards and Recognitions

  • Recipient, Kellyn Zimmer Service & Leadership Award, 2023
  • Recipient, Dean Darby Dickerson Top Legal Writing Award, 2022
  • Recipient, M.L. Penn Best Researched Student Comment Award, 2022

Presentations and Publications

  • Comment, “More Money, More Problems: Questioning the Constitutionality of Texas’s Higher Education Funding and the Permanent University Fund,” Tex Tech L. Rev. 201 (2023)
February 10, 2026 Honors and Awards

Foley Wins M&A Advisor Turnaround Award for Hooters of America Restructuring

Foley & Lardner LLP is proud to be selected by an independent panel of industry experts for the firm’s representation of Hooters of America at The M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards, earning recognition for Consumer Discretionary Deal of the Year ($250MM to $1B).
February 4, 2026 In the News

Foley Attorneys Publish on Restructuring Options for Distressed Energy Companies

Foley & Lardner LLP partner Nick Peters, Thomas Scannell, and Zachary Zahn co-authored the Hart Energy article, “Restructuring Options: What to Do When Downcycles Strike,” exploring corporate restructuring as a strategic alternative for distressed energy companies.
January 20, 2026 Energy Current

From Waste to Asset: How Cactus Water Services, LLC v. COG Operating, LLC Reshapes Produced-Water Ownership and Future Oil and Gas Litigation

Key Takeaways Cactus establishes a default rule that produced water belongs to the mineral lessee absent express lease language, but...
April 3, 2025 Deals and Wins

Foley Advises Hooters of America in Chapter 11 Filing

Foley & Lardner LLP is serving as bankruptcy co-counsel to Hooters of America, LLC, an iconic casual dining and sports bar chain, in connection with its Chapter 11 cases filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas on March 31, 2025.
November 4, 2024 In the News

Foley Highlighted Across Press for Representation of TGI Fridays in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Foley & Lardner LLP attorneys Holland O’Neil and Zachary Zahn are serving as bankruptcy co-counsel for TGI Fridays in the restaurant chain’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case filed in the Northern District of Texas on November 2, 2024.