Zachary A. Avallone

Zachary Avallone teaches and coaches practical skills courses at GW Law. His courses include trial skills, appellate advocacy, and various external competitions.

Mr. Avallone began his legal career at Kirkland & Ellis, where he advanced from associate to litigation partner.

After seven years, he left private practice to gain frontline courtroom experience representing the federal government, joining the Federal Programs Branch within the Department of Justice’s Civil Division—described by the New York Times as "an elite team that acts as the government’s first line of defense in court.” In this role, Mr. Avallone frequently appeared as lead counsel in emergency hearings across the country involving the federal government’s highest policy priorities. His work involved defending the military’s COVID-era vaccine requirements, responding to constitutional challenges to civil terrorism statutes, protecting federal operations from state interference, and defending federal agencies in putative class actions.

After DOJ, Mr. Avallone moved to the SEC, where he now focuses on one area of the law—securities enforcement. During his time in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, he has handled some of the Commission’s highest-profile litigated matters.