The Legal 500

Vinson & Elkins is one of the largest international law firms and has repeatedly been ranked among the world’s leading energy law firms, while offering first-class services across a range of other sectors. Its London office focuses in particular on corporate finance and securities, energy, mergers and acquisitions, tax, construction, project finance, and international dispute resolution.

The firm: For almost a century since it was founded in Texas, Vinson & Elkins’ lawyers have provided innovative business solutions for clients whose needs are as diverse as the entities they represent. The depth and breadth of its lawyers’ experience, combined with the responsiveness and efficiencies of the firm’s global reach, enable Vinson & Elkins to serve clients from start-up to the negotiating table and boardroom, before legislative and regulatory bodies, in the courtroom, and beyond. Euromoney has consistently named Vinson & Elkins as the world’s leading energy law firm.

The London office opened in 1971, making Vinson & Elkins one of the first US-based law firms to establish an office in the UK. It operates a large, successful and expanding international business group, primarily comprised of English solicitors and US lawyers, with several also licensed in other jurisdictions. London serves as a co-ordinating centre for the firm’s operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Russia and the former Soviet Union, with respect to clients operating out of the US, London and elsewhere.

Types of work undertaken: The London office advises on virtually every aspect of the energy industry, including upstream and downstream oil and gas, power, LNG and pipeline projects, terminal processing arrangements, marketing agreements, power purchase agreements and related concession agreements, energy trading arrangements and other energy-related contracts. Clients include international energy companies, as well as governmental entities.

A wide range of corporate finance and securities matters are handled from London for investment banks, private equity funds and public and private companies, as well as other clients. Services include AIM and other market listings. In addition, the office advises clients on matters relating to compliance with the securities laws of the US.

The London office also has a large and expanding mergers and acquisitions practice, including financing expertise. Clients are drawn from a variety of sectors, including hi-tech corporates, private equity houses and multinationals in the oil and gas, petrochemicals and energy industries. Clients include indigenous European corporates and individuals, and US companies investing in Europe and elsewhere.

Project development and finance is also an area of expertise, including advising lenders, developers, sponsors, governments and others regarding major international projects, ranging from power and energy to telecommunications and infrastructure in general. The London office regularly advises on a wide variety of other matters, including those governed by laws of England and Wales, the US and other jurisdictions. These include litigation and arbitration, intellectual property, licensing, employment, joint ventures, taxation, construction, regulatory, trusts and estates, and environmental matters.

Vinson & Elkins’ London office will continue to develop as a cornerstone of the firm’s global success, carrying out work of the highest quality for a growing range of clients.

Other offices: Abu Dhabi, Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, Moscow, New York, Palo Alto, Riyadh, Shanghai, Tokyo, Washington DC

Number of UK partners 11
Number of other UK fee-earners 42

Contact Alex Msimang

Languages
Dutch
French
German
Norwegian
Punjabi
Russian
Spanish

Other offices
Abu Dhabi
Austin
Beijing
Dallas
Dubai
Hong Kong
Houston
Moscow
New York
Palo Alto
Riyadh
Shanghai
Tokyo
Washington DC

Member
IBA
International Law Section of the American Bar Association
International Lawyers Group, Moscow
Law Society of England and Wales
The Bar of England and Wales
The State Bar of Texas International Law Section

Number of lawyers 800+

At this office 51