John Grand > Vinson & Elkins LLP > Dallas, United States > Lawyer Profile

Roundly praised by clients for its depth of expertise and ‘solution-oriented‘ approach, Vinson & Elkins LLP is routinely engaged in a variety of M&A work across a multitude of industries, including manufacturing, technology, telecoms and consumer goods, but particularly excels in energy and infrastructure-related transactions. A ‘go-to for large-scale M&A in the oil and gas industry‘, the firm is also a popular destination for private equity firms. The practice is under the joint leadership of John Grand in Dallas, and the Houston-based duo Sarah Morgan and Stephen Gill, the latter of whom is skilled in acting for public companies on shareholder activism defense issues. Also in Houston, Lande Spottswood has led on several complex strategic transactions in the industrial and energy sectors, while Robert Hughes is recurrently sought out by private equity firms, portfolio companies and public businesses.

Vinson & Elkins LLP is notable for both the value and volume of mandates it handles, representing the world’s largest and most sophisticated private equity investors including Blackstone, Carlyle and Vista on cutting-edge transactions. The practice is particularly renowned for its specialist expertise in the energy and renewable sectors, while also maintaining considerable breadth across various industries from consumer products and digital commerce to software and sports. The team is jointly led from Houston by Stephen Gill and Sarah Morgan , while John Grand  is also a leading presence in Dallas. In New York, Jim Fox has a wealth of experience in the energy, industrials and tech industries, while Gabriel Silva represented Swiss Life Asset Management in its $1.2bn minority investment in DataBank. Also in Houston, Keith Fullenweider is active in high-value investments, financings and exit transactions, while Matthew Strock and Lande Spottswood are key contacts.