Gabriel Silva > Vinson & Elkins LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Vinson & Elkins LLP continues to impress in the energy and infrastructure field, including in investments and acquisitions by private equity funds. The Latin America team has developed its traditional strengths in line with key economic trends, notably in clean energy and digital infrastructure. The relatively recent hires of Eamon Nolan and dual-qualified (Brazil/New York) Gabriel Silva to the New York office have significantly deepened the firm’s Latin America credentials; the former is noted for Mexico power and renewables deals and the latter specialises in Brazil transactions, especially telecoms and digital infrastructure deals. Houston partners Mark Brasher and Alan Alexander are also experienced in Latin America energy deals.

Vinson & Elkins LLP has a deepening presence in Latin America, retaining its traditional presence in oil and gas and the broader energy sector, along with additional growth in digital infrastructure and other segments. The firm is known for its recent experience in Mexico’s oil and gas industry, including projects involving links between the US and Mexico itself. Combining strength in project development, project finance and energy M&A, the firm has achieved further growth in Brazil, notably advising New Fortress Energy on LNG import terminal development and natural gas marketing and sales matters in Brazil, including the development and sale of natural gas from its Suape, Sergipe and Barcarena LNG receiving and regasification terminals. Houston partner Mark Brasher has a strong track-record in Latin America’s energy markets, for clients such as New Fortress Energy, while New York’s Gabriel Silva continues to work on a number of digital infrastructure and telecoms projects and transactions in Brazil. New York partner Eamon Nolan is another Latin America expert and Houston’s Alan Alexander is also rated for Mexico oil and gas and renewables projects.

Vinson & Elkins LLP continues to expand its share of the national private equity market, advising on a number of sophisticated transactions for notable sponsors including KKR, Carlyle, and Riverstone, combining traditional buyouts and portfolio company M&A with regular involvements in PE-led SPAC deals for the likes of Apollo and TPG. The firm is a long-standing leader in the energy space, handling bulge-bracket deals in areas such as midstream oil & gas and renewable energy, and is increasingly involved in tech and telecoms work in New York and California. The team is led from Houston by Keith Fullenweider , Matthew Strock , and David Oelman , with New York’s Jim Fox also a key player. Benji Barron joined the Houston office from an in-house position in July 2021, furthering the firm’s expertise in midstream energy transactions, while Gabriel Silva arrived at the New York office from January 2021 and brings a valuable relationship with Digitalbridge. Lande Spottswood in Houston is an increasingly influential name in the team, while Dallas’s John Grand is relationship partner for several of the firm’s major clients.