Texas

Vinson & Elkins was founded in Houston in 1917. Over 100 years later, the firm has expanded to 11 offices in three continents. In the United States, the firm has offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, New York, Richmond, San Francisco and Washington DC. 

Focusses / specialisms

Vinson & Elkins is a market leader in Texas across all practice areas. Though the firm works across a wide plethora of practice areas, it is particularly skilled in the energy and oil and gas industries and is a top tier firm nationwide in oil and gas project development..

In banking work the team acts on the borrower and lender side in acquisition financing, refinancing, project financing and general working capital financing. 

The capital markets practice advises issuers and underwriters in debt and equity matters. In debt capital markets, the firm is experienced in investment grade and high yield bond issuances. The equity capital markets practice sees work with IPOs, private placements, at-the-market programs, preferred and common share offerings and convertible equity offerings. 

The M&A practice acts on both the buy and sell side in strategic and private equity acquisitions, joint ventures and mergers. The private equity practice assists with private equity acquisitions, but also advises private equity firms in firm investments. 

The project development team represents developers in projects in the oil and gas, energy and infrastructure industries. 

In restructuring and insolvency, the team acts on behalf of debtors and creditors in out of court restructurings and Chapter 11 proceedings.

Key clients

Key clients for the firm include Anadarko Petroleum, Vantage Energy, Earthstone Energy, Tyr Energy, Babson Capital, Gulf Coast Ammonia, Targa Resource Partners, Goldman Sachs, BBVA, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Reata Pharmaceuticals, Alpine Income Property Trust, WildHorse Resource Development, TPG Capital Management, Oryx Midstream Services II, Blackstone Infrastructure Fund, Apollo Global Management, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, Tellurian, New Fortress Energy, Noble Energy, PennEnergy Resources, Harvey Gulf International Marine and Cloud Peak Energy.

Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)

Within the research period the firm continued its outstanding work in the oil and gas industries. 

The banking team acted mostly on the borrower side in acquisition financing, refinancing and project financing transactions.

In debt capital markets, the firm worked on more high yield bond offerings than investment grade offerings. The equity capital markets saw several IPOs, in addition to a significant amount of ATM programs and share offerings. In addition to its work in the energy industry, the capital markets team was also particularly active with REITs. 

The M&A team continued its top tier representation of strategic and private equity firms in acquisitions and sales. 

The project development team primarily advised developers in projects in the oil and gas and energy industries, especially concerning LNG infrastructure.

The restructuring and insolvency team represented mostly debtors in the oil and gas industry on out of court restructurings and Chapter 11 proceedings. It also worked on some distressed M&A matters. 

In 2019 the banking team saw partner Trevor Wommack leave for Latham & Watkins. Project finance partner Eamon Nolan joined the firm from Linklaters.

Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)

Alpine Income Property Trust NYSE IPO

Anadarko Petroleum $3 billion loan

Chesapeake Energy $3.977 billion acquisition of WildHorse Resource Development 

Harvey Gulf International Marine Chapter 11 restructuring

Targa Resource Partners $1 billion high yield bond issue

Tellurian Driftwood LNG Terminal