Vinson & Elkins LLP - Who's Who Legal 70

What is the Who's Who Legal 70?

Vinson & Elkins LLP in Who's Who Legal

	Oil & Gas
	20

	Real Estate
	2

	Corporate Governance
	1

	Insolvency & Restructuring
	2

	Construction
	1

	Commercial Litigation
	2

	Insolvency & Restructuring
	2

	Commercial Litigation
	2

	Management Labour & Employment
	1

	Patents
	1

	Project Finance
	4

	Corporate Tax
	1

	Competition
	2

	Mergers & Acquisitions
	1

	Arbitration
	1

	Capital Markets
	2

	Product Liability Defence
	2

	Environment
	7

With its Texan roots, the firm’s Houston office unsurprisingly remains its chief talent base and V&E is recognised once again as the state’s leading firm.

With a staggering 22 lawyers in the oil and gas chapter, it is no surprise that V&E takes this year’s title of oil and gas law firm of the year. Joseph Dilg is managing partner of the firm, and in addition to being well regarded for his expertise in acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and financings, he has led its global growth strategy. The “top-notch” Douglas Bland serves as the project finance and development practice group leader and has a broad spectrum of experience within the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors. He supplements this entry with an inclusion in the project finance chapter. Stephen Davis has practised at the firm for 27 years and is the founding member of the project finance and development practice group. The leader of the energy regulatory practice group, David Andril, has expertise in gas sales, transport contracting and the regulation of the natural gas industry. In the Palo Alto office Boyd Carano’s practice extends to advising multinational clients on their mergers and acquisitions and development projects. With an international presence the firm’s reach is impressive and this is certainly the case with the China office. Paul Deemer is co-managing partner of the Beijing and Shanghai offices and is the most highly rated lawyer based in China. He is referred to as a “very skilled individual” and has worked on Chinese oil and gas projects since the early 1990s, representing major international clients. Shanghai-based Jay Kolb is known for his projects and M&A practice that spans Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States with particular expertise in LNG projects. Managing partner of the Hong Kong office, James Cuclis, has 25 years’ experience of advising clients on their global transactions and his London counterpart, Alexander Msimang, provides “superb” counsel to clients particularly in relation to their activities in the African and European energy sectors. Also based in London, Michael Doble has expertise in Asia and the Middle East and has more than 30 years experience in the energy sector. Mark Kelly is global business chair of the firm and represents oil field service, gas marketing, exploration and production companies and also features in the capital markets chapter.

The firm’s environment practice has a wealth of expertise and is headed up by Carol Dinkins. She handles all environmental aspects of transactions and licensing and represents chemical and energy companies and government bodies. A former deputy attorney general in the US Department of Justice, she is one of the most highly rated lawyers in the book. With a focus on complex environmental litigation and climate change related matters, Kevin Gaynor is also a respected name, and in the Houston office Christopher Amandes is recognised for his regulatory expertise.

Described by one commentator as “one of the best all round lawyers in Texas”, Harry Reasoner features prominently as one the foremost Texan commercial litigators in the state. “Highly recommended” for his competition expertise, he also appears in the corresponding chapter.

Managing partner of the Dallas office and the firm’s chief operating partner, Michael Wortley, is praised for his M&A work with an emphasis on representing private equity funds. His corporate knowledge also earns him a place in our corporate governance chapter.

V&E demonstrates its impressive calibre of lawyers with an increase of 19 inclusions since last year. While oil and gas is undoubtedly its strength, V&E shows its presence across the board featuring in a total of 18 chapters.