A prominent international legal resource guide has selected Vinson & Elkins as one of the nation's best healthcare law practices and a leader in 13 other legal practice areas.

In its annual report of best U.S. law firms, London-based Chambers & Partners also named 54 Vinson & Elkins lawyers as being among the premier attorneys in their fields—more than any other Texas law firm.

Chambers & Partners interviewed more than 7,000 clients and lawyers in an effort to identify the top lawyers and law firms by region of the country and by practice group. The research firm then ranked the firms and individual lawyers within their practice areas, with a #1 ranking being the best.

Leading the pack is Vinson & Elkins healthcare practice, which received a number one ranking nationally. Specifically, Chambers & Partners wrote that V&E; "figures prominently on reimbursement, transactional and fraud and abuse matters." The publication cited J.D. Epstein's 35 years of experience in handling "highly sophisticated matters", as well as the "incredibly knowledgeable regulatory expertise" of Dennis Barry and Mike Malone.

Thirteen other V&E; practice groups received number one rankings in Texas, including Antitrust Litigation, Banking and Finance, Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions, Employment Law, Energy and Natural Resources, Environmental Law, Commercial Litigation, Project Development, Real Estate and Tax law. The other practices at Vinson & Elkins that were also identified among the best were Bankruptcy, Communications, Insurance and Intellectual Property. For example:

• Chambers & Partners heaped huge praise on V&E;'s Antitrust Litigation group. It identified Houston partner Harry Reasoner as "the go-to lawyer for complex cases." Dallas partner Rob Walters is a "brilliantly outstanding lawyer who earned praise from his clients for his effectiveness and efficiency," according to the report. The publication also cited Houston partner Allan Van Fleet as a "splendid" litigator in high-stakes cases and Houston partner Alison Smith as an "impressive operator who is easily one of the leading attorneys in the field."
  
  
• Vinson & Elkins' Energy and Natural Resources practice was also named as the best in Texas, identifying Houston partner Bruce Bilger as "the obvious choice for clients."
  
  
• The firm's Employment Law practice was also selected as one of the elite in Texas. In doing so, the publication said that Houston partner Carl Jordan is the "undoubted star of the firm and one of the highest profile lawyers in the field."
  
  
• Four V&E; partners were recognized in the Litigation: General Commercial category as leading individuals, including Harry M. Reasoner who was noted as being "the living legend,"  and also received praise as "the top gun for high-profile complex litigation." "Exceptionally talented, bright and creative" described  David T. Harvin, while  D. Ferguson McNiel was noted as being "highly skilled and courageous."  Marie R. Yeates received recognition for being a "fantastic appellate lawyer based on her reputation for thoroughness, perfectionism and an unparalleled preparation." 

For a complete listing of the Vinson & Elkins practice groups and lawyers named in the Chambers & Partners ranking click here. 

Vinson & Elkins was established in 1917 and is one of the world's largest international law firms. The firm has about 750 lawyers practicing in Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Dubai, Houston, London, Moscow, New York, Singapore and Washington, D.C. The firm offers a wide range of legal services. Clients include public and private companies, financial institutions, municipalities, governments of sovereign nations, entrepreneurs, families and individuals.