Washington, D.C. (February 17) — The United States Senate has confirmed Vinson & Elkins LLP Partner Carol E. Dinkins of Houston, Texas, to be Chairman of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.

Ms. Dinkins was nominated by President Bush to chair the five member Board, which was established as an amendment to the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 in an effort to safeguard the civil liberties of American citizens.

“I am honored to have been appointed to this position and am privileged to serve with the other members of this Board, all of whom have distinguished careers,” said Ms. Dinkins.

A 1971 graduate of the University of Houston School of Law, Ms. Dinkins joined V&E; as an associate in 1973. In 1980, she became the first woman to be named partner at the firm. From 1981 to 1983, Ms. Dinkins was the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice. From 1984 to 1985, she served as Deputy Attorney General. Ms. Dinkins will continue to chair V&E;'s administrative and environmental law practice.

“Carol is the perfect role model for all of our lawyers,” said Vinson & Elkins managing partner Joseph Dilg. “In addition to maintaining an extraordinarily successful environmental law practice and serving in leadership positions in our firm and throughout the legal profession, Carol has remained dedicated to public service and citizenship. All of her colleagues at Vinson & Elkins are enormously proud of her.”

For more information, please contact Darrin Schlegel, senior communications specialist, at 713.758.2171 or via e-mail at dschlegel@velaw.com.

Vinson & Elkins was established in 1917 and is one of the world's largest international law firms. The firm has about 700 lawyers practicing in Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Dubai, Houston, London, Moscow, New York, Shanghai, Tokyo and Washington DC. Vinson & Elkins offers a wide range of legal services. Clients include public and private companies, financial institutions, municipalities, governments of sovereign nations, entrepreneurs, families and individuals.