Vinson & Elkins has the most lawyers in the nation listed in the practice areas of Antitrust, Corporate, Energy, Health Care, International Arbitration, International Trade and Finance, and Public Finance Law in the 2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Further, the firm has more lawyers named in the guide than any other Texas-based firm as well as the most lawyers listed in Antitrust, Commercial Litigation, Corporate, Employee Benefits, Energy, Health Care, International Arbitration, International Trade and Finance, Natural Resources, Public Finance, and Tax Law in the state of Texas.  The 2006 guide, considered by both the legal profession and corporate in-house counsel as a leading resource for legal excellence, lists 166 Vinson & Elkins lawyers.  Forty-six of these lawyers have been listed at least 10 years.  Eight firm lawyers have been listed at least 20 years.

The Best Lawyers in America lists attorneys in 52 specialty areas who have been chosen through an exhaustive and confidential survey of the nation's top lawyers. The 2006 Best Lawyers edition is based on more than 1.5 million  peer evaluations. The new edition marks the first annual publication of Best Lawyers in America, which has previously been published biennially. 

For the full list of Vinson & Elkins Best Lawyers in America, click here .

Vinson & Elkins' Oil & Gas practice is ranked #1 in the recently released 2006 edition of Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers. V&E; also ranked highly in 11 other categories including: 2nd in Energy: Regulatory (USA), Intellectual Property (USA), Tax (USA); 3rd in Banking & Finance (USA), Energy: Electricity (USA), Energy & Natural Resources (United Kingdom); and 4th in International Arbitration (Global), Banking & Finance (United Arab Emirates), Corporate/M&A; (USA), Projects (Global), and WTO/International Trade (USA).

Entry in this guide is based solely on market recommendations. Chambers' researchers spent a year canvassing clients and lawyers to obtain a consistent market view of which firms and attorneys are considered leaders in their field. Over 5,300 in addition to the many interviews with lawyers were conducted.

Vinson & Elkins lawyers are distinguished nationally and ranked at the top of the charts in Texas, according to the 2006 Chambers USA Guide, which rates America's leading lawyers for business.

Ninety-four V&E; attorneys are identified as leaders in their field in the latest edition of the world-renowned guide, including one star performer, Joe Dilg, who Chambers USA heralds as the “dynamic and visionary engine of the team.”

Overall, Vinson & Elkins earned high honors nationally in Projects; Government: Government Contracts; Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (excluding West Coast); International Arbitration; and International Trade.

In addition, the firm was at the top of the charts in Texas, receiving No. 1 rankings in Antitrust; Banking & Finance; Corporate/M&A; Employment: Mainly Defendant; Energy & Natural Resources; Energy & Natural Resources: Dispute Resolution; Environment; Healthcare; Intellectual Property; Litigation: General Commercial; Projects; Real Estate; Tax; and Technology & IT Outsourcing. Rounding out Texas, V&E; was rated as one of the best for Insurance and Bankruptcy & Restructuring.

The firm also ranked highly in the District of Columbia for Energy: Oil and Gas; Environment; Healthcare; Litigation; Projects; Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite: Regulatory; and Energy: Electricity. In New York, V&E; listed among top firms for its Energy & Natural Resources practice.

Chambers interviews thousands of clients and lawyers annually across the United States to assess the reputations and expertise of business lawyers and law firms for its guide. Law firms and individual attorneys are assessed based on technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/astuteness, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by the client.  For a full listing of V&E;’s ranked lawyers and practice areas, follow this link.

Vinson & Elkins is named in the top 15 firms for most mentions in Corporate Counsel’s 2006 “Defending and Protecting: Who Represents America’s Biggest Companies.” Since 2001, Corporate Counsel has conducted this survey of general counsels at the Fortune 250. Over 90 companies were interviewed and a total of 380 law firms named of “primary” outside counsel in the areas of corporate transactions, litigation, labor and employment, and intellectual property.

Corporate Counsel is a monthly magazine for corporate legal departments and outside counsel.  "Who Represents America's Biggest Companies" results are based on surveys sent to corporate in-house legal departments querying them regarding their primary outside counsel in the combined areas of litigation, corporate transactions, intellectual property, labor and employment, and corporate governance.

• Bruce Blefeld
• Nicole Clark
• Dorene Cohen
• John Connally
• Timothy Divetski
• John Edmonds
• Gregory Etzel
• Vanessa Griffith
• Lauren Harrison
• Kenneth Held
• Michael Holmes
• Thad Jenks
• Adam Kramer
• Keith Lapeze
• Cary Loughman
• Charles McFarland
• Duston McFaul
• Douglas McWiliams
• Jason Powers
• Robert Rabalais
• Denise Scofield
• Daniel Shilliday
• Cliff Vrielink

Vinson & Elkins features prominently in the recently published 2005 Edition of The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, with 25 lawyers recommended for excellence in 14 practice areas. 

Our U.S. partners Carol Dinkins and Kevin Gaynor are listed among 18 lawyers worldwide as "Most Highly Regarded Individuals" for Environmental work.  V&E; is the only Texas-based firm to have two lawyers named to this list. 

Beijing-based partner Paul Deemer is listed among 11 lawyers worldwide, and is the only one named in Asia, as "Most Highly Regarded Individuals" for Oil & Gas practice. 

Vinson & Elkins is listed as a “Best Represented Law Firm” in the world and in Texas for its Environmental Practice, with commentary that noted, “Vinson & Elkins is, according to our findings, the leading firm for environment expertise in Texas.”

For Competition Law, Vinson & Elkins is a “Best Represented Law Firm” for Competition in the U.S. (excluding New York and District of Columbia).  V&E; is the only Texas-based firm to receive a “Best Represented” designation, in any locale, for this category.

V&E; is also listed as a “Best Represented Law Firm” in the U.S. for Oil & Gas.

The V&E; lawyers recommended for excellence in The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers are:

Christopher Amandes  (Environment; Texas)

Bruce R. Bilger  (Oil & Gas and Project Finance; Texas)

Molly Cagle  (Environment; Texas)

Jeffrey A. Chapman  (Corporate Governance; Texas)

James L. Cuclis  (Oil & Gas; Texas)

William Dawson  (Commercial Litigation; Texas)

Paul C. Deemer  (Oil & Gas; China)

Joseph C. Dilg  (Oil & Gas; Texas)

Carol E. Dinkins  (Environment; Texas)

Kevin A. Gaynor  (Environment; District of Columbia)

Neil W. Imus  (Competition; District of Columbia)

W. Carl Jordan  (Labor & Employment; Texas)

David R. Keyes  (Banking; Texas)

William L. LaFuze  (Patents; Texas)

Knox D. Nunnally  (Product Liability; Texas)

Edward C. Osterberg, Jr.  (Corporate Texas; Texas)

Harry M. Reasoner  (Competition and Commercial Litigation; Texas)

Henry M. Rivera  (Regulatory Communications; District of Columbia)

William D. Sims, Jr.  (Product Liability; Texas)

Mark H. Tuohey  (Business Crime; District of Columbia)

Allan Van Fleet  (Competition; Texas)

Sanford A. Weiner  (Real Estate; Texas)

Phillip D. Weller (Real Estate; Texas)

Michael D. Wortley  (Corporate Governance; Texas)

William D. Young  (Banking: Texas)

The October 2006 issue of Texas Monthly magazine names 107 V&E; lawyers as Texas Super Lawyers. This prestigious list represents the top five percent of lawyers in the state. The results were compiled from more than 66,000 ballots distributed to lawyers across Texas. Polled lawyers were asked to nominate the best of their peers, based on first-hand knowledge. The final results list attorneys in more than 60 areas of practice.

For a list of the lawyers named, please click here.