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.

• 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

The International Tax Review listed Vinson & Elkins as a top tier firm in its World Tax 2006 guide.  Top tier "rankings are the firms which have the greatest depth of resources, experiences, and range of specialisms. They are considered the best teams overall for tax advice...."

Additionally four V&E; partners were identified as leading individuals:

• Judith M. Blissard
• George M. Gerachis
• Edward C. Osterberg
• Glen A. Rosenbaum

International Tax Review's researchers and journalists conducted nearly 3000 interviews for World Tax 2006.

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.