The London office of Vinson & Elkins opened in 1971, making V&E; one of the first US-based law firms to establish an office in the UK. In 1994, V&E; was one of the first U.S. firms to establish a multi-national partnership under the rules of the Law Society of England and Wales in order to practice English, as well as U.S. law. Our London office is primarily comprised of English solicitors and US lawyers, although several of our lawyers are licensed in other jurisdictions as well.

From London, our lawyers represent many U.S., European and other clients on matters throughout Europe and around the world. These matters include, for example: international energy transactions; project development and financing transactions, including energy, water and other infrastructure projects; transnational mergers and acquisitions; corporate and securities advice; joint ventures and other strategic alliances; banking and finance; construction; licensing and distribution arrangements; employment matters; and litigation and arbitration.

London serves as a coordinating center for the firm's operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Russia and the former Soviet Union with respect to clients operating out of the U.S., London and elsewhere.

Vinson & Elkins' London office is considered strategically important to the firm's overall success, and its structured expansion serves the needs of our significant international client base. The office continues to grow as a result of the high quality of work these clients have entrusted to us.

The core practices of our London office include:

Corporate Finance and Securities
The office provides a range of general corporate finance advice to a wide variety of clients including investment banks, private equity funds and public and private companies. In addition, the office advises clients on matters relating to compliance with the securities laws of the U.S.

Energy
The London office advises on virtually every aspect of the energy industry, including areas of law relating to upstream and downstream oil and gas, pipeline transportation agreements, terminal processing arrangements, marketing agreements, power purchase agreements and related concession agreements, energy trading arrangements and other energy-related contracts. Clients include international energy companies, as well as governmental entities.

Mergers and Acquisitions
The London office has a large, highly successful and expanding M&A; practice. Clients are drawn from a variety of sectors, including U.S.-based high tech corporates, private equity houses and multinationals in the oil and gas, petrochemicals and energy industries. Clients include indigenous European corporates and individuals and U.S. companies investing in Europe and elsewhere.

Project Development and Finance
The London office has extensive experience advising lenders, developers, sponsors, governments and others in the development and financing of major international projects. These matters range from projects involving power and energy to telecommunications and infrastructure in general.

Other General Commercial Practice Areas
The London office regularly advises on a wide variety of other matters, including those governed by laws of England and Wales, the U.S. and other jurisdictions. These include litigation and arbitration, intellectual property, employment, taxation, regulatory, trusts and estates and environmental matters.