Vinson & Elkins LLP
Vinson & Elkins counts approximately 681 attorneys in 14 offices. Founded in Houston, TX in 1917.
Not reported: Partnership Track.
Openings
1L Summer 2027 · Class of 2029Opening Soon
Opens
Nov 1, 2026Deadline
Not announced
2L Summer 2028 · Class of 2029Opening Soon
New York, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Houston, Austin, Dallas, Denver, Richmond
Opens
Nov 1, 2026Deadline
Not announced
Vinson pays $225,000, the same as 159 of the 197 firms that publish pay.
Listed firms by announced first-year comp
| First-Year Comp | Firms |
|---|---|
| Above $225K | 18 |
| $225K | 159 |
| Below $225K | 20 |
Source: firm announcements. 197 listed firms publish a first-year figure.
About Vinson & Elkins
Vinson & Elkins began in Houston in 1917, with roots in the city's developing energy industry. Its current practice connects energy, infrastructure, technology, and private capital, serving companies and investors in the United States and internationally. The firm's history remains relevant to its work on the assets and financing behind major industrial developments.
Its published strategy describes work involving energy transition, decarbonization, digital infrastructure, and capital deployment. Legal services include analyzing financing options, addressing regulation, protecting intellectual property, and advising on board governance. Arbitration and disputes work adds another dimension when projects or business relationships become contested.
For students, this mix shows how an industry-focused practice extends beyond a single legal specialty. Developing an energy or infrastructure asset can require corporate, finance, regulatory, and litigation skills over time. Vinson & Elkins' materials connect those disciplines to the commercial decisions involved in funding, building, operating, and protecting major investments.
Rankings
Latest published editions. Each links to its source.
Size and Standing
- $1.1B gross revenueAm Law 100, $1.1B gross revenue: #58 (opens in a new tab)
- Lawyers in 5 countriesGlobal 200, Lawyers in 5 countries: #69 (opens in a new tab)
- 681 attorneysNLJ 500, 681 attorneys: #81 (opens in a new tab)
- PrestigeVault Law 100, Prestige: #53 (opens in a new tab)
Associate Life
Vault Practice Rankings
- Energy, Oil, & Gas Law: #1 (opens in a new tab)
- Clean Tech/Renewable Energy Law: #5 (opens in a new tab)
- Project Finance: #10 (opens in a new tab)
- Environmental Law: #12 (opens in a new tab)
- Mergers & Acquisitions: #23 (opens in a new tab)
- General Corporate Practice: #28 (opens in a new tab)
- General Commercial Litigation: #36 (opens in a new tab)
Practice Strength by Market
Every band below appears on this firm’s Chambers USA 2026 profile, checked September 26, 2026. Where Chambers splits a table into The Elite and Highly Regarded, every Elite firm ranks above every Highly Regarded firm.
Scroll sideways to see recognition.
| Practice | Market | Recognition, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
Bankruptcy/Restructuring | Texas | Band 1 |
Capital Markets: Debt & Equity | Texas | Band 1 |
Corporate/M&AThe Elite | Texas | Band 1 |
Corporate/M&A | Texas: Austin & Surrounds | Band 1 |
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth & Surrounds | Band 1 |
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Texas: Houston & Surrounds | Band 1 |
Energy Transition | Nationwide | Band 1 |
Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory & Litigation) | Nationwide | Band 1 |
Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) | Nationwide | Band 1 |
Environment | Texas | Band 1 |
Environment: Mainly Transactional | Texas | Band 1 |
Litigation: Securities | Texas | Band 1 |
Offshore Energy | Nationwide | Band 1 |
Projects: Oil & Gas | Nationwide | Band 1 |
Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional | Nationwide | Band 1 |
Real Estate | Texas | Band 1 |
Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use | Texas | Band 1 |
Tax | Texas | Band 1 |
Technology: Corporate & Commercial | Texas | Band 1 |
Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity) | Texas | Band 2 |
Litigation: General Commercial | Texas: Austin & Surrounds | Band 2 |
Litigation: General Commercial | Texas: Houston & Surrounds | Band 2 |
Oil & Gas Litigation | Nationwide | Band 2 |
Private Equity: Buyouts | Texas | Band 2 |
Projects: LNG | Nationwide | Band 2 |
Projects: Renewables & Alternative Energy | Nationwide | Band 2 |
Antitrust | Texas | Band 3 |
Antitrust: Cartel | Nationwide | Band 3 |
Banking & Finance | Texas | Band 3 |
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel | Nationwide | Band 3 |
Construction | Texas | Band 3 |
Environment | District of Columbia | Band 3 |
Environment | Nationwide | Band 3 |
Environment: Mainly Transactional | District of Columbia | Band 3 |
Environment: Mainly Transactional | Nationwide | Band 3 |
International ArbitrationThe Elite | Nationwide | Band 3 |
Labor & Employment | Texas | Band 3 |
Litigation: Appellate | Texas | Band 3 |
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations | District of Columbia | Band 3 |
Private Equity: Buyouts: High-end Capability | Nationwide | Band 3 |
REITs | Nationwide | Band 3 |
Tax | California: Southern | Band 3 |
Tax: Controversy | Nationwide | Band 3 |
Tax: Corporate & Finance | Nationwide | Band 3 |
Transportation: Aviation: Finance | Nationwide | Band 3 |
Antitrust | California | Band 4 |
Antitrust | District of Columbia | Band 4 |
Antitrust | Nationwide | Band 4 |
Capital Markets: Equity: Manager Counsel | Nationwide | Band 4 |
Capital Markets: High-Yield Debt | Nationwide | Band 4 |
Capital Markets: Investment Grade Debt: Issuer Counsel | Nationwide | Band 4 |
Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation) | Nationwide | Band 4 |
Government ContractsThe Elite | Nationwide | Band 4 |
Private Equity: Buyouts | New York | Band 4 |
Sports Law | Nationwide | Band 4 |
Banking & Finance | Nationwide | Band 5 |
Banking & Finance | New York | Band 5 |
Bankruptcy/RestructuringThe Elite | Nationwide | Band 5 |
Corporate/M&AThe Elite | Nationwide | Band 5 |
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Nationwide | Band 5 |
FCPA | Nationwide | Band 5 |
Litigation: Securities | New York | Band 5 |
Intellectual Property | Texas | Band 6 |
Bankruptcy/RestructuringHighly Regarded | New York | Band 1 |
Corporate Crime & InvestigationsHighly Regarded | Nationwide | Band 3 |
Corporate/M&AHighly Regarded | New York | Band 5 |
66 reported ranking rows
Facts verified by BigLaw Bear, narrative by the firm. Figures carry a source link where we hold one; prose is Vinson & Elkins’s own.
Firm Highlights
Summer Program
Schools Vinson & Elkins Hires From
5 schools name Vinson & Elkins on its own employer or placement pages. These lists are not exhaustive.