Vinson & Elkins LLP

Overview

Vinson & Elkins is a large US-headquartered full-service law firm with a global platform focused on energy, infrastructure, finance and complex corporate and litigation matters. The firm emphasises sector expertise (notably energy transition, data centres and infrastructure), a collaborative model that spans offices and disciplines, and an innovation-led approach to delivering practical commercial advice. Public content highlights a global headcount of 700+ lawyers, 242 individual Chambers rankings (2025), a strong pro bono culture (c.20,000 hours per year) and active community support.

Headquarters: Houston
Lawyers: 700+
Trainees: 4
Offices: 13

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

Competition & Antitrust
Banking & Finance
Corporate & M&A
Capital Markets
Investment Funds
Private Equity & Venture Capital
Energy & Natural Resources
Infrastructure & Projects
Environment & Planning
ESG & Sustainability
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
International Arbitration
Real Estate
Tax
Intellectual Property
Pensions
Technology & Digital
Employment
Insolvency & Restructuring
Regulatory & Compliance

Geographic Focus: U.S.-centred firm with a global footprint: major U.S. hubs (Houston, New York, Austin, Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Richmond, Washington) plus international offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia (London, Brussels, Dublin, Dubai, Tokyo) and additional presence/coverage in markets including China, India, Israel, Iraq, Mexico and Taiwan. The London office supports UK and Europe-facing corporate, projects and dispute work while the firm’s energy, infrastructure and data-centre/

Training Contract

Starting Salary: Year 1: £60,000; Year 2: £65,000
NQ Salary: £173,077
Trainee Intake: 4
Qualification Rate: 50%
Academic Requirements: Minimum degree: 2:1; Minimum A-levels: AAB. Firm supports non-law routes (SQE) and publishes guidance on SQE/GDL pathways for applicants.
Application Deadline: 11 January 2026

Sponsorship

PGDL/PGDL grant: £20,000; SQE grant: £20,000. (Firm materials and trainee fact data list these published grant amounts.)

SQE Support

SQE grant: £20,000.

International Opportunities

International secondments to other V&E offices are part of the early‑career experience; approximate chance of an overseas secondment is c.20%.

Client Secondments

Client secondments are uncommon at V&E (approx. 0% chance of client secondment for trainees).

Mentorship

Formal mentoring programmes, associate one‑on‑one coaching and Talent Lead Partners embedded in each practice group; new parent mentoring, trainee networks and affinity groups provide additional pastoral and professional support.

Apply on the Vinson & Elkins LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

V&E Scholarships

A suite of scholarships and internship supports spanning high school seniors through rising second‑year law students, designed as pipeline initiatives to improve access and provide financial support and career-building opportunities.

Apply →

London Graduate Recruitment programme

A London‑facing graduate recruitment programme aimed at students and graduates considering legal careers at V&E, with information on qualifying routes (including the SQE) and recruitment into London training and early‑career roles.

Apply →

Notable Matters

Advising TD Cowen on $660 million Presidio Petroleum SPAC merger with EQV Ventures

Vinson & Elkins advised TD Cowen on the $660 million business combination of Presidio Petroleum with EQV Ventures Acquisition Corp.; work involved SPAC merger documentation and closing support leading to Presidio becoming a publicly listed company.

Corporate & M&A

Advising Chiron Real Estate on $249 million seniors housing acquisition

Vinson & Elkins advised Chiron Real Estate, Inc. on tax matters in connection with a $249 million acquisition of seniors housing assets for an internally managed health care REIT.

Real Estate

Advising TETRA Technologies, Inc. on underwritten public offering (12,432,432 shares)

Vinson & Elkins acted for TETRA Technologies, Inc. in connection with an underwritten public offering of 12,432,432 shares, providing capital markets and securities counsel on the offering process.

Capital Markets

NET Power merger with Rice Acquisition Corp. II (advisor to underwriters/issuers)

Vinson & Elkins acted as legal advisor in the business combination closing between Rice Acquisition Corp. II and Net Power, supporting the acceleration of clean natural gas power generation via the resulting public company.

Corporate & M&A

Dynamix Corporation $166 million initial public offering

Vinson & Elkins advised the underwriters in Dynamix Corporation’s initial public offering of 16,600,000 units (approx. $166 million), providing securities and capital markets counsel.

Capital Markets

Representing Kinetik Holdings in $300 million sustainability‑linked senior notes offering (issuer’s counsel)

Vinson & Elkins served as issuer’s counsel in connection with Kinetik Holdings’ offering of $300 million sustainability‑linked senior notes due 2028, integrating sustainable finance structuring and disclosure considerations.

Banking & Finance

What Vinson & Elkins LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

Commercial awareness
Teamwork and collaboration
Resilience and stamina
Strong written and verbal communication
Adaptability and curiosity (especially technology/AI interest)
Client service orientation
Commitment to pro bono and community engagement
Attention to detail

Evidence Signals

Commercial internships or transactional experience (M&A, capital markets, finance)
Pro bono or legal clinic experience
International experience or language skills for cross‑border work
Demonstrable teamwork (e.g., mooting, team projects)
Technology or AI project involvement or interest

Benefits & Wellbeing

Year 1 trainee salary: £60,000
Year 2 trainee salary: £65,000
NQ salary: £173,077
PGDL/GDL grant: £20,000
SQE grant: £20,000
Annual leave: 25 days
No annual billable/target hours (No targets)
Group medical, dental, vision and prescription drug insurance
Health savings account and flexible spending plans
Virtual doctor care
Ergonomic assessments
Free access to onsite fitness centres in some offices; gym discounts in many locations
Onsite health screenings and flu shots
Wellness incentive programme (medical premium credit and gift incentives)
Personal coaching and CPR training
Generous gender‑neutral paid parental leave (up to 18 weeks fully paid)
Adoption reimbursement
Digital health platform for reproductive and family health support
New parent mentoring and family‑friendly events
Breast milk shipping for nursing mothers
Backup child and elder care (subsidised)
Affinity/Attorney Resource Groups and networking events
Employee assistance programme (eight free confidential counselling sessions)
Calm app subscription (mental fitness, meditation, sleep tools)
Competitive salary and discretionary bonuses
Transportation / parking allowance and season‑ticket/transport support where applicable
401(k) retirement plans, life and disability insurance
Tuition reimbursement and retirement/tax planning workshops
Smartphone stipend and wireless data plan reimbursement
Employee discounts and tickets

Wellbeing

Comprehensive wellbeing programme including Calm app access, on‑demand mental health learning, an employee assistance programme providing eight confidential counselling sessions, onsite health screenings and flu shots, wellness incentive programmes, personal coaching, and regular wellbeing presentations and workshops.

Awards & Recognition

Chambers USA 2026: Recognised in 66 practice categories; 20 Band 1 rankings (2026)
242 Chambers individual lawyer rankings in 2025 (firm statement)
Ranked among top corporate and litigation practices and best workplaces in Vault Law 100 rankings (2027 Vault Survey recognition)
Houston Business Journal: Jackson O’Maley named 40 Under 40 (2026)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm supports pipeline and outreach programmes, scholarships and partnerships designed to broaden access to the profession and embeds Talent/Diversity Lead partners in each practice group to advance development and retention. (Firm is a signatory of the American Bar Association’s Well‑Being Pledge.)

Attorney Resource Groups: Asian & Middle Eastern; Black; Hispanic/Latinx; LGBTQ+; Military & Veterans; Women of Color; Working Parents
Women’s Initiative (launched 2000)
Pipeline initiatives and scholarships (V&E Scholarships; founding sponsor of The University of Texas School of Law Pipeline Program)
Talent/Diversity Lead partners embedded in each practice group
New Parent Mentoring Program
Affinity groups and firmwide DEI programming

Pro Bono

V&E lawyers average roughly 20,000 pro bono hours per year. Signature pro bono projects include Corporate Pro Bono (supporting non‑profits with governance, real estate and employment matters), a Guardianship Project assisting low‑income families, a Veteran’s Initiative, Virtual Legal Clinics, and wide international pro bono efforts (London RCJ Advice Centre matters, projects supporting NGOs in UAE and Asia). Pro Bono Counsel: Parker J. Cragg.

Innovation

Vinson & Elkins treats innovation as an integrated programme of people, processes and technology. The firm operates an innovation team led by a Chief Innovation Officer, runs a taskforce to trial Generative AI tools (with strict supervisory and information‑security controls), and prioritises business‑process improvement and change management alongside selective tech procurement. Attorneys use AI‑augmented research tools (Westlaw Precision), and the firm requires review and validation of all AI output before inclusion in client work.

Generative AI taskforce to test and govern Generative AI usage
Chief Innovation Officer and an innovation team (Aubrey Bishai) overseeing people/process/technology projects
Use of Westlaw Precision (AI‑assisted research) in practice
Business process improvement and change management programmes
Rigorous information‑security and procurement vetting for legal technology

Quick Application Angles

Highlight relevant sector knowledge: reference the firm’s market work in energy/energy transition, data centres and infrastructure (for example V&E’s work on data‑centre air‑quality permits and energy transition SPAC and renewables transactions) to show a commercial fit.
Show technical-commercial experience for deals: mention transactional experience or coursework relevant to the firm’s capital markets and SPAC work (e.g., TD Cowen/Presidio $660m SPAC deal or Dynamix IPO) and explain your specific role or learning outcome.
Stress collaborative experience and mentoring readiness: V&E emphasises embedded Talent Leads, strong peer support and formal mentoring—use examples that show you thrive in team settings and benefit from/drive mentoring.
Demonstrate interest in innovation and responsible AI: reference the firm’s Generative AI taskforce and Westlaw Precision use, and explain practical examples of how you’ve used or managed legal tech safely.
Signpost commitment to pro bono and community: the firm averages ~20,000 pro bono hours annually and supports extensive community projects—highlight meaningful pro bono, volunteering or community work.