Vinson & Elkins has hired Houston energy M&A partner Chris Bennett, the firm announced in a news release.
He is returning to V&E after a couple of years as a partner at Weil.
“Chris is a market leader in handling acquisitions and divestitures of oil, gas, and other energy and infrastructure assets,” said partner Matt Strock, co-head of Vinson & Elkins’ transactional practice, in the release. “He is a perfect fit for our energy transactions team, which is broadly recognized as one of the premier energy teams in the country.”
Bennett brings expertise with complex transactions in the energy and infrastructure space, in particular midstream and upstream work.
Bennett started his career at V&E in oil and gas transactions.
“Returning to Vinson & Elkins was an easy decision for me,” Bennett said in the release. “I look forward to joining the firm and to helping it remain among the nation’s best at handling complex energy and infrastructure transactions.”
V&E recorded $635.1 million in Texas revenue last year, according to the Lawbook 50, and ranked No. 5 in Texas lawyer headcount in 2024.
AREAS OF FOCUS
Bennett specializes in high-profile mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and strategic combinations in the upstream and midstream oil and gas sectors, as well as broader energy and infrastructure projects.
EDUCATION
Undergraduate: Louisiana State University (BA, 2007)
Law School: Tulane University (JD, 2010)