Clean energy, including renewable and alternative energy sources such as sunlight, wind, biofuels, hydro, and geothermal, has emerged as part of the solution for fueling the world’s energy needs and for driving opportunities for innovative companies. Silicon Valley led the technology revolution in the 20th Century, and Palo Alto is again a hub, but this time for the clean energy revolution of the new century.

Consistently named the World’s Leading Energy Law Firm by Euromoney (1995 - present)*, V&E is uniquely positioned to take growing clean energy companies from technology development to generating power or producing fuel on a commercial scale.

Our broad energy experience and interdisciplinary approach enable us to anticipate our clients' needs and identify and resolve the issues critical to a successful energy project. V&E lawyers like Palo Alto office head Boyd Carano have significant knowledge and strength in virtually every sector of the global energy business, including in the U.S., Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Lawyers in our Palo Alto office and our global Energy practice are regularly named in Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Energy Lawyers and Guide to the World's Leading Project Finance Lawyers.

Clients look to V&E for guidance on the most challenging aspects of energy transactions, including tax planning, intellectual property protection, complex contractual and financing arrangements, environmental permitting and compliance, capital raising and IPOs, and joint ventures and other partnering arrangements.

At Vinson & Elkins, we know that vision and technology drive innovation, and organization and investment drive entrepreneurship, but extensive knowledge is necessary to bring the two together and turn business plans into deals, and deals into successful projects. 

Lawyers in our Palo Alto office help entrepreneurs successfully grow a company from an idea to operations. We leverage a unique combination of practical experience and advanced education in areas like global finance and high tech to provide the highest levels of professional service and insight.

V&E's IP strengths are further enhanced with the addition of partner Chuck Ebertin, widely respected as one of the leading IP lawyers on the West Coast. Chuck's practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, including patent, copyright, and trade secret issues, as well as contract litigation arising from technology licensing.

Joining V&E's Palo Alto and San Francisco legal teams is partner Matt Jacobs, a former federal prosecutor who also has extensive trial experience handling white-collar defense, internal investigations, and complex commercial litigation. Matt, who has often worked with technology companies, represents individuals and corporations in criminal and internal investigations involving the Department of Justice, the Securities & Exchange Commission, and other governmental agencies, and has extensive experience in antitrust, health care fraud, securities, energy, environmental, and in criminal and civil forfeiture matters.

At the End of the Day, It's About Combining Innovation and Experience
Successfully commercializing advanced technologies involves risks as well as rewards, and requires an innovative, interdisciplinary approach. As an international law firm with 16 offices across the globe and more than 700 transactional, litigation, tax, restructuring, IP, and regulatory lawyers, we have the knowledge and experience to handle our clients’ most significant and challenging engagements. With the establishment of our Palo Alto office, V&E is ready to provide its experience to Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurs and investors.

* Based upon the number of lawyers named in the Guide to the World’s Leading Energy Lawyers.