April 22, 2010 — Michael Thompson, a leading corporate tax lawyer with more than 30 years of experience in the energy sector, has joined Vinson & Elkins RLLP as a tax partner, effective immediately.

Michael, who for 20 years was a partner in Freshfields' tax department, has extensive experience advising clients involved in oil and gas exploration, production, refining, and marketing. In addition to his deep knowledge about energy taxation issues, Michael has regularly advised on the UK tax aspects of corporate, capital markets, and banking transactions and has extensive experience in cross-border transactions involving a variety of jurisdictions.

Michael will be based in V&E’s London office where he will work alongside other recognised energy industry leaders to provide V&E's clients with tax support and advice on their corporate transactions including energy projects and financings.

V&E’s London office managing partner Alex Msimang commented on the move: "Michael is one of the most talented and best-known energy tax lawyers in the city. Our aim is to maintain one of the strongest teams of energy transactional and dispute resolution lawyers in London, and Michael’s skills are a perfect fit for us." Michael, an active member of the UK Oil Industry Taxation Committee, stated: "It is an exciting prospect for me to join a dynamic team dedicated to an area of work in which I have a real interest and also to help the firm’s international expansion of its tax practice." George Gerachis, global head of V&E’s Tax practice, said, “Our clients are increasingly requiring sophisticated UK and international tax advice on their transactions, and we are thrilled to add a solicitor of Michael’s calibre to our firm.”

Michael is the sixth new partner hired by Vinson & Elkins since January this year, and his arrival closely follows that of Sami Al-Louzi and Ahmed el-Gaili in the UAE, James Hanna and Rita Glavin in the United States, and Jay Kolb in Asia. It also closely follows V&E’s recent win of the Legal Business 2010 Award "Energy & Natural Resources Firm/Team of the Year" and the opening of the firm's Palo Alto office.

V&E is a global law firm with more than 770 lawyers across 14 offices worldwide.

If you have any questions, please contact Michael Thompson at +44.20.7065.6065 or mthompson@velaw.com.