Committed to Equality

T. Mark Kelly, Chairman
Scott N. Wulfe, Managing Partner
Manuel G. Berrelez, Partner
John B. Connally IV, Partner
Jim Fox, Vice Chair-Elect
Keith Fullenweider, Chair-Elect
Stephen M. Gill, Partner
Michael Holmes, Vice Chair-Elect
David Oelman, Partner
Bailey Pham, Partner
Hilary Preston, Vice Chair-Elect
Julia E. Sanabria, Partner
Michael B. Wigmore, Partner
Patty Harris, Chief Talent Officer
Allen Gilbert, Chief Financial Officer

As a firm, Vinson & Elkins stands in support of our Black attorneys and staff, and our communities that have been, and continue to be, deeply impacted by racial injustice and police brutality. The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and other people of color have shone a harsh light on the systemic societal injustices that must be addressed if we hope to build a society that provides equal justice and equal opportunities for all. We recognize that Black communities especially, including our colleagues and clients, are deeply impacted by these ongoing events.

We are steadfast in our conviction that there is no room in our organization or society for racism, discrimination, or injustice toward Black people or other people of color. It is clear that as a law firm and as individuals, we must do more, and we will use our platform to continue the conversation and assist our communities in the path forward.

Read more about the action we are taking here.

Embedded within practice groups in each office; actively monitor equitable work opportunities, facilitate constructive feedback, and oversee associate development.

Firmwide group led by Chairman Mark Kelly and Management Committee member Gillian Hobson that includes ally partners, counsel, associates, and staff across practices, offices, and seniority levels. The Council focuses on programming and initiatives, and facilitates communication and connections across the firm.

Our various resource groups offer an opportunity to build a stronger sense of community across practices and offices, provide mentoring opportunities, and facilitate business development efforts. Some of our affinity groups include LGBTQ+, Women of Color, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian and Middle Eastern, Military and Veterans, and Working Parents.

Our internal conferences for our lawyers of color and LGBTQ lawyers offer unique opportunities to build relationships that are vital to success. Our recent event included more than 50 firm leaders and partners who participated in constructive dialogues, led roundtables, and participated in networking opportunities.

V&E provides numerous scholarships, fellowships, internships, mentoring, and sponsorships to help us to identify early opportunities to further diversify our firm and the profession.

A variety of programs, benefits, and initiatives are supported such as V&E’s on-site career coach, mental and physical wellness programs, gender-neutral paid parental leave, new parent mentoring program, flexible work arrangements and technology that supports remote work, family-friendly events, back-up child and elder care, and breast milk shipping for nursing moms.

V&E lawyers are actively involved in numerous affinity bar associations and diversity organizations including these and many others:

• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)
• Lambda Legal
• Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
• National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL)
• Sponsors for Educational Opportunities (SEO)
• New York Bar Diversity Initiative
• Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC)
• Corporate Counsel Men of Color
• State Bar of Texas Minority Counsel Program (TMCP)
• The Center for Women in Law
• Women’s Bar Association of DC
• National LGBT Bar Association / Lavender Law
• Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule 4.0
• Law Firm Antiracism Alliance