News & Achievements

Southwest Airlines Announces Investment in LanzaJet, Inc.

Deals & Cases

Vinson & Elkins advised Southwest Airlines Co. in a $30 million investment in LanzaJet, Inc., a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technology provider and producer with a patented ethanol-to-SAF technology.

LanzaJet recently opened LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels, the world’s first commercial-scale ethanol-to-SAF plant in Soperton, Georgia, and its investors include British Airways, LanzaTech, Mitsui & Co., Shell,  Suncor Energy, and other funders such as Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, Breakthrough Energy and Al Nippon Airways.

As part of the agreement, LanzaJet and Southwest intend to work toward the development of a SAF production facility and collaborate to advance the operations of a corn stover to ethanol technology company in which Southwest is invested: SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC.

The Vinson & Elkins corporate team was led by partner Chris Rowley, with assistance from senior associate John Sager and associates Tessa Krieger-Carlisle and Micah Tardy. Other key team members were partner Alan Alexander; partner Wes Jones; partner David Peck and senior associate Lauren Meyers; partner Michael Kurzer and associate Haley Titcomb; and counsels Brian Howard and Elizabeth McIntyre.

About Vinson & Elkins
For more than a century, Vinson & Elkins has provided outstanding client service across important industries that drive the global economy. Built on a strong culture of collaboration across 14 offices worldwide, V&E lawyers are committed to excellence, offering clients decades of legal experience in handling transactions, investments, projects and disputes across the globe. Learn more by visiting www.velaw.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

For more information, please speak with our media contacts.

Discover our latest:

Insights

CLE Events

Sixth Annual Navigating the Annual Meeting and Reporting Season 

Join leading practitioners and industry voices for a timely discussion of the legal, regulatory, and governance developments shaping the next proxy season.

November 11, 2026

November 11, 2026 • 1-minute read

Navigating Series Background Decorative Image

Events

David Strong Speaking at PLI Tax Strategies Conference in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles

Partner David Strong will present on “Section 1202 Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS)” at PLI’s Tax Strategies for Corporate Acquisitions, …

Multiple Dates

Multiple Dates • 1-minute read

Events

Vinson & Elkins Sponsoring and Speaking at TEI Annual Conference

Vinson & Elkins is a platinum sponsor of the 2026 TEI Annual Conference, taking place October 18–21 in Nashville, Tennessee. …

October 18–21, 2026

October 18–21, 2026 • 1-minute read

Client Alerts

Governance & Sustainability Roundup – October 14, 2026

Welcome to our Governance & Sustainability Roundup — Our regular briefing that gives a quick overview of what has recently …

October 14, 2026

October 14, 2026 • 13-minute read

Events

Jenny Speck to Speak at 18th Annual OPIS RFS, RINs & Biofuels Forum

Partner Jenny Speck will speak on the panel “Credit Where Credit is Due: Finalizing 45Z” at the 18th Annual OPIS …

October 13, 2026

October 13, 2026 • 1-minute read

News & Achievements
V&E

Get in Touch

Thoughts or questions? Send us a note, and we’ll connect you with the right person.

The ESG GC: How Your Role as Chief Legal Officer is Integral To Your Company’s ESG Efforts Background Image