News & Achievements

Southwest Airlines Invests in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pilot Project Supported by the Department of Energy

Deals & Cases

Vinson & Elkins advised Southwest Airlines Co. in connection with an investment into SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC (SAFFiRE), a company formed by D3MAX, LLC, as part of a Department of Energy (DOE)-backed project to develop and produce scalable, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Funded with a DOE grant matched by Southwest’s investment, SAFFiRE is expected to utilize technology developed by the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory to convert corn stover, a widely available waste feedstock in the U.S., into renewable ethanol that then would be upgraded into SAF.

The V&E team was led by partners Robert Kimball and Danielle Patterson, senior associate JP Lopez and counsel Rajesh Patel, with assistance from associates John Larbalestier and Tessa Krieger-Carlisle. Also advising were associate Claire Wenholz; partner David Peck and senior associate Lauren Meyers; partner Devika Kornbacher and associate Alexa Chally; partner John Decker; and partner Margaret Peloso.

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

Financing and Bankability of Data Center Projects

This program will examine the key legal and commercial considerations for financing data center projects, with a focus on what makes these projects bankable for lenders and investors.

September 29, 2026

September 29, 2026 • 1-minute read

Events

Paige Anderson to Speak on BARBRI Webinar

Partner Paige Anderson will speak on BARBRI’s live video CLE program, “Mastering Public and Private REITs: Key Tax, Structuring, Financing, …

September 22, 2026

September 22, 2026 • 1-minute read

Events

Paige Anderson and Vinay Prabhakar to Present on REIT Tax and Data Centers in Upcoming myLawCLE Webinar

Partners Paige Anderson and Vinay Prabhakar will present on myLawCLE’s live CLE program, “REIT Tax in the Data Center Era: …

September 18, 2026

September 18, 2026 • 1-minute read

Articles

Four Antitrust Pathways to AI Lab Coordination

The debate over AI lab coordination has collapsed into a false binary. There are at least four paths forward. In …

September 17, 2026

September 17, 2026 • 8-minute read

Client Alerts

SEC Moves to Rescind Rule 14a-8, Amend Rule 14a-4, and Modernize Various Proxy Solicitation Rules

The SEC announced proposals that, if adopted, would shift regulation of shareholder proposals from the SEC, which has long held …

September 17, 2026

September 17, 2026 • 10-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