Client Alerts
Governance & Sustainability Roundup – June 17, 2026
Welcome to our Governance & Sustainability Roundup — Our regular briefing that gives a quick overview on what has recently …
June 17, 2026
June 17, 2026 • 10-minute read
Counsel
Labor & Employment
E. Phileda Tennant, a graduate of Harvard Law School, Texas native and fourth generation Houstonian, is a creative employment litigator and social advisor.
Phileda has extensive experience in non-compete, non-solicit and trade secret litigation and advises clients in drafting non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements, as well as best practices with respect to onboarding employees from alleged competitors. She also assists clients in employment-related diligence with a particular emphasis on restrictive covenant agreements. Phileda is particularly sought after by businesses when they have a need to either defend against or prosecute an emergency temporary restraining order or injunctive relief. She has an extensive track record both obtaining injunctions against former senior executives of her clients and defending those clients against competitors seeking injunctive relief.
Phileda also has experience advising employers on the “S” – Social – in ESG. As a member of both V&E’s ESG Taskforce and Emergency Response Team, Phileda has experience advising clients regarding matters ranging from litigation to government investigations to SEC disclosures to internal policies and procedures related to human capital and social governance. Phileda has particular experience with OSHA citations and investigations, supply chain management, ESG codes and contracts, and diversity and inclusion diligence and policies.
She also has significant experience advising employers regarding sensitive issues related to diversity and inclusion, including whistleblower claims and claims of discrimination or harassment (including sexual harassment). She also often advises clients on the drafting of severance or separation agreements, as well as EEO complaint procedures and related employment policies.
Advising publicly and privately traded companies regarding supplier or vendor codes of conduct
Obtaining TROs enforcing non-competition, non-solicitation and non-disclosure agreements, as well as common law trade secret protections
Conducting numerous DEI or EEO investigations, inclusive of allegations of sexual harassment or sex-based discrimination, on behalf of public and private companies
Defending against Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower claims in federal court and before federal agencies
Defense of industrial employer against citations and subpoenas brought by federal OSHA, Cal OSHA, Kentucky OSHA, and Nevada OSHA
Advising publicly and privately traded companies regarding supplier or vendor codes of conduct
Advising foreign portfolio investments on compliance with SEC disclosure requirements
Advising publicly traded companies regarding contractual ESG requirements
Advising energy-related private equity firm regarding sustainability report
Advising multiple energy companies on social elements of policies related to indigenous rights, supplier codes of conduct, DEI, whistleblowers
Advising multiple energy companies on disclosures of key social ESG information
Advising U.S. energy company on internal governance materials relating to Board diversity
Advising global energy company on community contribution policies
Advising international investment manager on ESG-related investment and portfolio company policy matters including supplier codes of conduct and ESG policies
Advising international carbon management company regarding aspects of ESG on website
Advising renewables company regarding ESG disclosures in connection with an initial public offering
Advising domestic exploration and production company regarding ESG report
Advise real estate investment trust regarding ESG policies related to ESG scoring from third-party rating agencies
Advising multiple clients, including U.S. energy company and international car dealership company regarding internal governance materials including code of business conduct and ethics
Advising international pipeline and terminals operator regarding employment matters
(Tex. Dist.) — Obtaining a temporary restraining order prohibiting director from competitive work for start-up oilfield services provider, using confidential information of former employer, or soliciting customers of former employer, leading to successful resolution of dispute
(Tex. Dist.) — Obtaining a temporary restraining order enforcing non-competition agreement, prohibiting senior executive from working in specialized sector for oilfield services competitor or using confidential information of former employer, leading to successful resolution of dispute
(Tex. Dist.) — Investigation of a complaint by a senior executive for a pipeline company against another senior executive, and obtaining temporary restraining order against former senior executive concerning trade secret misappropriation
(Tex. Dist.) — Obtaining a temporary restraining order that a former director and senior manager of medical diagnostics manufacturer should return trade secret and confidential information belonging to former employer and desist in using former employer’s confidential information in start-up venture, leading to successful resolution of dispute
(Arbitration) — Representing an international company in successful resolution of wage and hour claims
(W.D. Pa.) — Leading the successful defense of an international midstream logistics company against putative collective and class action wage and hour claims
Conducting numerous DEI or EEO investigations, inclusive of allegations of sexual harassment or sex-based discrimination, on behalf of public and private companies
(S.D. Tex.) (5th Circuit) — Obtaining the dismissal of a Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower claim and Fifth Circuit affirmation of that dismissal on grounds that the whistleblower was not an employee
(ALJ / Dept. of Labor ) — Obtaining the dismissal of a Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower claim before the Department of Labor
(S.D.N.Y.) — Defending individual from putative sexual harassment claims
Advising a publicly traded company regarding shareholder activism campaign related to allegations of sexual harassment
(W.D. Tex.) — Obtaining successful resolution of claims of national origin discrimination brought against international employer
(EEOC) — Successful negotiation of settlement with EEOC regarding claims of race discrimination on behalf of national employer, following evidentiary hearing before the EEOC
Advising employers on COVID-19 policies and procedures
Defense of industrial employer against citations and subpoenas brought by federal OSHA, Cal OSHA, Kentucky OSHA, and Nevada OSHA
Counselling employers regarding programmed and unprogrammed OSHA investigations
(D. Md.) — Obtaining successful resolution of claims of age and sex discrimination
(E.D. Va.) — Successful prosecution and resolution of claims of trade secret misappropriation against former employee
Education
Admissions
Client Alerts
Governance & Sustainability Roundup – June 17, 2026
Welcome to our Governance & Sustainability Roundup — Our regular briefing that gives a quick overview on what has recently …
June 17, 2026
June 17, 2026 • 10-minute read
Client Alerts
On March 26, 2026, President Trump issued Executive Order (“EO”) 14398, titled Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors, directing federal …
April 6, 2026
April 6, 2026 • 5-minute read
Client Alerts
On June 5, 2025—in the midst of heightened scrutiny of diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) initiatives triggered by executive orders issued by President Trump as well as various federal agency guidance—the Supreme Court unanimously rejected the heightened “background circumstances” requirement imposed on Marlean Ames, a heterosexual woman who filed a gender and sexual orientation discrimination claim against her employer, the Ohio Department of Youth Services. The decision, as projected, confirms that a majority-group plaintiff is not required to proffer more evidence of discrimination than a non-majority-group plaintiff in order to state a prima facie claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”).
June 23, 2025
June 23, 2025 • 3-minute read
Client Alerts
On May 19, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum announcing the creation of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Fraud Initiative (the Initiative), which directs DOJ attorneys to utilize the False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq., to combat knowing violations of civil rights law and the false certification of compliance with such laws by recipients of federal funds such as educational institutions and federal contractors.
June 11, 2025 • V&E False Claims Act Update Published by Of Counsel, August 2025. Copyright Wolters Kluwer.
June 11, 2025 • 6-minute read
Client Alerts
Vinson & Elkins’ Quarterly Governance and Sustainability Updates – Summer 2025
Welcome to Vinson & Elkins’ Governance and Sustainability Updates. Each quarter, our aim is to provide insights into notable developments …
June 9, 2025 • V&E Governance & Sustainability Update
June 9, 2025 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
California Resources Corporation Announces All-Stock Combination with Berry Corporation
Vinson & Elkins advised Berry Corporation (bry) (NASDAQ: BRY) (“Berry”) in its entry into a definitive agreement with California Resources Corporation (NYSE: CRC) (“CRC”) pursuant to which CRC will acquire Berry in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $717 million, inclusive of Berry’s net debt.
September 15, 2025
September 15, 2025 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
EnCap Investments Closes Fund XII at $5.25 Billion
Vinson & Elkins advised EnCap Investments L.P. in the successful formation of EnCap Energy Capital Fund XII with total commitments of $5.25 billion.
October 21, 2024
October 21, 2024 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
EnCap Energy Transition Closes $1.5 Billion Energy Transition Fund II
Vinson & Elkins advised EnCap Investments L.P. in the successful formation of EnCap Energy Transition Fund II with total commitments of approximately $1.5 billion.
May 9, 2024
May 9, 2024 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Chord Energy and Enerplus to Combine in $11 Billion Transaction
Vinson & Elkins advised Chord Energy in its entry into a definitive arrangement agreement with Enerplus Corporation under which Chord will combine with Enerplus in an approximately $11 billion stock and cash transaction.
February 21, 2024
February 21, 2024 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
JPI to be Acquired by Sumitomo Forestry America, Inc.
Vinson & Elkins advised Sumitomo Forestry America, Inc., a comprehensive housing and wood products subsidiary of Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd., in the acquisition of JPI’s operating platform.
October 2, 2023
October 2, 2023 • 1-minute read
our People
Please note that any communication with Vinson & Elkins via e-mail through this website does not constitute or create an attorney-client relationship with V&E. Please do not send any confidential information. A conflicts-of-interest procedure must be completed by V&E prior to establishment of an attorney-client relationship. When you execute an engagement letter from V&E you will be our client, and you may then exchange information freely with a V&E attorney.
By clicking “Accept,” you agree that we may review any information you transmit to us. You recognize that our review of your information, even if it is highly confidential and even if it is transmitted in a good faith effort to retain us, does not preclude us from representing another client directly adverse to you, even in a matter where that information could and will be used against you.