Chambers USA, 2018–2026
Jaren Taylor is a Partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP whose practice focuses on the representation of utility and energy clients across regulatory, right-of-way, and legislative matters. He represents clients before the Public Utility Commission of Texas, other state regulatory agencies, and in various courts throughout the state on issues involving utility infrastructure — including Certificates of Convenience and Necessity, regulatory approvals for M&A transactions, rate litigation, and compliance with ERCOT and other state regulatory requirements.
A significant and growing focus of Jaren’s practice is legislative and governmental advocacy. He represents energy companies, utilities, and pipeline and infrastructure developers before state legislatures and policymakers, working to advance major energy projects and protect client interests across Texas’s complex regulatory landscape.
Jaren also maintains an active right-of-way and eminent domain practice, representing both utilities and landowners in the condemnation process — whether acquiring land for energy infrastructure projects or ensuring landowners receive just compensation for their property. His notable work includes preparing, processing, and obtaining approval for more than one hundred Certificate of Convenience and Necessity applications for transmission line projects in Texas.
(Public Utility Commission of Texas) — Prepared, processed, and obtained approval for over twenty Certificate of Convenience and Necessity applications for transmission line projects in the State of Texas (lead)
(Texas State Court) — Conducted litigation for clients to obtain hundreds of miles of right-of-way through condemnation in courts across the state for the construction of high-voltage transmission lines (lead)
(Public Utility Commission of Texas) — Litigated contested case proceeding to be awarded over a billion dollars of Competitive Renewable Energy Zone transmission line projects
Represented client in $400 million dollar utility asset swap transaction, including the regulatory approval for the same
Represented clients in Sale, Transfer, Merger proceedings before regulatory commissions
(Wise County Court at Law No. 2) — Defended client in state court trespass and nuisance cases involving energy infrastructure (lead)
Represented clients in various asset acquisitions, mergers, asset swaps, and sales involving utility infrastructure
Counsels clients on various matters involving the ERCOT market and process, including the RPG process, generator interconnections, certification and registration requirements, and other issues (lead)
(Public Utility Commission of Texas) — Represents clients in various industry rulemakings, complaint, and other proceedings (lead)
Represented clients before planning and zoning commissions, and city councils, to obtain municipal zoning approvals (lead)
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Podcasts
Powering Progress Episode 1 – Texas at the Edge of the Grid: Powering the Age of AI
As AI and data center development accelerates, regulatory considerations are becoming increasingly central to project planning — from federal energy …
April 28, 2026
April 28, 2026 • 13-minute read
Awards & Rankings
The Legal 500 US 2026 recommended Vinson & Elkins as a leading law firm in 47 practice categories. In total, …
June 10, 2026
June 10, 2026 • 3-minute read
Awards & Rankings
Vinson & Elkins announced today that it achieved 20 Band 1 rankings in Chambers USA 2026: Nationwide: Energy Transition; Energy: …
June 4, 2026
June 4, 2026 • 3-minute read
Awards & Rankings
The Best Lawyers in America (BL Rankings, LLC) has named 125 Vinson & Elkins lawyers in its “Best Lawyers” category in the 2026 edition. Additionally, 76 Vinson & Elkins attorneys have been named in the “Ones to Watch” category, which recognizes lawyers with 5–10 years’ experience. Some individuals are listed in more than one practice area, giving the firm a total of 305 rankings.
August 21, 2025
August 21, 2025 • 3-minute read
Awards & Rankings
Vinson & Elkins announced today that it achieved 18 Band 1 rankings in Chambers USA 2025: Nationwide: Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory & Litigation); Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional); Energy Transition; Offshore Energy; Projects: Oil & Gas; Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional New York: Bankruptcy/Restructuring: Highly Regarded Texas: Bankruptcy/Restructuring; Capital Markets: Debt & Equity; Corporate/M&A: The Elite; Environment: Mainly Transactional; Litigation: Securities; Real Estate; Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use; Tax; Technology: Corporate & Commercial Texas: Austin & Surrounds: Corporate/M&A Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth & Surrounds: Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Of the firm’s 167 individual lawyer rankings, 16 were newly added in 2025. Some lawyers are ranked in more than one category.
June 5, 2025
June 5, 2025 • 3-minute read
Awards & Rankings
Lawdragon Honors 54 Vinson & Elkins Attorneys as 2025 Leaders in Energy
Lawdragon has selected 54 Vinson & Elkins attorneys in its 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers guide.
February 25, 2025
February 25, 2025 • 1-minute read
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