Chair
“Our private equity lawyers have an excellent combination of technical skill and commercial practicality that enables us to understand what our clients are looking for, and to help them accomplish their goals.”
Keith Fullenweider is Chair of the firm and a member of the firm’s Management Committee.
Keith maintains an active practice with private equity firms and their portfolio companies on their investments, financings, and exit transactions. In addition, he counsels private equity firms on structuring capital raises, new business opportunities and corporate development matters. Keith also has extensive experience in public company merger transactions, particularly those involving conflict, special committee processes and regulated industries.
Keith’s clients include some of the world’s most prominent private investors including TPG, Blackstone, KKR, Crestview, Quantum and EnCap.
Keith served as co-head of V&E’s corporate department from 2016 to 2021, and prior to that, he led the firm’s private equity and M&A practice, from 2008 to 2016. During that time, the firm saw a significant expansion of its private equity representations. Under Keith’s watch, V&E became the country’s No. 1 private equity energy practice1 and solidified its position as a leading legal advisor to private equity firms across industry sectors. V&E also maintained its No. 1 ranking in energy M&A transactions during each year in this period.
1Mergermarket, Energy Private Equity Deals (volume), 2009-2019
KKR and its portfolio company, Independence Energy, in its $5.7 billion merger with Contango Oil & Gas to form Crescent Energy Company
The parent company of EagleClaw Midstream, a Blackstone and I Squared Capital portfolio company, in a merger with Altus Midstream valuing the combined entity at $9 billion
TPG Pace Tech Opportunities, a SPAC, in its $1.7 billion business combination with Nerdy Inc., a direct-to-consumer platform for live online learning
Quantum Energy Partners and Post Oak Energy Capital in the $3.6 billion sale of Oryx Midstream to Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners
Blackstone Infrastructure Partners in its $3.3 billion acquisition of a controlling interest in Tallgrass Energy and subsequently, together with affiliates of Enagas, GIC, NPS and USS, the acquisition of all outstanding publicly-held shares
TPG in its $2.66 billion acquisition of assets from EnerVest in a SPAC business combination
TPG Growth in the $1.2 billion sale of Discovery Midstream to KKR and Williams
AltaGas in the $6.4 billion acquisition of WGL Holdings, owner of a regulated natural gas utility, a midstream franchise and non-regulated contracted power and energy marketing businesses
The founder of Drunk Elephant and a consortium of majority equity holders in the sale of Drunk Elephant, a skincare company, to Shiseido
FleetPride, a TPG portfolio company, in its sale to American Securities
TPG Growth and The Rise Fund in the acquisition of CLEAResult, a provider of energy efficiency technology solutions, from General Atlantic
Select Energy Services, an affiliate of Crestview Partners, in its $1.3 billion merger with Rockwater Energy Solutions
Blackstone in the $2 billion acquisition of Eagle Claw Midstream Ventures from EnCap Flatrock Midstream
Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. in its business combination with Perella Weinberg Partners
Vantage Energy in its $2.7 billion sale to Rice Energy
Nexeo Solutions, a chemicals and plastics distributor and TPG Capital portfolio company, in its $1.575 billion merger with WL Ross Holdings Corp.
Education
Admissions
Client Alerts
The Genuine Cup: Soccer Strengthens Our Communities
Vinson & Elkins Chair Keith Fullenweider and Vice Chair Hilary Preston, alongside partners Creighton Smith and Jenny Speck, sit down for conversation on a global soccer tournament, the firm’s support for it, and their experience as spectators and volunteers.
August 27, 2025 • V&E+ Values
August 27, 2025 • 7-minute read
Client Alerts
Collective Counsel: Corporate Law’s Changing Workforce and Culture
Keith Fullenweider appeared on Harvard Business School’s Managing the Future of Work Podcast, which was published September 25, 2024.
September 25, 2024 • Published by Harvard Business School on September 25, 2024
September 25, 2024 • 1-minute read
Client Alerts
Economics of the Energy Transition
Vinson & Elkins Chair Keith Fullenweider joined Wharton Business Daily to talk about financing trends in the energy transition, how policymakers influence investments in clean energy, and the impact of artificial intelligence.
April 29, 2024 • Published by Wharton Business Daily
April 29, 2024 • 1-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
Media Coverage
Keith Fullenweider Appears on NYSE’s Inside the ICE House Podcast
Vinson & Elkins Chair Keith Fullenweider appeared on the New York Stock Exchange’s Inside the ICE House Podcast, where he …
April 13, 2026
April 13, 2026 • 1-minute read
Media Coverage
Keith Fullenweider Appears on The Deal’s Podcast to Discuss His Career at Vinson & Elkins
Vinson & Elkins’ Chair Keith Fullenweider appeared on The Deal’s Drinks with the Deal Podcast, tracing the arc of his …
March 6, 2026
March 6, 2026 • 2-minute read
Media Coverage
The American Lawyer analyzed Vinson & Elkins’ financial results in 2025, highlighting how the firm reached a high-water mark for …
February 26, 2026
February 26, 2026 • 1-minute read
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