Partner
Investment Funds
“What matters most in private equity, and fund formation in particular, is to solve complex issues in creative ways that allow the parties to work together for years. We are very good at that.”
Robert Seber is head of our Investment Funds practice. He is highly experienced in the full cycle of private equity funds – including fund formation, carry and equity arrangements, governance, investments, and exits – and has a profound knowledge of market trends. He has formed multiple energy and infrastructure funds with innovative terms that reflect the nuances of investments in these industries. Robert has also structured multiple holding companies and similar investment vehicles with fund-like structures across a variety of industries.
Robert is an adjunct professor of law at New York University School of Law, where he taught a class on energy transition for several years. He is a frequent panelist on private equity and energy policy topics.
EnCap Investments in multiple fund formation matters, including the formation of EnCap Energy Transition Funds I and II with aggregate capital commitments of approximately $2.7 billion and EnCap Energy Capital Fund XII with aggregate capital commitments of approximately $5.2 billion
Ridgewood Energy and Ridgewood Infrastructure in the formation of several private equity funds with aggregate capital commitments of over $5 billion
White Deer Energy in the formation of several private equity funds with aggregate capital commitments of approximately $2.5 billion
E-3 Tech, a private company that partners with entrepreneurial management teams, in its formation and investments
Vitol, the largest independent energy trading company globally, in the formation of dedicated credit investment platforms with Breakwall Capital LP
Focus Financial Partners from its inception through multiple private equity rounds and acquisitions of registered investment advisers, its $615 million initial public offering, several secondary offerings, and its $7 billion going private transaction
Education
Admissions
Client Alerts
Capital Commitment: A Billion-Plus for American Infrastructure
Vinson & Elkins Partners Robert Seber, David Peck, and Megan James, counsel to Ridgewood Infrastructure, share the story behind the private equity firm’s latest success and the legal work that went into it.
March 6, 2025 • V&E+ Ventures
March 6, 2025 • 6-minute read
Client Alerts
Oil & Gas Funds and Section 3(c)(9) – New Life for a Forgotten Exception
A fund primarily engaged in investing or trading in securities must register under the Investment Company Act, unless it falls under an exception to the definition of investment company.
January 31, 2024
January 31, 2024 • 5-minute read
Client Alerts
Distribution Waterfalls: Three Nuances
Distribution waterfalls are ubiquitous in the private investment world. They determine participation in cash flows or profits that is not in proportion to invested capital.
November 17, 2023
November 17, 2023 • 6-minute read
Client Alerts
Private Equity: Private No More?
On February 9, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) proposed new rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“IAA”) to regulate advisers to private funds.
February 14, 2022
February 14, 2022 • 5-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins Advises SCF Partners on Close of $800 Million Fund XI at Hard Cap
Vinson & Elkins advised SCF Partners, an investment manager headquartered in Houston, Texas, on the successful formation and final close …
September 23, 2026
September 23, 2026 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Breakwall Capital and Vitol Announce the Closing of Valor Upstream Credit Partners II
Vinson & Elkins advised Vitol Inc. in connection with the formation of Valor Upstream Credit Partners II, L.P. (“VCP II”), …
February 25, 2026
February 25, 2026 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vitol and Breakwall Capital LP Announce the Formation of Valor Mining Credit Partners, L.P.
Vinson & Elkins LLP advised Vitol Inc. in connection with its investment in Valor Mining Credit Partners, L.P. (“VMP”), a fund-of-one sponsored by Breakwall Capital LP.
July 1, 2025
July 1, 2025 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins Advises Ridgewood Energy on Formation of Ridgewood Energy Oil & Gas Fund V, L.P.
Vinson & Elkins advised Ridgewood Energy Corporation in the successful formation of Ridgewood Energy Oil & Gas Fund V, L.P.
May 13, 2025
May 13, 2025 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
E-3 Tech, LLC Acquires Sylvan Inc.
Vinson & Elkins advised E-3 Tech, LLC and its affiliates (“E3T”) in connection with its acquisition of BPCP FMS Holding, Inc. d/b/a Sylvan Inc. and its affiliates (“Sylvan”) from funds affiliated with Blue Point Capital Partners and related syndicated debt and equity financings of E3T.
March 18, 2025
March 18, 2025 • 2-minute read
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