Partner
Tax
“I enjoy the intellectual challenge of helping my clients structure complex financing transactions in the most tax-efficient manner.”
Wendy Trahan Salinas is an experienced and versatile tax attorney who focuses on taxable finance and other complex business transactions. In her taxable finance practice, Wendy advises borrowers and lenders on the tax implications of domestic and cross-border financing transactions. She has extensive experience in representing both public and privately held companies on transactions including bank credit facilities, mezzanine financings, derivatives, and project financings. She advises private equity funds in connection with debt and equity investments and other private equity transactions. She also advises public companies and lenders on bankruptcy restructuring transactions.
Wendy is recognized by Chambers USA 2025 where one client notes “Wendy is a very thorough and technically strong tax lawyer capable of handling the most complicated tax matters.”
Wendy is head of the Partnership Admissions Committee and is also a member of the firm’s Management Committee.
Unit Corporation, a diversified, publicly-traded energy company engaged in oil and natural gas exploration and production, contract drilling, and midstream services, and its affiliates in connection with its prearranged chapter 11 bankruptcy cases involving the exchange of debt for debt, conversion of debt to equity, and preservation of net operating losses
A national bank (in its role as the agent for a $550 million secured lending facility to an upstream producer) in connection with the producer’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring and emergence in an Up-C structure
Bellatrix Exploration Ltd., a Canadian entity, as lead U.S. counsel in the recapitalization transaction involving the exchange of debt into debt and equity
Cloud Peak, a coal mine operator, in bankruptcy restructuring matters and the adoption of a NOL poison pill prior to the bankruptcy
EIG Global Energy Partners in its $375 million acquisition of volumetric production payments consisting of limited term overriding royalty interests in certain offshore mineral properties from Cox Oil Offshore and related entities
Talos Energy, a portfolio company of Apollo Global Management and Riverstone Holdings, in its $2.5 billion combination with Stone Energy, creating an offshore-focused E&P company
Ad hoc group of lenders holding approximately $175 million in senior secured term debt in the prepackaged chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of Pioneer Energy Services Inc. involving a convertible note with a bond hedge and a capital call
Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. in its $2.75 billion offering of senior notes
Energy XXI Gulf Coast, Inc. in its $1.5 billion offering of senior secured notes
Underwriters to Halcon Resources Corporation in its $700 million offering of senior notes
Underwriters to Baytex Energy Corp. in its $1.2 billion offering of senior notes
Targa Resources Partners and Targa Resources Corp. in the $7.7 billion acquisition of Atlas Pipeline Partners and Atlas Energy
Cameron International Corporation in a $750 million unsecured revolving credit facility serving as a backstop for the Borrower’s commercial paper program
EIG Global Energy Partners in a mezzanine loan and equity co-investment in FourPoint Energy, an upstream oil and gas company
Highbridge Principal Strategies in connection with numerous mezzanine loans, secured term loans, and other structured investments to domestic and Canadian oil and gas producers
Barings LLC in a mezzanine loan to Greenleaf Power, an owner and developer of biomass power projects
An international private equity fund in connection with a $1.2 billion structured repurchase agreement transaction designed to finance the acquisition of a dynamic portfolio of loans
An international private equity fund in the formation of a loan origination venture with a bank holding company
St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System in its $1 billion transfer to the Catholic Health Initiatives
Private equity funds and related companies regarding FATCA compliance
Education
Admissions
Events
Vinson & Elkins Sponsoring and Speaking at the 42nd Annual TexFed Institute
Vinson & Elkins is sponsoring the 42nd Annual Texas Federal Tax Institute (TexFed) taking place June 3 – 5 in San Antonio, TX. …
June 3, 2026
June 3, 2026 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins Advises Golar LNG on $500 Million Senior Notes Offering
Vinson & Elkins advised Golar LNG Limited in the pricing of a private offering of $500 million in aggregate principal …
September 29, 2026
September 29, 2026 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins Advises Group 1 Automotive on $1.25 Billion Senior Notes Offering
Vinson & Elkins advised Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 250 automotive retailer, in connection with its private placement of …
September 23, 2026
September 23, 2026 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins advised Goldman Sachs, its West Street Climate Credit Fund (part of Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s private credit …
September 21, 2026
September 21, 2026 • 2-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins advised Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (NASDAQ: PAA) (“PAA”) in connection with an underwritten public offering (the …
September 15, 2026
September 15, 2026 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins represented NextEra Energy, Inc in securing a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee of up to …
September 9, 2026
September 9, 2026 • 1-minute read
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