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Vinson & Elkins has been labelled by Global Arbitration Review’s GAR 100 2019 as “arguably one of the leading firms when it comes to energy work.”[1]
For decades, our clients have turned to both our domestic and international Energy Disputes lawyers around the world to assist in virtually every type of contract, project, or investment related to energy or related infrastructure development — including in relation to arbitrations. We are fortunate to have those clients turn to us again when disputes arise, whether commercial disputes or disputes with the host state authorities.
In the energy sector, the matters we work on cover the full range of upstream, midstream, and downstream disputes, including exploration, production, pricing, pipelines, shale, and LNG, as well as all aspects of power generation, transmission, and sales. We are intimately familiar with the complex technical issues energy disputes typically involve. In addition, by combining the complementary industry knowledge of our lawyers firm wide, we can keep the bigger picture in mind.
V&E’s Disputes lawyers regularly team with our regulatory and transaction lawyers to draw on their comprehensive knowledge of the energy business. We work closely together to tailor arbitration agreements to energy complexities, to advise clients concerning rights and obligations under their agreements, to assist clients to try to avoid disputes and, if a dispute does arise, to prepare the best claim or defense.
With the energy industry constantly evolving and new frontiers being sought in some of the more remote parts of the world, V&E’s International Disputes team is your strategic counsel of choice.
Representing consortia of international and domestic companies in two arbitrations arising out of a hugely successful oil field offshore India in connection with a series of profit sharing disputes with the Government of India; these are collectively valued at just short of $1 billion, and have spawned significant satellite litigation in the courts of both India and Malaysia
Advised investors in Kurdistan Regional Governate in dispute with Regional Government over relinquishment of oil and gas properties
Representing a defendant oil company in an UNCITRAL arbitration concerning the proper operation of a sole risk provision in a joint operating agreement
Obtained a major victory for a U.S. E&P company in an AAA arbitration in connection with the purchase of more than 20,000 acres of leases in the Utica Shale for US$120 million; after discovery and evidentiary hearings, the arbitrator ruled in favor of our client on all claims; the award obligates the opposing party to pay the significant per-acre bonus if payment is required to avoid termination of the defective leases
Represented the owner of a power generation facility in UNCITRAL arbitration with offtaker/guarantor over credit support obligations for power sales involving claims in excess of $1 billion
Acting for the claimant (an Omani branch of a multinational drilling rig supply company) in relation to an ICC arbitration over the non-payment of monies owed under a services contract for drilling in Oman
Obtained a final award in favor of our client of approximately $120 million (net) in an LCIA arbitration in connection with a dispute over production rights in a Nigerian oil and gas venture
Won an $80 million (net) arbitration award in Brazil on behalf of an energy company involving a power plant development project, and achieved a successful resolution after seeking to enforce the award in the U.S.
Obtained award on behalf of a subsidiary of an energy company operating natural gas and refined petroleum products pipelines in an ICDR New York-seated arbitration, under Brazilian law involving breach of contract, against a Brazilian state-owned energy company
Acted for the claimant in an ICC arbitration concerning a gas sales agreement in Pakistan (Singapore Seat); this case involved detailed arguments regarding the applicability and scope of impossibility and force majeure under the contract
At Vinson & Elkins, we bring decades of knowledge, skill, and experience to our clients’ most complex legal matters.
Discover our latest:
Articles
Deep Trouble: How NORI and TOML Are Testing the Limits of Seabed Governance
On 30 May 2026, Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (“NORI”) and Tonga Offshore Mining Ltd. (“TOML”), two subsidiaries of The Metals …
June 29, 2026
June 29, 2026 • 6-minute read
Articles
The Coming Wave of Disputes in Data Centre and AI Infrastructure
The global data centre sector is in the midst of the largest infrastructure build-out of the modern era. The Goldman …
May 29, 2026
May 29, 2026 • 14-minute read
Articles
UK Critical Minerals Strategy – Vision 2035
On 22 November 2025, the United Kingdom’s (“UK”) Government launched Vision 2035, the third iteration of its Critical Minerals Strategy …
February 18, 2026
February 18, 2026 • 4-minute read
Client Alerts
As part of our ongoing monitoring of international and domestic legal developments, this article provides an update on the International Seabed Authority’s (“ISA”) Council Part II of the 30th Session and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (“NOAA”) proposed updates to its regulations implementing the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (“DSHMRA”), which provides the U.S. framework for deep-sea mining.
January 23, 2026
January 23, 2026 • 9-minute read
Client Alerts
2026 Energy Disputes Outlook: Key Energy Arbitration and Litigation Trends from Vinson & Elkins
Overview Vinson & Elkins’ International Dispute Resolution & Arbitration team examines 10 trends involving liquefied natural gas (LNG), climate change, renewable …
January 14, 2026 • Vinson & Elkins’ International Dispute Resolution & Arbitration team examines 10 trends involving liquefied natural gas (LNG), climate change, renewable energy projects, grid modernisation, power purchase agreements, and more.
January 14, 2026 • 2-minute read
Articles
Nuclear Power Plants: Mitigating Risk of Claims and Delay
While nuclear energy is currently being championed for its low-carbon electricity generation and energy security, the construction of facilities to provide such energy is no easy feat. From regulatory hurdles to technical complexities, navigating the construction phase of nuclear power plants demands careful consideration and proactive risk management. The average nuclear power plant (“NPP”) has a construction cost overrun of 102.5% and projects that commenced construction between 2010 and 2020 were delivered an average of three years late.
October 28, 2025 • Published by Energy Intelligence, December 2025
October 28, 2025 • 6-minute read
Client Alerts
Deep-Sea Mining and the Future of Critical Minerals
In this article for Global Mining Review, Louise Woods and Elena Guillet examine how deep-sea mining could help meet rising demand for critical minerals needed for clean energy and EVs.
September 25, 2025 • Published by Global Mining Review
September 25, 2025 • 1-minute read
