Keith Fullenweider to take over as next Chair of Vinson & Elkins

Keith Fullenweider to take over as next Chair of Vinson & Elkins

The Texas-headquartered international law firm also creates a new executive committee with promotions of four partners as Vice Chair

Texas-headquartered international law firm Vinson & Elkins has named its Corporate Partner Keith Fullenweider as its new Chair.

The firm is in the process of a major shaking up of its leadership structure as a new Executive Committee has been named to replace the outgoing Chair and Managing Director of the firm.

Private Equity Partner Jim Fox, Litigation Partner Michael Holmes and IP Partner Hilary Preston have been named as new Vice Chairs. Together the four partners will make up the new executive committee. They will be replacing the current Chairman Mark Kelly and Managing Partner Scott Wulfe from early next year. Kelly and Wulfe were in their current roles for nearly a decade.

"Keith, Jim, Michael, and Hilary are the right choice to lead our firm. As individual lawyers, each is extremely respected, possesses tremendous leadership skills and has a keen strategic vision for our firm. At the same time, they each come from different offices, have different practices, and bring unique personal strengths. This approach reflects the way our partners practice and grow the firm – together as true partners," the outgoing chairman Kelly said.

Fullenweider has been with the firm for more than 30 years and currently serves as co-head of the firm's corporate department in Houston. Fox is currently a co-managing partner of the New York office and has played a large part in building the firm's private equity practice. Holmes is co-head of the commercial litigation practice in Dallas, while Preston is chair of the IP and technology practice, splitting her time between New York and Austin.

"We thank Mark and Scott for their remarkable leadership over the past 10 years. During this time, in addition to our established expertise in energy and infrastructure, our investments in litigation, real estate, private equity, technology, leveraged finance, arbitration and investigations have propelled the firm forward," Fullenweider said.

"The key to the success of Vinson & Elkins remains our reputation for consistently delivering excellent client service and results while fostering a culture that values collaboration and mutual support of all of our lawyers. This is the foundation for advancing the goals of our clients. We are confident the incoming executive committee will maintain our entrepreneurial spirit and culture of trust that drives success," the outgoing V&E Managing Director Wulfe added.