Keith Fullenweider
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.
In addition to his other management responsibilities, Keith serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Diversity Executive Committee.
1Mergermarket, Energy Private Equity Deals (volume), 2009-2019
Experience Highlights
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.
Credentials
- The University of Texas School of Law, J.D. with high honors, 1988 (Chancellors; Order of the Coif; Texas Law Review)
- Princeton University, A.B., History summa cum laude, 1985
- Chambers Global, “Eminent Practioner” in Corporate/M&A: International & Cross-Border (USA), 2024; “Eminent Practioner” in Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) (USA), 2023 and 2024; Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) (USA), 2011−2013, 2019−2022; Corporate/M&A: International & Cross-Border (USA), 2020–2023
- Chambers USA, Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional)(Nationwide), 2010−2024; “Eminent Practitioners” in Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional)(Nationwide), 2022; Corporate/M&A (Texas), 2010−2024; Corporate/M&A: Private Equity (Texas), 2021 and 2022; “Spotlight Table” in Corporate M&A: Private Equity (Texas), 2021 and 2022; Private Equity: Buyouts (Texas), 2023 and 2024
- Legal 500 U.S., M&A/Corporate & Commercial: M&A: Large Deals ($1 Billion plus), 2015–2022; Venture Capital and Emerging Companies, 2017; M&A/Corporate & Commercial: Private Equity Buyouts, 2011–2024; Energy: Transactions, 2014, 2016–2020; Finance: Project Finance, 2018–2022; “Leading Lawyer” in Energy: Transactions: Oil & Gas, 2020–2024
- The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), “Lawyer of the Year” in Mergers & Acquisitions (Houston), 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020
- The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Houston), 2007−2025
- Selected to the 500 Leading Dealmakers in America, Lawdragon, 2022 and 2024
- Selected to the 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon, 2022–2024
- Selected to the 500 Leading Energy Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2023 and 2024
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2003−2024
- IFLR1000, 2020–2023
- Texas
- Rankings & AwardsOctober 21, 2024
- InsightSeptember 25, 2024
Published by Harvard Business School on September 25, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 19, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsJune 6, 2024
- Deals & CasesMay 16, 2024
- InsightApril 29, 2024
Published by Wharton Business Daily
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 15, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsOctober 26, 2023
- Press ReleaseOctober 16, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 18, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 21, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJuly 14, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 17, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 16, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJanuary 17, 2023
- IFLR1000 2022 Recognizes Vinson & Elkins in 21 Practice Categories, Recommends 49 Individual LawyersRankings & AwardsAugust 25, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 18, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsJune 16, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2022
- Deals & CasesMay 10, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsMay 10, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 29, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 21, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 17, 2022
- Deals & CasesOctober 21, 2021
- Deals & CasesJune 8, 2021
- Deals & CasesApril 13, 2021
- “Texas Powerhouse: Vinson & Elkins,” Law360, published September 16, 2024 (quoted)