The Top Five Law Firms for Energy, Oil & Gas

Vault has named Vinson & Elkins, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Baker Botts L.L.P., and Norton Rose Fulbright as the best firms for practicing law related to energy, oil, and gas in 2025. These rankings are based on the responses of approximately 20,000 attorneys who took Vault’s Annual Associate survey in Spring 2024.

Vinson & Elkins

Vinson & Elkins ranks No. 1 in Vault’s Texas regional rankings and is also the No. 1 firm in Vault’s energy, Oil & Gas practice area rankings. It takes the No. 5 spot in Vault’s Clean Tech/Renewable Energy and the No. 10 position for both Vault’s Environmental Law and Project Finance practice area rankings. The 700 lawyers at this firm have fantastic opportunities to move into other energy-related and corporate positions, and those who want to pursue equity partnership will find the process to be transparent. The firm has established 13 offices: 8 offices in the United States (3 in Texas) and 5 overseas in Asia, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom. Associates describe the culture as supportive with colleagues showing kindness and authenticity. The firm does not have a formal billable hour requirement, but associates indicate that they are expected to bill approximately 2,000 hours, with non-billable hours, such as those dedicated to pro bono work, DEI-related activities, and/or development, capped at 100 hours. V&E ranks among the top 30 firms in Vault’s Firm Culture, Compensation, Quality of Work, and Integration of Laterals and Clerks quality-of-life rankings.

Kirkland & Ellis

One of the largest and most influential law firms in the world, Kirkland & Ellis is in the No. 2 position in both Vault’s Energy, Oil, and Gas and Texas rankings. The firm places No. 1 in Vault’s Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Banking & Financial Services, General Corporate Practice, Private Equity, and Products Liability practice area rankings and in Vault’s Chicago and Midwest regional rankings. The firm holds 11 other top 15 Vault practice area rankings, 6 other regional rankings, and 6 top 30 Vault quality-of-life rankings. The firm consists of 3,500 lawyers working in 19 locations worldwide (eight U.S. offices). They work long hours for top-tier pay in a professional and respectful environment. The firm imposes no billable hour requirement, and associates can take increasing responsibility as they learn through training and experience. The level of work and opportunity to contribute to quality projects lead to excellent positions inside and outside the firm, including with clients. Kirkland attorneys can be promoted to non-equity partnership, and a select few can become equity partners.

Latham & Watkins

Another large, elite firm—Latham & Watkins—takes third place in Vault’s Energy, Oil and Gas rankings and Texas regional rankings. This megafirm holds 25 top 15 Vault practice area rankings, including the No. 3 spot for Environmental Law; Media, Entertainment & Sports; and Private Equity. It is also the No. 3 firm in Vault’s Chicago and Washington, DC, rankings, and places No. 1 and No. 2 for Southern California and Northern California, respectively. Connections are easy to make at Latham, as the firm comprises 3,000 attorneys in 29 offices (12 U.S. locations) and sponsors social events. Associates must meet a 1,900-hour billable requirement, and they do it by completing substantive assignments on interesting matters. The firm offers a transparent promotion path, and it also supports its attorneys seeking other situations. Latham associates can go in-house, in the government, or into clerkships.

Baker Botts L.L.P.

Another global law firm with five top Vault practice area rankings, including the No. 4 ranking for Energy, Oil & Gas, No. 7 ranking for Environmental Law, and No. 8 ranking for Clean Tech/Renewable Energy, Baker Botts employs approximately 700 lawyers in seven U.S. and five international offices. The firm offers services in two main sectors: energy and technology. It has handled thousands of energy-related matters worldwide, receiving impressive accolades, such as Law Firm of the Year for Oil and Gas Law from Best Law Firms. Approximately, one-third of the firm’s attorneys work on technology matters. In fact, the firm has a practice dedicated to AI, revealing the forward-thinking focus of this, the oldest firm in Texas (and the No. 4 firm in Vault’s Texas rankings). Moreover, Baker Botts boasts of its long-standing commitment to diversity and celebrates its Mansfield Rule Plus Certification and the 20th anniversary of its responsive Diversity Committee.

Norton Rose Fulbright

Taking the No. 5 position in Vault’s 2025 Energy, Oil & Gas rankings, Norton Rose Fulbright is a large global firm with more than 3,100 lawyers working around the globe, including 12 U.S. and 41 international locations. With an office in Austin and Dallas, it is ranked No. 8 in Vault’s Texas rankings. Similar to the other top five energy powerhouses listed herein, it is ranked highly for its Clean Tech/Renewable Energy (No. 3) practice, and it is among the Vault top 25 firms for two other practice areas: Project Finance (No. 11) and Products Liability (No. 25). Associates are required to bill 1,900 hours, with 50 hours credited for pro bono or other non-billable work, and they appreciate the unique $2,500 award toward a vacation for high billers. Associates describe the firm culture as down-to-earth and explain that management has made efforts to give it a small or midsize firm feel. Notably, the firm ranks in the top 20 for five Vault quality-of-life rankings, including No. 9 for Transparency. The firm offers multiple, clearly navigable promotion pathways, including partnership.

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The energy sector is tightly governed, dynamic, and complex. Therefore, lawyers interested in regulatory issues, deal-making, and related areas, such as environmental law and technology, have many opportunities to practice law in the energy sector.

Each of the firms in Vault’s top five rankings for Energy, Oil & Gas are among the top 10 firms in Texas, the historical epicenter of the energy sector in the United States. To learn more about these and other law firms in Texas, please see Vault’s Texas Regional Resource Center. Six other Regional Resource Centers are featured on the Vault website, including California and Washington, DC, in which many energy-focused firms have offices.

In addition to Texas offices, Vault’s top five firms for Energy, Oil & Gas have many of the same highly ranked practices, such as Environmental Law and Clean Tech/Renewable Energy, and a global presence. They differ markedly, however, by the number of attorneys employed, billable hour requirements, and perks. Vault profiles offer in-depth information on these firms, including salary information, number of associates recently hired, quality-of-life rankings, and other attributes. In addition, the profiles of other firms in the Vault Law 100 and Best Midsize Firms to Work For offer information that enables attorneys to compare their options.

Best of luck on your legal job search from all of us at Vault Law!