Michael Holmes > Vinson & Elkins LLP > Dallas, United States > Lawyer Profile
Vinson & Elkins LLP Offices

TRAMMELL CROW CENTER
2001 ROSS AVENUE, SUITE 3700
DALLAS, TX 75201-2975
TEXAS
United States
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Michael Holmes

Work Department
Shareholder Litigation & Enforcement
Position
Partner
Career
Michael is co-head of the firm’s complex commercial litigation practice. His practice includes mergers & acquisitions, securities litigation, corporate governance, directors and officer representation, and commercial disputes. Michael has appeared as lead counsel in several jurisdictions, and has significant experience in handling Delaware corporate and partnership litigation matters. Most recently, Michael was lead trial counsel for Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. in connection with a lawsuit adverse to The Williams Companies to enforce rights under the parties’ merger agreement. Following expedited discovery and an expedited trial, The Delaware Court of Chancery entered an opinion and order permitting his client to terminate the merger agreement. This decision was affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court. Michael has also handled a variety of corporate investigations, including internal investigations and investigations initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Lawyer Rankings
United States > Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers
(Leading trial lawyers)United States > Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
Vinson & Elkins LLP has ‘deep industry knowledge‘ in its complex commercial litigation practice, many of whom handle high-stakes securities cases. Chris Popov in Houston leads that practice, with Dallas-based Craig Zieminski and Michael Charlson in San Francisco taking the reins of the shareholder litigation and enforcement group. The firm is particularly well known for its work for clients in the energy sector, though it is increasingly involved in a broader spectrum of securities matters. Charlson is currently acting for Genius Brands International, which distributes and licenses children’s cartoon entertainment and related consumer products, in a notable securities class action. Michael Holmes in Dallas is a key figure in the group, and his recent work for EnCap Investments L.P.  in derivative claims is noted. Jason Halper joined the team in New York from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP in September 2024.
Lawyer Rankings
- Securities litigation: defense United States > Dispute resolution
- Leading trial lawyers United States > Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Government > Government relations
- Energy > Energy regulation: oil and gas
- Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas
- International trade and national security > CFIUS
- Energy > Renewable/alternative power
Firm Rankings
- Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings
- Energy > Energy litigation: oil and gas
- Finance > Project finance
- Transport > Aviation and air travel: finance
- Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings
- Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings
- Antitrust > Cartel
- Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation)
- Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional
- Energy > Energy regulation: electric power
- Environment > Environment: litigation
- Environment > Environment: regulatory
- Environment > Environment: transactional
- Government > Government contracts
- Tax > International tax
- Antitrust > Merger control
- Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
- Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- Tax > US taxes: contentious
- Tax > US taxes: non-contentious
- Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+)
- Real estate > Real estate
- Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate
- Industry focus > Sport
- Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes
- M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+)
- Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers
- Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)
- Finance > Commercial lending
- Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
- Real estate > Land use/zoning
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism