Vinson & Elkins has made a trio of partner hires across its New York, Austin and Houston offices to bolster its investment management and finance practices.

The incoming hires include funds partners Samuel Francis and Reed Schuster who are joining from Kirkland & Ellis, and finance lawyer Caitlin Lawrence who is rejoining the firm from Baker Botts. Francis will be based in New York, Schuster will be based in Austin and Lawrence rejoins in Houston.

Francis and Schuster bring more than 25 years of combined experience in US and international fund formation and fund operation across the private equity, infrastructure, energy, real estate, credit, hedge and venture fund industries. Francis advises clients on regulatory guidance and support around investment adviser registration, compliance requirements and M&A transactions, while Schuster specialises in SEC matters including examinations and investigations.

Jim Fox, Vinson & Elkins’ vice chair, said: “Sam and Reed’s broad skillset and experience, as well as their collaborative approach to practising law, make them a perfect fit for the firm. Hiring lawyers of this calibre will help us continue to build our investment management practice and attract stellar talent.”

Lawrence, meanwhile, brings expertise across commercial lending, direct lending and other leveraged and private finance transactions such as tax equity financings, restructurings and mezzanine and asset-backed facilities, among others.

David Wicklund, head of Vinson & Elkins’ global finance practice, said: “Bringing Caitlin back to the firm may be one of the easier decisions we will make this year. Her experience handling traditional and renewable energy and infrastructure transactions fits perfectly with our finance practice and also complements our M&A work. It doesn’t hurt that she is also well-regarded across the firm.”

Francis arrives after four years at Kirkland, where he was a partner. Prior to that he spent four years as a counsel at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and three years working in-house at fund manager Two Sigma. He started his legal career as an associate at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom.

Schuster joins after just over nine years at Kirkland, where he made partner in 2020. Prior to that he was an associate at legacy firm Shearman & Sterling and at Faegre Baker Daniels.

Schuster said: “I have had the opportunity to work opposite Vinson & Elkins lawyers and know first-hand the skill, professionalism and problem-solving approach they bring to investment management matters. I cannot wait to join the team.”

Lawrence rejoins after just under three years at Baker Botts, which she initially joined as a special counsel before being promoted to partner in March 2023. She previously spent almost nine years at Vinson & Elkins, the majority of them as an associate before being promoted to counsel shortly before her departure to Baker Botts.

She said: “The depth and breadth of Vinson & Elkins’ global finance practice is hard to match, as is the firm’s client roster in the energy and infrastructure industries. I look forward to rejoining friends and colleagues, contributing to the growth of the firm’s finance capabilities, and working with fantastic clients on complex financing transactions.”