A Conversation With Alum Averill Conn, Associate General Counsel at Vitol

For Averill Conn, a successful career has always been about finding the next puzzle worth solving. Over more than two decades in the energy industry, she has built a reputation for tackling complex transactions, emerging technologies, and high-stakes projects. Today, as associate general counsel at Vitol, a global energy commodities trader, she continues to work at the forefront of a rapidly evolving and uncertain energy landscape.

Although both her parents were lawyers, Conn never imagined she would follow the same path. “Growing up, I actually wanted to be an artist,” she says.

After earning a B.A. in Classical Civilization from Yale University in 2003, she graduated into an economic environment shaped by the dot-com bust and the aftermath of Enron. Looking for a profession that aligned with her strengths, she enrolled at The University of Texas School of Law, earning her J.D. in 2006. Along the way, she discovered that the practice of law offered something she genuinely enjoyed: breaking down complicated problems through research and writing.

Conn began her legal career at a large Texas-based law firm, where she worked in the energy finance group. There, she found an industry that combined technical complexity with real-world impact.

“It took a couple of years to find my stride,” she says. “But I really enjoyed working on large, complex transactions.” The work appealed to both her analytical and creative instincts, with each transaction presenting a new set of moving pieces. “It was kind of like putting together a puzzle,” Conn explains. “Being very intentional with your words, being very clear, and trying to solve for as many eventualities as possible.”

In 2008, she moved in-house to Reliant, which later became part of NRG Energy. Over the next decade, she held a series of leadership roles spanning power generation, electric vehicle infrastructure, carbon capture, and energy innovation.

One of the most ambitious puzzles of her career emerged during this period: the Petra Nova carbon capture project. As general counsel for Petra Nova, Conn helped oversee a groundbreaking undertaking involving international joint venture partners, U.S. Department of Energy funding, project financing, and carbon capture technology years before such projects became commonplace.

“It was a totally new territory,” Conn says.

The experience reinforced a lesson that would shape future career decisions: she thrives when tackling novel problems rather than repeating established solutions.

After nearly a decade at NRG, Conn found herself looking for a different type of challenge. The Houston legal market had evolved significantly since she began her career. National firms, including Sidley, had established a growing presence in the city, and many lawyers she respected had joined the firm’s Houston office. Having remained connected to several of them over the years, both professionally and personally, she began to consider a move.

“Like a lot of things in life, it’s about timing,” Conn says. “The timing was right for me to make a change.”

In May 2018, she joined Sidley as counsel, and the transition felt natural from the outset. “I knew folks at Sidley, and I felt very comfortable with them,” she says. “They were building a practice in Houston that I thought was very innovative and exciting.”

Just as important, she adds, was the culture. “The people made the difference. Working alongside colleagues you respect and enjoy makes all the difference.”

At Sidley, Conn was able to combine her years of industry experience with a growing and dynamic energy practice. She advised clients across all phases of financing and developing energy projects, including renewable energy, battery storage, thermal generation, and carbon capture facilities.

As renewable energy accelerated, so did the Energy practice. “I really saw the team, particularly on the renewable power side, expand rapidly,” Conn says. “That was very exciting.”

The work sharpened her skills while deepening the relationships that would continue to influence her career long after she left the firm. Conn particularly recalls working alongside partners Robert Stephens, Ken Irvin and Tara Higgins as part of a strong, collaborative team.

Then, in the fall of 2020, during the height of the pandemic, a recruiter reached out about an opportunity at Vitol. Conn was not actively seeking a change, but the more she learned about the company’s plans to build its renewable energy platform, the more compelling the role became. The position combined nearly every aspect of her professional background: energy commodities, trading, project development, M&A, finance, and emerging technologies. Most important, it offered the chance to help build something new.

Conn joined Vitol as senior counsel in early 2021 and was promoted to associate general counsel in February 2023. “I was very happy at Sidley and could easily have seen myself staying there,” Conn says, adding: “The role I pursued was a particularly strong fit for the growth and experience I had gained, much of it at Sidley. In many ways, Sidley helped make that opportunity possible.”

Although her career path has continued to evolve, her connection to Sidley remains strong. She regularly works with Sidley lawyers as outside counsel, maintains close relationships with former colleagues, and participates in firm events.

The relationships she built at Sidley continue to shape her professional life. “It’s just growing your circle,” she says. “You’re not leaving anything behind.”

Several former colleagues remain trusted advisors, collaborators, and friends. In her current role, she has embraced opportunities to give back in much the same way, mentoring newer associates and helping them navigate the early stages of their careers.

Outside of work, Conn is looking forward to a European adventure this summer with her husband, David, and their two sons, with planned stops in Iceland and London. Between family travels, teenage milestones, and a son who recently earned a “Most Likely to Be a Lawyer” award from his debate team, there is plenty to keep her busy.

Published June 2026

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