Sean Becker

Sean Becker is a partner at Vinson & Elkins, where he serves as head of the Employment, Labor, and OSHA practice and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He advises employers on sensitive employment matters, combining litigation experience with transactional insight to deliver practical, business-focused solutions.

Sean earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Harvard Law School after completing his undergraduate studies at Harvard College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Government, magna cum laude. His academic background supports his ability to address complex employment, governance, and regulatory issues with precision.

Sean focuses his practice on day-to-day employment counseling and transaction-related labor matters, including the employment aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and restructurings. He regularly identifies and mitigates employment-related risks arising from high-value transactions and an evolving regulatory environment.

Sean has extensive experience advising private equity clients and portfolio companies on restrictive covenants, non-competition and non-solicitation issues, and unfair competition disputes. He also negotiates and drafts executive employment agreements, severance arrangements, and other employment-related contracts.

Sean remains an active litigator, representing employers in disputes involving employment contracts, class actions, ERISA claims, wage-and-hour matters, and discrimination allegations. He appears in courts, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings across the country, delivering effective advocacy in high-stakes matters.

Sean Becker also counsels clients on labor negotiations and labor relations, including collective bargaining and regulatory investigations. His approach emphasizes efficiency, discretion, and commercially sound outcomes, helping employers resolve employment challenges while protecting long-term business objectives.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Vinson & Elkins LLP
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of Texas, Labor and Employment Section
• Member, Houston Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section
• Member, American Employment Law Council
• Board Certified, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Licensed State

• Texas
• Massachusetts

Education

• Harvard Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Harvard College
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges