12 Feb 2026
Vinson & Elkins Hires Melissa Raciti-Knapp as Finance Partner
"Vinson & Elkins has hired Melissa Raciti-Knapp as a New York-based partner in its Finance practice to work on project finance and project development, including power and other infrastructure projects."
Raciti-Knapp is a deeply experienced project finance lawyer whose practice is focused on project finance and project development. She has led complex infrastructure and energy transactions and advises sponsors, developers, commercial banks, export credit agencies, multilaterals and other financial institutions. Her sector experience includes conventional and renewable power, mining, oil and gas, water treatment, telecom and other infrastructure projects.
She joins Vinson & Elkins from Freshfields, where she served as head of the U.S. Energy and Infrastructure group and co-head of the firm's Latin America practice. Fluent in Spanish, Raciti-Knapp has significant experience handling transactions in Latin America. She earned a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Columbia University and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School, and has been recognized by Latinvex and by Chambers Latin America and Chambers USA for her project finance and energy work.