Chevron Corporation today announced the appointment of Scott A. Keller as general counsel.
Keller, 44, will join Chevron on July 1 as general counsel, and will report to Chevron’s current chief legal officer, R. Hewitt Pate, in anticipation of Pate’s expected retirement in mid-2027 after 17 years of service.
Upon his expected appointment to the position of chief legal officer, effective January 1, 2027, Keller will lead the company’s worldwide legal affairs. He will report to Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth.
“Scott brings exceptional experience and expertise, including a strong record of leading through complex matters and a clear understanding of the issues shaping our business environment,” Wirth said. “I’m pleased to welcome Scott to Chevron and look forward to the valuable experience and perspective he will bring to our company.”
Keller is a leading appellate and constitutional lawyer and cofounder of Lehotsky Keller Cohn LLP. He previously served as Solicitor General of Texas. He is the only practicing lawyer to have argued more than ten cases at both the U.S. Supreme Court and the Texas Supreme Court. Keller is recognized for his expertise in high stakes litigation involving constitutional, administrative and commercial disputes and for advising clients on complex matters with significant business and public policy implications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a juris doctor from the University of Texas School of Law.
Prior to joining Chevron in 2009, Pate was a long-time partner at Hunton & Williams in Washington, D.C. and headed the firm’s Global Competition practice. He also served as the assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and as a deputy assistant attorney general in the Antitrust Division, responsible for energy, transportation, and other regulatory matters. Pate also served as Ewald Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Virginia.
During his tenure with Chevron, Pate has led several high-profile legal efforts, including most recently the successful international arbitration outcome related to the Hess Corporation acquisition. Pate also guided Chevron’s successful defense against a decades-long multibillion-dollar lawsuit in Ecuador, leading efforts that uncovered fraud and bribery by an American trial lawyer. These actions resulted in a decisive victory for the company in U.S. federal court under the RICO statute and a landmark international arbitration award.“Hew has played an important role in shaping Chevron’s legal strategy and successfully leading the company through some of its most consequential matters,” Wirth said. “His steady leadership, counsel and commitment to Chevron have made a lasting mark on our organization, and I am grateful for all he has done for our company.”
