Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) announced the appointment of Scott A. Keller as general counsel, effective July 1. Keller will initially report to current chief legal officer R. Hewitt Pate, who plans to retire in mid-2027 after 17 years with the company.

Keller, 44, will assume the role of chief legal officer on January 1, 2027, leading Chevron's worldwide legal affairs and reporting directly to Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth.

The incoming general counsel is a co-founder of Lehotsky Keller Cohn LLP and formerly served as Solicitor General of Texas. Keller has argued more than ten cases at both the U.S. Supreme Court and the Texas Supreme Court. He holds a bachelor's degree from Purdue University and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

Pate joined Chevron in 2009 after serving as a partner at Hunton & Williams in Washington, D.C., where he headed the firm's Global Competition practice. He previously worked as assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

During his tenure at Chevron, Pate led legal efforts including the international arbitration outcome related to the Hess Corporation acquisition and the company's defense against a lawsuit in Ecuador. The Ecuador case resulted in a victory for Chevron in U.S. federal court under the RICO statute.

"Scott brings exceptional experience and expertise, including a strong record of leading through complex matters," Wirth said in a statement. The CEO also praised Pate's contributions, noting his "steady leadership, counsel and commitment to Chevron."

The transition provides a period for knowledge transfer between the outgoing and incoming legal executives at the energy company.