What cases has Bill Savitt won against Musk?

Savitt represented Twitter when Musk tried to back out of his agreement to buy the platform—he won that case. He also won representing OpenAI in Musk v. Altman.

What other major clients has Savitt represented?

Savitt's firm, Wachtell, Lipton, has represented Coinbase in its fight against the Securities and Exchange Commission, KKR in the Corwin v. KKR Financial case, and Sotheby's in its defense of a poison pill. The firm also represented Tesla in its SolarCity acquisition and resulting litigation.

Why does Savitt's preparation style matter in cross-examination?

Savitt emphasizes knowing every relevant document "like that" and having it at his fingertips, so he can react in the moment without delay. He also avoids being pushed off his objective by a witness's personality, and remains ready to pursue unexpected leads that emerge during questioning.

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Lawyer Bill Savitt beats Musk twice in court—Twitter and OpenAI cases

The Verge AI20h ago4 min read

Key takeaway

Lawyer Bill Savitt has won twice against Elon Musk in major litigation—first when representing Twitter in Musk's attempt to back out of the acquisition, and again in Musk v. Altman, where he represented OpenAI. Savitt's courtroom success, grounded in meticulous document preparation and the ability to capitalize on unexpected witness admissions, has made him a public figure in high-stakes corporate law and may establish him as a leading legal adversary to Musk's future disputes.

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3 Key Points

What happened
Bill Savitt, a lawyer at Wachtell, Lipton, represented Twitter in Elon Musk's failed attempt to back out of buying the platform—and won. He has now won again representing OpenAI in Musk v. Altman, where Musk sued Sam Altman and OpenAI. Savitt has not taken on new cases opposing Musk since the trial ended.
Why it matters
Savitt's track record against Musk is now public and high-profile. He has also represented major clients in other significant cases—Coinbase against the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Sotheby's in a poison-pill defense. His two victories over Musk, a prolific litigant, may position him as a go-to legal adversary for future disputes with Musk's enterprises.
What to watch
Musk is appealing the jury's verdict in Musk v. Altman, so Savitt declined to discuss specifics of that case. Savitt's practice has been "pretty busy for a long time" and has received inquiries about cases, though it is unclear how much the Musk v. Altman outcome influences new work.

FAQ

What cases has Bill Savitt won against Musk?: Savitt represented Twitter when Musk tried to back out of his agreement to buy the platform—he won that case. He also won representing OpenAI in Musk v. Altman.
What other major clients has Savitt represented?: Savitt's firm, Wachtell, Lipton, has represented Coinbase in its fight against the Securities and Exchange Commission, KKR in the Corwin v. KKR Financial case, and Sotheby's in its defense of a poison pill. The firm also represented Tesla in its SolarCity acquisition and resulting litigation.
Why does Savitt's preparation style matter in cross-examination?: Savitt emphasizes knowing every relevant document "like that" and having it at his fingertips, so he can react in the moment without delay. He also avoids being pushed off his objective by a witness's personality, and remains ready to pursue unexpected leads that emerge during questioning.

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