Lawyer Bill Savitt beats Elon Musk twice with calm precision
The mild-mannered attorney who outsmarted Musk in two major lawsuits
Bill Savitt, a partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, has emerged as Elon Musk's courtroom nemesis after defeating him in two consequential lawsuits. First, Savitt represented Twitter in Musk's attempt to back out of the $44 billion acquisition, securing a legal victory that forced the deal through. Then, in the high-profile Musk v. Altman case — where Musk sued OpenAI and Sam Altman over the company's pivot to for-profit — Savitt again prevailed, winning a jury verdict that Musk is currently appealing.
Savitt's style is methodical and understated. During the Musk v. Altman trial, he calmly cross-examined Musk with simple questions that made Musk contradict his own earlier testimony, painting him as an unreliable witness. Savitt prepares by knowing every relevant document cold and never engaging in verbal fights. He even played a Fender Telecaster through a Cube amp to unwind before the case. His victories have positioned him as the likely choice for any future litigation involving Musk.
- Savitt represented Twitter in Elon Musk's failed attempt to terminate the $44B acquisition.
- He won Musk v. Altman for OpenAI, securing a jury verdict against Musk's lawsuit.
- His cross-examination style uses massive preparation and calm questions to expose witnesses' inconsistencies.
Why It Matters
Shows how meticulous legal strategy and preparation can consistently outmaneuver even the most powerful and unpredictable opponents.