Who is William Savitt? Sam Altman Hires a Lawyer Who Beat Elon Musk Once BeforeHe once forced Elon Musk to complete a deal worth billions of dollars. Now, attorney William Savitt is back in court, this time hired by Sam Altman in a high-stakes legal battle that could shape the future of artificial intelligence.Savitt is a senior partner at Wachtel, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and is leading the legal team for Altman and OpenAI in the ongoing lawsuit in a federal court in Oakland. The case pits two of Silicon Valley’s most powerful figures against each other. Musk alleges that Altman misled him by turning OpenAI into a profit-driven company instead of the non-profit venture he originally supported.Altman’s legal strategy relies on Savitt’s courtroom experience, particularly his previous victory against Musk. In 2022, Savitt represented Twitter when Musk tried to back out of purchasing the company. After losing the key verdict, Musk proceeded with the deal at the agreed price just before the trial.In the current case, Savitt needs to show that Musk’s lawsuit is motivated by competition, not principle. OpenAI argues that Musk is trying to weaken the company to benefit his AI firm xAI.Despite a long and successful career, Savitt remained mostly out of the public eye. According to Business Insider, he is known for being calm and precise in court and is considered one of America’s top corporate lawyers. He has worked with major companies and high-profile clients like Brad Pitt.The ongoing trial has put him in the spotlight and showcased his courtroom style. In a tense moment, Musk said he had not read an important document about OpenAI. Savitt responded, “It’s a four-page document, right Mr. Musk?”Savitt has connections to both sides of the case. His company has been involved in legal disputes with Musk since 2022, including over legal fees from the Twitter deal. At the same time, he has worked on many matters with Altman and OpenAI.When OpenAI spun off its for-profit arm into a public benefit company, a move that is now being challenged by Musk, Savitt and his team handled the legal process. They also received approval from regulators in California and Delaware.Speaking about his work, Savitt said, “It’s great to be a part of something that is changing the world. It’s inspiring to be part of a team that is working to create the best product, but also working to create the best world.”His journey to the top was not ordinary. In his twenties, Savitt played in rock bands and performed at venues such as CBGB’s in New York. To earn money he drove taxis, fact-checked for magazines such as National Geographic and Smithsonian, and worked as a freelance writer.He said: “We played a lot of nice venues in New York, toured a bit, and ultimately never got a record deal, but it was great, I got to sit on stage and sing and play my songs.”Later, he graduated from Columbia University and then went to law school. After graduating, he clerked for Judge Pierre Laval and later U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He says the experience shaped how he viewed matters.“Justice Ginsburg had a remarkable ability to reserve judgment and keep an open mind,” Savitt said.He added: “And this is another skill I try to imitate – because it allows the lawyer to recognize weaknesses and opportunities based on the facts and arguments during a case or negotiation.”Over the past 30 years at Wachtel, Savitt has worked on some of the most complex corporate matters in America. He has handled mergers, major deals and shareholder disputes and has strong expertise in Delaware corporate law.Despite such a demanding career, Savit still finds time for music. He keeps a guitar in his office and records songs in his spare time.
