Who is William Savitt? Sam Altman Hire an Assault Lawyer Elon Musk had it once beforeHe once forced Elon Musk to close a multi-billion dollar deal. Now, attorney William Savitt is back in court, this time hired by Sam Altman to engage in a high-stakes legal battle that could shape the future of artificial intelligence.Savitt is a senior partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, where he leads Altman and open artificial intelligence The trial is ongoing in federal court in Oakland. The case pits two of Silicon Valley’s most powerful figures against each other. Musk claims Altman misled him by turning OpenAI into a profit-driven company rather than the nonprofit venture he originally backed.Altman’s legal strategy relies on Savitt’s courtroom experience, particularly his past victories against Musk. In 2022, when Musk tried to abandon the acquisition of Twitter, Savitt represented Twitter. After losing a key ruling, Musk went ahead with the deal at an agreed-upon price before trial.In the current case, Savitt needs to show that Musk’s lawsuit is driven by competition rather than principle. OpenAI believes that Musk is trying to weaken the company to benefit his own artificial intelligence company, xAI.Despite his long and successful career, Savitt has largely stayed out of the public eye. He is known for his calmness and precision in the courtroom and is considered one of the top corporate lawyers in the United States, according to Business Insider. He has worked with major corporations and high-profile clients such as Brad Pitt.The ongoing trial has thrust him into the spotlight and showcased his courtroom style. In a tense moment, Musk said he had not read important documents about OpenAI. Savitt responded: “It’s a four-page document, isn’t it, Mr. Musk?”Savitt’s case has connections on both sides. His company has been locked in a legal dispute with Musk since 2022, including a legal fee case stemming from the Twitter deal. At the same time, he also collaborated with Altman and OpenAI on various matters.As OpenAI transforms its for-profit arm into a public benefit corporation, a move now being challenged by Musk, Savitt and his team handle the legal proceedings. He also received approval from regulatory agencies in California and Delaware.Speaking about his job, Savitt said: “It’s very cool to be a part of changing the world. It’s motivating to be part of a team that’s committed to creating the best products that are also committed to creating the best world.”His journey to the top was not typical. In his twenties, Savitt joined a rock band and performed at venues such as CBGB in New York. To make money, he drove a taxi, fact-checked for magazines such as National Geographic and the Smithsonian, and worked as a freelance writer.“We played a lot of cool venues in New York, did some touring, and never ended up getting a record deal, but it was great and I could sit on stage and sing and play my songs,” he said.He later graduated from Columbia University and then went to law school. After graduation, he clerked for Justice Pierre Levar and then U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He said the experience shaped the way he approached cases.“Justice Ginsburg had an extraordinary ability to reserve judgment and keep an open mind,” Savitt said.He added: “This is another skill I try to model as it allows lawyers and judges alike to identify weaknesses and opportunities as the facts and arguments are built during a case or negotiation.”Over the past 30 years at Wachtell, Savitt has handled some of the most complex corporate cases in the United States. He has handled mergers, major transactions and shareholder disputes and has extensive expertise in Delaware corporate law.Despite such a demanding career, Savit still found time to pursue music. He kept his guitar playing in his office and recorded songs in his free time.
