Meet the Lawyer Who Beat Musk Before — Now Fighting for OpenAI

William Savitt, one of Wall Street's most formidable corporate litigators, has stepped into the global spotlight as the lead attorney defending OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman against Elon Musk in what may be the most consequential tech trial of the decade. The veteran lawyer, who previously forced Musk to complete his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022, is now squaring off against the billionaire once more — this time over the future of artificial intelligence itself.

The trial, currently underway in Oakland Federal Court, pits two of Silicon Valley's most powerful figures against each other, with Savitt orchestrating OpenAI's defense strategy in a case that could reshape the AI industry's corporate structure.

Key Facts at a Glance

• William Savitt is a senior partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (WLRK), widely considered America's most elite corporate law firm
• In 2022, Savitt represented Twitter and successfully forced Musk to honor his $44 billion acquisition deal
• Musk's lawsuit alleges Altman is improperly converting OpenAI from a nonprofit to a for-profit entity, betraying the company's founding mission
• Savitt's defense argues Musk's true motive is to dismantle OpenAI to benefit his own AI venture, xAI
• WLRK is also advising on OpenAI's complex corporate restructuring of its for-profit division
• Despite his elite status, Savitt remains relatively unknown to the general public — until now

The Lawyer Who Already Beat Musk Once

William Savitt's reputation in corporate litigation circles is legendary, but his most high-profile victory came in 2022 when he represented Twitter's board of directors against Elon Musk. After Musk attempted to back out of his agreement to purchase the social media platform for $44 billion, Savitt led the legal effort that ultimately compelled the billionaire to follow through with the deal.

That case, heard in Delaware's Court of Chancery, demonstrated Savitt's ability to outmaneuver one of the world's wealthiest and most unpredictable public figures. Twitter — now rebranded as X — became Musk's property largely because Savitt's legal team left the billionaire with no viable exit.

Now, barely 3 years later, the same lawyer finds himself on the opposite side of a courtroom from Musk again. But the stakes this time are arguably even higher, involving not just corporate governance but the trajectory of the entire artificial intelligence revolution.

Inside the OpenAI vs. Musk Legal Battle

The lawsuit at the center of this drama involves Musk's allegations that Altman has violated OpenAI's founding principles by pursuing a conversion from a nonprofit research organization to a for-profit corporation. Musk, who was an early backer and co-founder of OpenAI, argues that this transformation betrays the original mission of developing AI for the benefit of humanity rather than shareholder returns.

OpenAI has undergone a complex structural evolution since its founding in 2015. The organization created a 'capped-profit' subsidiary in 2019 to attract investment, and more recently announced plans for a full corporate restructuring that would convert its for-profit arm into a public benefit corporation.

Savitt's counter-strategy is both aggressive and pointed. Rather than simply defending the restructuring on legal merits, he is working to convince the jury that Musk's lawsuit is fundamentally self-serving. The argument centers on Musk's own AI company, xAI, which he founded in 2023 and which directly competes with OpenAI.

Savitt's Courtroom Strategy: Turning the Tables on Musk

Savitt's approach in the Oakland courtroom reflects the tactical sophistication that has made him one of the most sought-after litigators in American corporate law. His core argument flips the narrative entirely: rather than OpenAI being the bad actor, Savitt contends that Musk is weaponizing the legal system to hobble a competitor.

The key elements of Savitt's defense strategy include:

• Motive reframing: Arguing that Musk's true goal is not protecting OpenAI's nonprofit mission but rather eliminating competition for xAI
• Timeline evidence: Highlighting that Musk's legal challenges intensified only after he launched his own rival AI company
• Corporate governance defense: Demonstrating that OpenAI's restructuring follows proper legal procedures and actually serves the organization's mission
• Public benefit argument: Positioning the conversion as necessary to secure the capital required to develop safe, beneficial AI

This strategy mirrors what made Savitt so effective in the Twitter case — an ability to redefine the courtroom narrative and put the opposing party on the defensive. Legal observers have noted his calm, methodical courtroom demeanor, which contrasts sharply with the high-drama personalities involved in the case.

From Taxi Driver to Supreme Court: Savitt's Unlikely Journey

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of William Savitt's story is his unconventional path to the top of American corporate law. According to reports from Business Insider, Savitt's early career looked nothing like the trajectory of a typical elite attorney.

Before entering the legal profession, Savitt drove a taxi cab and played in a rock band. These blue-collar and creative pursuits stand in stark contrast to the polished, understated professional he would become. Eventually, he pursued law and earned a clerkship with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the U.S. Supreme Court — one of the most prestigious positions a young lawyer can hold.

That clerkship opened doors to WLRK, where Savitt has spent decades building a practice focused on high-stakes corporate disputes. Colleagues describe him as soft-spoken, courteous, and composed — qualities that belie the aggressive legal strategies he deploys in the courtroom. His combination of intellectual rigor and calm demeanor has made him particularly effective in cases involving volatile, high-profile personalities.

Why This Trial Matters for the AI Industry

The OpenAI vs. Musk trial extends far beyond a personal rivalry between two tech titans. Its outcome could establish critical legal precedents for how AI companies structure themselves, raise capital, and balance profit motives with public benefit missions.

Several broader industry implications hang in the balance:

• Nonprofit-to-profit conversions: A ruling against OpenAI could chill similar transitions across the tech sector
• AI governance models: The case tests whether founding mission statements create legally binding constraints on corporate evolution
• Competitive dynamics: If Musk succeeds, it could fundamentally weaken OpenAI's position against rivals including xAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic
• Investor confidence: OpenAI's recent $40 billion funding round — the largest private raise in history — could face complications depending on the trial's outcome
• Founder authority: The case raises questions about how much control early backers retain over organizations they helped create but later departed

The AI industry is watching closely because OpenAI's restructuring is not unique. Many AI research organizations are grappling with how to maintain mission-driven cultures while competing in a market that demands billions in capital investment.

WLRK's Dual Role in OpenAI's Future

Savitt's firm, Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, is not only defending OpenAI in court — it is also advising the company on the very corporate restructuring that Musk is challenging. This dual role underscores the depth of WLRK's involvement in shaping OpenAI's future.

Founded in 1965, WLRK is consistently ranked as the highest-grossing law firm per lawyer in the United States. The firm is known for its selectivity, taking on only the most significant corporate matters. Its involvement in both OpenAI's litigation defense and its structural transformation signals the enormous stakes involved.

For Savitt personally, this case represents a career-defining moment. While he has been a dominant force in corporate litigation for decades, his relative anonymity outside legal circles is about to change. The OpenAI trial has thrust him onto a global stage, with millions of people following the proceedings through daily media coverage.

Looking Ahead: What Comes Next

The trial in Oakland is expected to continue over the coming weeks, with both sides presenting extensive evidence and witness testimony. Savitt will need to maintain the narrative that Musk's motivations are competitive rather than principled — a task complicated by Musk's genuine historical involvement in OpenAI's founding.

For OpenAI, a favorable outcome would clear the path for its corporate restructuring and validate its approach to scaling AI development through private investment. A loss, however, could force the company to rethink its entire organizational model at a critical juncture in the AI race.

Regardless of the verdict, William Savitt's role in this trial has cemented his reputation as the go-to lawyer when Silicon Valley's biggest players need to fight — and beat — Elon Musk. His journey from taxi cabs and rock bands to the Supreme Court and now the most-watched tech trial in years is itself a remarkable American story, one that adds an unexpected human dimension to the high-stakes battle over AI's future.