Gibson Dunn Poaches 6 Wachtell Partners as Firm Reworks Culture and Structure
Updated
Updated · Law.com · Jul 28
Gibson Dunn Poaches 6 Wachtell Partners as Firm Reworks Culture and Structure
3 articles · Updated · Law.com · Jul 28
Summary
William Savitt and five other partners left Wachtell Lipton as the elite firm underwent structural and cultural changes aimed at competing more aggressively in modern Big Law.
Gibson Dunn hired the group into its litigation department, turning the departures into a high-profile lateral raid rather than isolated exits.
Savitt had served as Wachtell co-chair since 2023 and led marquee matters including Twitter’s defense in Elon Musk’s $44 billion acquisition lawsuit.
The move underscores intensifying competition for top legal talent as major firms chase booming deal work and increasingly complex corporate disputes.