Bill Savitt, a prominent US litigator known for representing major corporate clients and defending high-profile cases such as those involving Elon Musk, has left Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to join Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in a move that highlights the intensifying competition among top law firms for elite legal talent.

Savitt’s departure, announced last week, came after a recruitment effort led by Orin Snyder, a leading trial lawyer at Gibson Dunn. Along with Savitt, five other partners from Wachtell’s Delaware corporate litigation group have made the transition. This bolsters Gibson Dunn’s litigation practice and weakens Wachtell’s traditionally dominant position in Delaware business law, a key jurisdiction for US corporate governance.

For decades, Wachtell has been known for its retention of partners over entire careers, especially in its elite litigation and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) practices. The firm’s lockstep compensation system, which rewards seniority rather than individual performance, has been a defining feature, even as rival firms increased lateral hires by offering star lawyers substantial financial packages. Savitt’s move signals a shift in this dynamic, reflecting how the fight for talent has expanded from transactional lawyers into the trial bar.

Savitt specializes in defending Fortune 500 boards and managing shareholder activism-related disputes, providing critical support to Wachtell’s highly ranked M&A practice. His experience includes advising Delaware’s governor, Matt Meyer, on strategies to curb corporate relocations to states like Texas, underscoring the strategic importance of Delaware law. Notably, Gibson Dunn has taken a contrasting stance on this issue by assisting ExxonMobil’s recent move of incorporation to Texas, a landmark development in corporate governance.

While Savitt gained recognition for victories against Elon Musk in litigation, Gibson Dunn counts Musk as a key client. Some observers have questioned whether his arrival might complicate the firm’s relationship with Musk, though Gibson Dunn stated it has ample work to accommodate both newcomers and established partners.

Besides Savitt, the five Wachtell partners joining Gibson Dunn include three Delaware law specialists and two lateral recruits, Sarah Eddy and Randall Jackson, both originally brought into Wachtell by Savitt. Another anticipated hire, Wachtell partner Nathaniel Cullerton, saw his move delayed pending investigation after a widely circulated social media video led to him being placed on leave.

At Wachtell, Savitt’s departure has prompted reflection among leadership. Andy Nussbaum, co-leader of Wachtell’s executive committee, and co-founder Marty Lipton addressed internal concerns but maintained confidence in the firm’s prospects. Nonetheless, the firm now has fewer than 20 litigation partners and faces uncertainty in maintaining its Delaware law expertise, a core component of its corporate legal offerings.

Savitt had briefly left Wachtell early in his career for Boies Schiller & Flexner before returning for a 25-year tenure. This latest transition marks a significant career change, with expectations he will remain at Gibson Dunn longer than his previous departure. Meanwhile, Leo Strine, a respected Delaware jurist brought in as a senior adviser, remains at Wachtell, even as the bulk of the firm’s Delaware litigation practice moves to Gibson Dunn.

The move underscores a broader trend in the legal sector, where firms increasingly pursue star litigators with lucrative offers, challenging traditional models and reshaping the balance of power in corporate litigation. Gibson Dunn and other firms such as Quinn Emanuel are accelerating efforts to recruit top trial partners in what has become a fiercely competitive talent market.