Mastermind Lawyer Takes Center Stage in High-Profile Tech Trial
When a top tech CEO needed a strong legal defense, he turned to a lawyer famed for winning a similar case in the past: William Savitt.
Savitt was an obvious choice. He'd spent years at the top of corporate law, winning high-profile cases for major companies. Recently, he represented a popular social media company in a lawsuit against a billionaire tech magnate, forcing the latter to follow through with a purchase agreement. Now, Savitt is the leading force in another high-stakes trial, this time defending a renowned AI company and its CEO.
Big Tech vs. Big Tech
The billionaire tech mogul claims that the AI company's CEO scammed him by turning the non-profit he originally supported into a corporate giant. Savitt's task is to convince the jury that the billionaire's real aim is to eliminate his competition and give his own AI company an advantage.
Despite being a top-tier attorney with clients like Brad Pitt, Savitt has managed to maintain a low public profile. This trial between two tech titans is the first time he's been thrust into the global limelight.
Relishing the Courtroom
Savitt, always calm and polite, is a picture-perfect corporate lawyer. Some might be surprised to learn of his past as a taxi driver and rock band member before becoming a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Like many lawyers, he prefers to settle disputes quietly, but if the fight reaches the courtroom, he thrives in the battleground.
In a tense cross-examination, when the billionaire tech mogul admitted to not reading a document about the AI company's organization and grumbled about "going into the fine print," Savitt stood his ground.
"It's a four-page document, isn't it?" Savitt dryly asked.
History Repeats Itself
This is not Savitt's first encounter with either the billionaire tech mogul or the AI company CEO. His law firm has had a long-standing disagreement with the billionaire since it helped the social media company sue him for trying to back out of a purchase agreement.
Savitt led the legal charge, securing a series of key court rulings. Faced with a likely loss at trial, the billionaire agreed to buy the social media company at the previously agreed share price.
Later, the billionaire discovered that the social media company paid Savitt's law firm a whopping $90 million in legal fees and took the firm to court for a refund, accusing the lawyers of corruption. This case was settled privately.
From Rocker to Lawyer
Before Savitt rose to prominence in the legal world, he was a young man with a guitar, living a bohemian lifestyle. He spent his youth in the late 80s and early 90s playing in bands, touring various cities, and driving a cab to make ends meet.
"We played a lot of the really cool venues in New York, did a little bit of touring, and ultimately never got a record deal, but it was great," Savitt said. "I got to sit on stage and sing and play my songs."
In 1990, Savitt decided to go to graduate school. He attended Columbia University, studying the history of France's jury system, and later enrolled in its law school. After law school, he clerked for a prominent judge in Manhattan and later for Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg.
Top of the Legal World
Savitt's law firm is known for being highly profitable and remains relatively small compared to other Wall Street powerhouses. Over his 30-year career, he has defended multiple high-profile clients, including famous actors in ongoing disputes.
Savitt's expertise in corporate law, particularly in Delaware where most public companies choose to incorporate, is extensive. He has also represented the state of Delaware in a lawsuit regarding a new law about corporate transactions, which was upheld by Delaware's top court.
While working on complex cases, Savitt still finds time to strum on the guitars he keeps in his office and mixes songs on his recording device.
"I still haven't given up on the record yet," he said.