One of the biggest BigLaw lateral moves of 2026 is reshaping the litigation market. William Savitt, a longtime litigation leader at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, is leaving to join Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. The move also includes five additional Wachtell litigation partners. As a result, it marks an unusually large team departure from one of the nation’s most prestigious law firms.
Savitt will become co-chair of Gibson Dunn’s litigation practice. Consequently, the hire strengthens the firm’s position in high-stakes corporate litigation. Meanwhile, the move highlights intense competition among elite law firms for experienced partners with strong client relationships and nationally recognized practices.
The transition is especially notable because Wachtell has historically maintained one of the lowest partner turnover rates in BigLaw. Therefore, the departure has attracted widespread attention from legal professionals, recruiters, law students, and industry observers.
Key Takeaways
- William Savitt is leaving Wachtell Lipton to join Gibson Dunn.
- Five additional Wachtell litigation partners are making the move.
- Savitt will serve as co-chair of Gibson Dunn’s litigation practice.
- The departure represents one of Wachtell’s largest recent partner losses.
- The move highlights growing competition for elite BigLaw litigation talent.
William Savitt Joins Gibson Dunn
William Savitt has built a national reputation as one of the country’s leading corporate litigators. During his career at Wachtell, he handled some of the highest-profile disputes involving mergers and acquisitions, shareholder litigation, corporate governance, and complex commercial matters.
His practice has included representing Fortune 500 companies, corporate boards, and executives in high-stakes litigation where billions of dollars were often at stake.
More recently, Savitt successfully represented OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in litigation brought by Elon Musk concerning OpenAI’s corporate governance. Earlier, he also served as lead counsel for Twitter during the litigation that ultimately forced Musk to complete his $44 billion acquisition of the social media platform now known as X.
Those cases further cemented Savitt’s standing among the nation’s premier trial lawyers.
Five Partners Join Gibson Dunn
Savitt will not be making the move alone.
Joining him are litigation partners Sarah Eddy, Randall Jackson, Ryan McLeod, Anitha Reddy, and Brad Wilson. Together, the group significantly expands Gibson Dunn’s already prominent litigation practice.
Large team moves remain relatively uncommon among elite firms. Therefore, the addition of six experienced litigators represents a substantial investment by Gibson Dunn as it continues growing its national litigation platform.
Industry observers view the hires as another example of how major firms increasingly pursue established practice groups rather than recruiting individual attorneys.
Why Savitt’s Departure Matters
Unlike many Am Law firms, Wachtell has traditionally relied on an internal promotion model rather than aggressive lateral hiring. The firm has earned a reputation for exceptional partner retention and long-term institutional stability.
Consequently, departures involving senior leadership rarely occur.
Savitt not only led major litigation matters but also served on Wachtell’s executive committee while helping oversee one of the legal industry’s most respected litigation departments.
Because of that leadership role, his exit represents more than a routine lateral move. Instead, it marks a significant leadership transition at one of Wall Street’s most influential law firms.
Gibson Dunn Expands Litigation Team
The hiring reflects Gibson Dunn’s broader strategy of expanding through strategic lateral recruitment.
Over the past several years, the firm has invested heavily in strengthening its litigation capabilities by adding prominent trial lawyers, appellate specialists, and corporate litigators from competing firms.
Savitt’s arrival adds another nationally recognized name to Gibson Dunn’s leadership while reinforcing its ability to compete for major corporate litigation across the United States.
Furthermore, bringing an established litigation team together allows Gibson Dunn to immediately deepen its bench in complex business disputes rather than building those capabilities over time.
BigLaw Hiring Competition Intensifies
The legal industry has become increasingly competitive for elite litigation partners.
Many of the nation’s largest firms continue investing aggressively in lawyers who possess strong client relationships, leadership experience, and specialized expertise. As a result, high-profile lateral moves have become one of the defining trends across BigLaw.
Recruiters note that firms are no longer competing solely on compensation. Instead, leadership opportunities, platform strength, global resources, and strategic practice growth have become equally important factors influencing partner decisions.
Consequently, firms continue expanding through targeted hiring even as broader economic uncertainty affects other segments of the legal market.
What This Move Means for Lawyers
Savitt’s departure may influence more than the leadership of two prominent law firms.
For associates, changes in leadership often create new advancement opportunities as firms reorganize practice groups and expand client teams. Additionally, recruiters may see increased demand for litigation talent if either firm continues adding attorneys in response to changing workloads.
Law students interested in corporate litigation should also pay attention.
Elite firms continue investing heavily in attorneys with experience handling complex corporate disputes, securities litigation, shareholder claims, and mergers and acquisitions litigation. Those practice areas remain among the strongest long-term career paths in today’s legal market.
Wachtell Remains a BigLaw Leader
Although the departures represent an unusual leadership change, Wachtell remains one of the most profitable law firms in the United States.
The firm’s reputation for handling complex corporate transactions, mergers, acquisitions, and high-profile litigation continues to attract major public companies and financial institutions.
While partner departures naturally attract headlines, Wachtell has historically demonstrated remarkable institutional stability. Industry observers will now watch closely to see whether additional leadership changes follow or whether the firm maintains its long-standing approach to talent development.
Looking Ahead
William Savitt’s move to Gibson Dunn represents one of the most closely watched BigLaw partner departures of the year.
The transfer strengthens Gibson Dunn’s litigation leadership while creating a rare leadership transition at Wachtell. More importantly, it reflects a broader trend reshaping the legal industry, where even the most established firms face increasing competition for elite legal talent.
As BigLaw firms continue expanding through strategic lateral hiring, leadership moves of this scale are likely to remain a defining feature of the legal market throughout 2026 and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is William Savitt leaving Wachtell?
Savitt is joining Gibson Dunn as co-chair of its litigation practice, bringing five additional Wachtell litigation partners with him in a major BigLaw lateral move.
What position will William Savitt hold at Gibson Dunn?
He will serve as co-chair of Gibson Dunn’s litigation practice, helping lead one of the firm’s largest and most prominent practice groups.
How many Wachtell partners are joining Gibson Dunn?
Six partners are making the move, including William Savitt and five fellow litigation partners.
Why is this departure significant?
Wachtell has historically experienced very little partner turnover. Losing a senior litigation leader and executive committee member is unusual for the firm and highlights today’s competitive BigLaw recruiting market.
What does this mean for the legal industry?
The move reflects the continued battle among elite law firms to recruit experienced partners with strong client relationships and nationally recognized litigation practices. It also signals that strategic lateral hiring remains a major driver of growth across BigLaw.
Looking for top litigation and BigLaw jobs? Explore the latest attorney opportunities on
LawCrossing and find your next legal career move today.
See Related Articles:
The post
Wachtell’s Savitt Makes High-Profile BigLaw Move first appeared on
JDJournal Blog.
