Rumours swirl around Wachtell Lipton after partners face scrutiny over personal relationships and office conduct, leading to serious consequences.
Recent developments at Wachtell Lipton, a prestigious law firm, have stirred significant gossip following the exposure of questionable conduct by its partners. Nathaniel Cullerton, a 45-year-old partner, was seen canoodling with a junior associate, Kelsey Borenzweig, in Central Park. The incident, which surfaced on TikTok, has resulted in Cullerton being placed on leave and facing expulsion from the firm.
Cullerton’s situation has drawn attention to Bill Savitt, a senior partner at the firm, who has also been at the centre of controversy. At 63 years old, Savitt recently gained notoriety for questioning Elon Musk during a high-profile trial involving OpenAI in California. However, he has been linked to multiple instances of gossip surrounding personal relationships within the firm.
A revelation from The Post indicates that Savitt is reportedly in a relationship with Sarah Eddy, a 50-year-old prominent litigator who has moved to rival firm Gibson Dunn. Their relationship began after Savitt’s separation from his wife, Nazak Savitt, with whom he filed for divorce over a year ago. Sources report that this relationship did not breach Wachtell Lipton’s internal policies, which do not prohibit consensual relationships between colleagues.
In addition to his relationship with Eddy, there are claims of longstanding whispers regarding Savitt’s connection with another partner, Anitha Reddy. The 46-year-old attorney, who recently followed Savitt to Gibson Dunn, was spotted entering Savitt’s hotel room during a trip to California in 2018. Past encounters have further fuelled speculation about their relationship within the firm, with colleagues insisting that they appeared to be close. A former lawyer voiced that, “There was definitely a vibe between them.”
In light of these developments, legal sources have revealed that Gibson Dunn offered Savitt a staggering compensation package estimated at $96 million, reportedly guaranteeing him $32 million annually for three years to entice him from Wachtell Lipton. This claim has been contested by Savitt’s new employer.
Cullerton’s unfortunate outcome appears to stem from both his viral incident and the relationship dynamics it highlighted, where a senior partner was seen engaging with an associate from the same department. After the public fallout, Wachtell Lipton initiated an investigation into Cullerton’s behaviour and is moving toward his departure from the firm. While Savitt and Reddy’s relationships drew attention among colleagues, they were just part of the ongoing gossip that reflects the complexities of personal relationships within high-pressure legal environments.
Wachtell Lipton continues its investigation into the incident involving Cullerton, who was observed kissing Borenzweig, revealing the often scrutinised intersection of personal conduct and professional reputation in elite firms. As this situation develops, further insights into the workplace culture and conduct of law professionals at Wachtell Lipton and other firms may emerge.
