Tesla switches law firms in antitrust case as Cravath leaves

New York law firm Cravath, known for its Wall Street deals and litigation, and Wilmer, one of the most prominent Washington law firms, have long represented Tesla and Musk.

Tesla’s court documents do not provide a reason for the legal team shakeup. Tesla, Wilmer and Cravath did not respond to requests for comment.

A judge declined to dismiss a proposed Tesla class action lawsuit in June. Wilmer’s attorneys first appeared in Tesla’s court documents days later. Tesla’s new legal team again dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims in a new lawsuit filed Monday.

Musk is also represented by attorneys from the Delaware law firm Cravath, who are challenging his $56 billion fee from Tesla.

In that case, Musk and the company faced a setback in January when a judge invalidated the billionaire entrepreneur’s “incomprehensible” compensation. Tesla shareholders voted in June to pay Musk, but the vote did not end the Delaware case.

Late last month, lawyers from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, another of Musk’s law firms, were added to defend the Delaware dispute. Quinn’s team includes Alex Spiro, one of Musk’s most high-profile lawyers.

Quinn Emanuel has not commented on his role in the dispute.

Wilmer is already defending Tesla in an ongoing antitrust battle in New Orleans, where the company has asked a U.S. appeals court to revive the company’s lawsuit challenging the state’s ban on direct-to-consumer car sales. The company did not represent Tesla in the lower court.

Wilmer’s team for Tesla in the California class action includes partners David Gringer and Ari Holtzblatt. The departing Cravath team included David Marriott and Vanessa Lavely.