Tesla changes legal teams in California antitrust class action lawsuit, court documents reveal

Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company Tesla has made a significant change to its legal representation in a California antitrust class action lawsuit, according to court documents. The company has replaced its longtime law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore with attorneys from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

That change was finalized last week when Cravath withdrew from the case, Reuters reported. The class action lawsuit accuses Tesla of monopolizing the market for parts and services for its vehicles, causing consumers to pay inflated prices. Both Cravath, a New York firm known for Wall Street deals and litigation, and Wilmer, a well-known Washington firm, have a long history of representing Tesla and Elon Musk.

Court records did not disclose a reason for the change. Requests for comment from Tesla, Wilmer and Cravath went unanswered.

Related: New Antitrust Class Action Lawsuit Files Against Tesla Alleges ‘Right to Repair’

In June, a judge refused to dismiss a proposed class action lawsuit brought by Tesla owners. Wilmer’s attorneys made their first court appearance on Tesla’s behalf shortly thereafter. On Monday, Tesla’s new legal team confirmed the dismissal of the plaintiffs’ claims in the new lawsuit.

In addition to the class action lawsuit, Musk is also represented by Cravath in a Delaware lawsuit over his $56 billion compensation package from Tesla. In January, a judge invalidated Musk’s “incomprehensible” compensation package, dealing a blow to the billionaire entrepreneur. Although Tesla shareholders voted to approve Musk’s compensation in June, the vote did not resolve the Delaware case.

Late last month, lawyers from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, another law firm favored by Musk, joined the defense team in the Delaware lawsuit, which includes Alex Spiro, one of Musk’s most high-profile lawyers.

Source: Reuters