WachTELLING: The Partner Losses Run Deeper Than A Single Day Exodus

Lakshana Susinthiran • 30 July 2026

3 minute read • Updated 30 July 2026

Gibson Dunn has hired six litigation partners from Wachtell Lipton. The group is led by William Savitt, Wachtell's litigation co-chair and a member of its executive committee.

Wachtell has been losing partners to its rivals over the last few years, but it has not lost this many at once from a single practice. Using Pirical data, we looked at what this team exit means for the firm, drawing on headcount changes and lateral moves since 2021.

Wachtell’s Partner Headcount Has Fallen by 7.7% in One Day

The firm's partner numbers were already falling before this move. Between June 2021 and June 2026, they dropped -13%, from 90 to 78. The Gibson Dunn exits take Wachtell's total partner headcount down to 72, a further -7.7% drop in a single day.

Wachtell’s M&A Practice Has Seen The Most Partner Departures, Before This Latest Exit

The Gibson Dunn exits are notable because they hit litigation, a practice whose headcount had stayed steady for years, down just -4% in five years. Prior to this wave, most exits came from Corporate/M&A. The team move alone takes litigation from 23 to 17, a 26% drop in a single day.

Wachtell Partner Departures Have Been Rising Year on Year

2026 has already been the busiest year for partner exits, with 6 departures. Including the Gibson Dunn exits, the total has risen to 12.

Gibson Dunn Has Overtaken Latham & Watkins as the Top Destination for Wachtell Partners

Over the last five years, Latham & Watkins has taken 5 Wachtell partners. With this six-partner team move, Gibson Dunn is now the top destination. The rest are spread across other top Am Law firms and tech companies.