Tesla Switches Legal Teams in California Antitrust Class Action, Court Records Reveal

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

This change was finalized last week when Cravath stepped down from the case, Reuters reports. The class action lawsuit accuses Tesla of monopolizing the market for parts and service for its vehicles, leading consumers to pay inflated prices. Both Cravath, a New York-based firm renowned for its Wall Street deals and litigation, and Wilmer, a prominent Washington, D.C. firm, have a long history of representing Tesla and Elon Musk.

The court filings did not disclose the reason behind the switch. Requests for comment from Tesla, Wilmer, and Cravath went unanswered.

Related: New Antitrust Class Actions Suit Takes On Tesla With ‘Right To Repair’ Allegations

In June, a judge refused to dismiss the proposed class action brought by Tesla vehicle owners. Wilmer attorneys made their first court appearance for Tesla shortly afterward. On Monday, Tesla’s new legal team reaffirmed their denial of the plaintiffs’ claims in a new court filing.

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

Late last month, lawyers from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, another of Musk’s preferred law firms, joined the defense team in the Delaware litigation. This team includes Alex Spiro, one of Musk’s most prominent lawyers.

Source: Reuters