What first appeared to be an embarrassing viral moment involving two lawyers kissing on a Central Park bench has now exploded into a much larger controversy inside one of America’s most prestigious law firms. Just days after a video of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz partner Nathaniel Cullerton and associate Kelsey Borenzweig spread across social media, new claims suggest the firm’s leadership had its own closely guarded workplace romance—one that insiders say remained an open secret within legal circles.
According to multiple legal sources, star corporate litigator William “Bill” Savitt and senior partner Sarah Eddy were also involved in a romantic relationship while working together at Wachtell. Sources emphasized that the firm’s policies do not prohibit consensual workplace relationships and said both attorneys were single when their relationship began. Even so, the revelation has intensified scrutiny because the pair occupied influential leadership positions at one of the country’s most powerful law firms.
The timing has only fueled further speculation. Savitt has just departed Wachtell for rival powerhouse Gibson Dunn after securing an eye-catching three-year compensation package reportedly worth $96 million. He didn’t leave alone. Eddy and four additional senior litigators also joined him in what has become one of the biggest talent moves the legal industry has seen this year, sparking widespread discussion throughout Big Law.
The latest disclosure arrives as fallout from the Central Park video continues to unfold. Cullerton, who was allegedly preparing for the same move to Gibson Dunn, was instead placed on leave after the footage went viral, and reports say the lucrative job offer he had expected was ultimately withdrawn. The contrast between the outcomes has prompted fresh debate over workplace relationships, corporate hierarchy, and whether public exposure—not the relationships themselves—became the defining factor.
Adding another layer to the story, both Savitt and Cullerton were members of the elite litigation team that successfully represented OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in the closely watched legal battle against Elon Musk earlier this year. Their high-profile legal success had already placed the firm in the national spotlight, making the personal controversies surrounding several of its attorneys even more difficult to ignore.
Neither Wachtell nor Gibson Dunn has publicly commented on the latest revelations. Savitt has denied any wrongdoing, while legal observers continue to debate whether the firm’s recent headlines reflect isolated personal matters or expose a broader culture inside one of Wall Street’s most influential legal institutions. For now, the biggest unanswered question may not be who was involved—but what else insiders claim has yet to come to light.
