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Cravath Publishes Summer 2026 Issue of Alumni Journal

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News & Insights

Cravath Team Named “Litigators of the Week” by The Am Law Litigation Daily for Successful Defense of Elon Musk in $13 Billion Delaware Chancery Suit

May 09, 2022

On May 6, 2022, The Am Law Litigation Daily featured a Cravath team as “Litigators of the Week” for its successful defense of client Elon Musk in a stockholder derivative suit in the Delaware Court of Chancery related to Tesla’s 2016 acquisition of SolarCity, in which Plaintiffs sought $13 billion in damages. The publication noted that the Court’s decision in favor of Mr. Musk followed an 11‑day trial held in July and August 2021 and additional oral argument in January 2022, and in the Q&A feature, Cravath partners Evan R. Chesler, Daniel Slifkin and Vanessa A. Lavely spoke about the Firm’s introduction to the case; the collaborative approach of the team, which also included partner Helam Gebremariam; key themes that emerged over the course of the trial; as well as important takeaways from the decision, including as they relate to corporate governance.

The Cravath team for Elon Musk also included associates Samuel A. Stuckey, Jackie L. Carleton, Eric J. Zepp, Kathryn M. Baldwin and Katherine A. DuBois.

Please click here to read the full article.

For more detail on the Firm’s representation, please click here to read the related website item.

Related Practices & Industries

  • Litigation
  • Trials
  • Shareholder Derivative Actions
  • Emerging and Founder-Led Companies
  • Technology
  • Transportation

People

Photo
Name
Vanessa A. Lavely
Title
Litigation
Title
Partner
Email
vlavely@cravath.com
Phone
+1-212-474-1718
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    Education

    • J.D., 2008, UCLA School of Law
      Order of the Coif
    • A.B., 2004, Harvard College
      magna cum laude

    Admitted In

    • New York
    Photo
    Name
    Helam Gebremariam
    Title
    Litigation
    Title
    Partner
    Email
    hgebremariam@cravath.com
    Phone
    +1-212-474-1180
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      Education

      • J.D., 2010, New York University School of Law
        AnBryce Scholar
      • B.A., 2007, Columbia College

      Admitted In

      • New York
      Photo
      Name
      Evan R. Chesler
      Title
      Litigation
      Title
      Retired Partner
      Email
      echesler@cravath.com
      Phone
      +1-212-474-1243
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        Education

        • J.D., 1975, New York University School of Law
          Order of the Coif, John Norton Pomeroy Scholar, cum laude
        • M.A., 1973, Hunter College
          summa cum laude
        • A.B., 1970, New York University
        Photo
        Name
        Daniel Slifkin
        Title
        Litigation
        Title
        Retired Partner
        Email
        dslifkin@cravath.com
        Phone
        +1-212-474-1438
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          Education

          • J.D., 1991, Harvard Law School
            Sears Prize, magna cum laude
          • B.C.L., 1988, University of Oxford
            First Class Honors
          • B.A., 1987, University of Oxford
            First Class Honors

          Related News & Insights

          Deals & Cases

          May 02, 2022

          Tesla CEO Elon Musk Wins $13 Billion Delaware Chancery Suit Over Tesla’s SolarCity Deal

          On April 27, 2022, the Delaware Court of Chancery granted judgment in favor of Cravath client Elon Musk on all counts in a stockholder derivative suit regarding the 2016 acquisition of SolarCity Corp. (“SolarCity”) by Tesla, Inc. (“Tesla”). The Court of Chancery’s 131‑page opinion in favor of Mr. Musk followed a highly publicized 11‑day trial in July and August 2021, and post‑trial briefing and oral argument held in January 2022.

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