Alex Spiro, high-profile litigator, shares insights on fearlessness, unpredictability, and career strategy at Filevine’s LEX Summit 2025, emphasizing trial mastery, AI adoption, and principled legal practice in high-stakes cases.
Salt Lake City, Utah — October 1, 2025
From high-profile clients to untested legal tech, the powerhouse litigator shares how strategy, calculated risk, and technology converge to give him an edge in—and out of—the courtroom.
Alex Spiro doesn’t just try cases; he reinvents them. On the final day of Filevine’s LEX Summit 2025 at the Grand America in Salt Lake City, Spiro offered a rare window into the mechanics of winning high-stakes litigation—and the lessons ambitious lawyers can apply to their own careers. From a 350-square-foot apartment in his early career to partner at the New York office of LA-based Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan defending the likes of Elon Musk, Alec Baldwin, JayZ and Donald Trump, Spiro has carved a path defined by fearlessness, unpredictability, and strategic thinking amplified by AI-driven efficiencies.
Politics Don’t Matter—Principles Do
Spiro’s approach to clients is clear: stay focused on the case, not the politics. “Everybody buys Nikes. Stay out of politics,” he said, invoking Michael Jordan’s famous advice. “I take on the cases that I think are important and the issues I think are worth protecting.”
For him, defending high-profile clients isn’t just about celebrity—it’s about holding the system accountable. “Some of the most important cases of my career have been cases of people that no one has ever heard of… but when I catch prosecutors hiding evidence on Alec Baldwin, it helps every defendant in New Mexico,” he explained.
Think Harder—Then Use Technology
Spiro has a deceptively simple mantra: “The person that thinks about their case the hardest usually wins.” But thinking alone isn’t enough—technology, he says, is a force multiplier.
“It’s an accelerator and a helper, because it allows me to multitask more, take on more cases, and simplify my existence so that I can focus on what matters to me and what matters for the case,” he explained.
For Spiro, legal tech isn’t just efficiency—it frees lawyers to think critically about strategy: where the law should go, how to position a case, and ultimately, how to win. “It gives more time for lawyers to do the things they should be thinking critically about,” he said, emphasizing that technology amplifies judgment and creativity rather than replacing it.
Unpredictability as a Weapon
Risk-taking and unpredictability define Spiro’s courtroom persona. He rejects conventional trial “rules” as limiting:
Spiro dismisses conventional trial advice with a laugh: “Never ask a question you don’t know the answer to? That’s a bullshit rule.” For him, the power isn’t in certainty—it’s in control, unpredictability, and shaping the jury’s perception.
“You can ask the question where there is no good answer… or ask it just to have the jury hear you,” he explained, emphasizing that even when the witness’s response is irrelevant, the act of asking can shift the room’s attention and energy.
He recalled one of his favorite cross-examinations, delivered with his signature dramatic flair:
“There’s something you’re not telling this jury, isn’t there?”
The effect was instantaneous. “You could have heard a pin drop in that room,” he laughed. That one question, simple but unexpected, reframed the trial and put the jury squarely on edge—showcasing Spiro’s philosophy: courtroom success is as much about psychology and presence as it is about evidence.
Unpredictability unsettles both opposing counsel and judges. “I’m unpredictable and relatively fearless… with uncertainty comes fear (on the other side). If people get rattled a little bit, that’s great.”
Representing a Visionary: Elon Musk
Spiro’s approach attracts clients who demand results, think differently, and push boundaries. “You can’t have a big, beautiful brain like that without it going haywire every once in a while,” he said of Elon Musk, acknowledging the volatility that comes with visionaries operating at a planetary scale.
“But when the movie’s done, he will leave Earth in a far, far more material place than anyone else, frankly, maybe ever,” Spiro added, highlighting Musk’s transformative impact through Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and other ventures.
Spiro reflected on the unique challenges of defending someone whose actions and ideas ripple globally. “He’s going to bring people to space. Nobody else could do that. Neurolink is going to save people and give people their vision back, and do things that no one thought was ever medically possible,” he said. In his view, legal representation isn’t just about winning a case—it’s about protecting a client whose innovations can reshape industries, lives, and even planets.
Even dealing with Musk’s larger-than-life persona, Spiro maintains his signature approach: fearless, unpredictable, and relentlessly strategic. “If I have to put out a couple of tweet storms every now and again, I’d rather he keep inventing,” he said. It’s a reminder that for Spiro, the courtroom is a tool for enabling impact, not just managing risk.
The Early Grind Matters
Spiro attributes his rise to opportunity, grit, and relentless practice. As a young prosecutor, he tried cases no one else wanted, honing his craft before anyone was watching.
“When you’re young in your career, if you have a chance to master a skill, go master it. Because if you are better than other people at one specific skill that is important to the world, you’re going to be at every table you want to be at.”
Even now, he picks cases that are meaningful, challenging, or system-changing. “I’m looking for one final showcase, one final important case to take on… a person has to know when it’s time to try something new, before it’s too late.”
Lessons for Lawyers and Leaders
Whether talking to young attorneys or seasoned professionals, Spiro’s advice is consistent: think critically, take calculated risks, and embrace tools that amplify your skill.
“Legal tech may sharpen the blade, but it will never replace the warrior wielding it.”
Spiro’s session on the final day of LEX Summit 2025 was a master class in career strategy, trial mastery, and the future of law, delivered by a storied attorney who has turned unpredictability, fearlessness, and technology into an unparalleled advantage.
See TechBuzz coverage of the first day of LEX 2025