Nathaniel D Cullerton, a partner at the elite law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, has become embroiled in a public scandal after being filmed kissing a younger colleague, Kelsey Borenzweig. The incident, captured by a TikTok comedian and widely shared on social media, has brought renewed attention to Cullerton's personal life.
This public scrutiny comes nearly two decades after a personal tragedy struck Cullerton's family. In 2007, his younger brother, Eric Cullerton, died at the age of 24 in a head-on collision in Connecticut. Eric had been driving home from a morning shift at Starbucks when his vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic. At the time, a then 26-year-old Nathaniel Cullerton remembered his brother as a gifted young musician who had toured the U.S. with the Murali Coryell Band and recorded several solo albums.
Eric Cullerton was described in an obituary as a talented artist with a gentle soul who loved music and his family. He spent summers with relatives in France and was known for his contemplative and kind nature, composing music wherever he went.
The footage of Nathaniel Cullerton and Borenzweig, both employed in the firm's litigation department, was posted online last Thursday. The pair were seen kissing in Central Park. Social media users quickly identified the individuals involved. Borenzweig was later seen with her parents in Manhattan. Cullerton, married to attorney Moira Penza since 2016, was observed traveling between his Manhattan residence and their home in Connecticut.
Cullerton and Borenzweig recently worked together on a case that assisted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in defeating a civil lawsuit brought by Elon Musk. The firm has not responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.
Moira Penza, Cullerton's wife, is a former federal prosecutor and a partner at the law firm Wilkinson Stekloff. She was notably involved in the prosecution of NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere and was featured in the HBO series 'The Vow.' Penza has remained silent on the current controversy.