This posting was written by Jeffrey May, Editor of CCH Trade Regulation Reporter.
The U.S. Senate on December 30, 2012, confirmed William Baer to serve as Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division. The vote was 64 to 26.
Baer was nominated by the President on February 6. His nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 20.
“Bill is a highly-skilled and well-respected antitrust lawyer who understands the importance of promoting competition in order for consumers to reap the benefits of lower prices and better quality products and services,” said Attorney General Holder in a December 30 statement welcoming the confirmation. “I have no doubt that he will lead the Antitrust Division effectively in its vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws.”
Recently, Baer has headed the antitrust group at the Washington, D.C. office of Arnold & Porter, LLP. Baer held a number of high-level positions at the FTC, including a stint as Director of the agency's Bureau of Competition in the 1990s. After earning a J.D. at Stanford Law School, Baer began his legal career in 1975 as a trial attorney for the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Baer takes the helm from Renata B. Hesse, who was appointed Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division in November 2012.
Showing posts with label William J. Baer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William J. Baer. Show all posts
Thursday, January 03, 2013
Monday, April 09, 2012
Wayland to Serve as Acting Antitrust Chief Pending Confirmation of Baer
This posting was written by Jeffrey May, Editor of CCH Trade Regulation Reporter.
With Senate confirmation of William Baer unlikely to happen any time soon, the Department of Justice has announced that Joseph Wayland will serve as the Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Justice Department Antitrust Division after the departure of Sharis A. Pozen at the end of April.
Wayland is the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Enforcement at the Antitrust Division. He joined the Antitrust Division in September 2010 and has worked on a number of high-profile cases. He was the lead trial counsel in the Justice Department’s successful challenge to AT&T Inc.’s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA, Inc. He also headed up the trial team that stopped H&R Block, Inc.’s proposed acquisition of 2SS Holdings—the maker of “TaxACT” tax preparation software.
Prior to joining the Antitrust Division, Wayland was in private practice, as a partner with Simpson, Thacher. He joined the firm in 1988.
With Senate confirmation of William Baer unlikely to happen any time soon, the Department of Justice has announced that Joseph Wayland will serve as the Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Justice Department Antitrust Division after the departure of Sharis A. Pozen at the end of April.
Wayland is the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Enforcement at the Antitrust Division. He joined the Antitrust Division in September 2010 and has worked on a number of high-profile cases. He was the lead trial counsel in the Justice Department’s successful challenge to AT&T Inc.’s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA, Inc. He also headed up the trial team that stopped H&R Block, Inc.’s proposed acquisition of 2SS Holdings—the maker of “TaxACT” tax preparation software.
Prior to joining the Antitrust Division, Wayland was in private practice, as a partner with Simpson, Thacher. He joined the firm in 1988.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Pozen Resigns as Acting Chief of Antitrust Division
This posting was written by Jeffrey May, Editor of CCH Trade Regulation Reporter.
Less than six months after her appointment as Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, Sharis A. Pozen has announced her resignation, effective as of April 30, 2012, according to a January 23 announcement.
Pozen came to the Justice Department in February 2009. She served as chief of staff and counsel and as a key deputy to former Assistant Attorney General Christine A. Varney. Upon Varney’s departure from the division, Pozen was named acting antitrust chief on August 4, 2011.
Prior to coming to the Antitrust Division, Pozen was a partner in the Antitrust, Competition and Consumer Protection Group of Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells). She also worked for five years at the FTC as an attorney advisor, as assistant to the Bureau of Competition Director, and as a staff attorney.
There was no word on who would replace the Acting Assistant Attorney General. However, there is speculation in the media that William J. Baer, head of the antitrust group at the Washington, D.C. office of Arnold & Porter, LLP., might be on the short-list of candidates. Baer has held a number of high-level positions at the Federal Trade Commission, including director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition.
Under Pozen’s brief leadership, the Antitrust Division challenged the now-abandoned merger of AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile USA Inc. During her tenure as antitrust chief, the Antitrust Division also successfully blocked the proposed acquisition by H&R Block Inc. of TaxACT, a digital do-it-yourself tax-preparation software provider, at the government’s request (2011-2 Trade Cases ¶77,678).
Among the major accomplishments in the criminal area were the Justice Department’s first enforcement actions targeting price fixing and bid rigging in the automotive parts industry. As part of the investigation, Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd., a supplier of automotive wire harnesses and related products, has pleaded guilty and been fined $200 million fine for its involvement in the conspiracy. That investigation, among many others, is ongoing.
Less than six months after her appointment as Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, Sharis A. Pozen has announced her resignation, effective as of April 30, 2012, according to a January 23 announcement.
Pozen came to the Justice Department in February 2009. She served as chief of staff and counsel and as a key deputy to former Assistant Attorney General Christine A. Varney. Upon Varney’s departure from the division, Pozen was named acting antitrust chief on August 4, 2011.
Prior to coming to the Antitrust Division, Pozen was a partner in the Antitrust, Competition and Consumer Protection Group of Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells). She also worked for five years at the FTC as an attorney advisor, as assistant to the Bureau of Competition Director, and as a staff attorney.
There was no word on who would replace the Acting Assistant Attorney General. However, there is speculation in the media that William J. Baer, head of the antitrust group at the Washington, D.C. office of Arnold & Porter, LLP., might be on the short-list of candidates. Baer has held a number of high-level positions at the Federal Trade Commission, including director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition.
Under Pozen’s brief leadership, the Antitrust Division challenged the now-abandoned merger of AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile USA Inc. During her tenure as antitrust chief, the Antitrust Division also successfully blocked the proposed acquisition by H&R Block Inc. of TaxACT, a digital do-it-yourself tax-preparation software provider, at the government’s request (2011-2 Trade Cases ¶77,678).
Among the major accomplishments in the criminal area were the Justice Department’s first enforcement actions targeting price fixing and bid rigging in the automotive parts industry. As part of the investigation, Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd., a supplier of automotive wire harnesses and related products, has pleaded guilty and been fined $200 million fine for its involvement in the conspiracy. That investigation, among many others, is ongoing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
