Front-runners emerge for top antitrust post at DOJ

A trio of attorneys has emerged as top contenders to succeed Sharis Pozen as head of the Justice Department's antitrust division.

Pozen announced her resignation effective April 30 on Monday. Despite spending just six months as the acting head of the division, she lead the Justice Department's challenge of the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, which ultimately led to the breakup of the $39 billion deal.

The leading contender to replace her is Arnold & Porter antitrust group head Willliam Baer, who previously served as the director of the Federal Trade Commission's Competition Bureau. Baer's law firm represented AT&T in the T-Mobile matter, but that fact is not expected to affect his candidacy.

Baer is reportedly being vetted for the position by the Obama administration. Also on the short list are Antitrust Division special adviser Leslie Overton and Senate Antitrust subpanel general counsel Seth Bloom.

Overton was previously mentioned as a possible candidate for chairman of the FTC; her husband, Spencer, is a political appointee in the Department of Justice. The couple, both Detroit natives, have been extremely active in support of President Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.

Bloom has the strong backing of Senate Antitrust Chairman Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and was credited with orchestrating the panel's efforts on the AT&T deal, as well as last year's hearing featuring Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

Attorney and former FTC policy director David Balto said Bloom could have the best chance of confirmation thanks to his work on the Senate subcommittee, which has earned him admiration on both sides of the aisle.

"Bloom, because of his stellar reputation, is by far in the best position to be confirmed by the Senate," Balto said.

Bloom previously worked in the Antitrust Division as a trial attorney from 1996 to 1999.

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