Sharis Pozen named acting antitrust chief

{mosads}She previously spent 14 years, from 1995 to February 2009, as a partner and practice group director at the law firm Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells), where she specialized in antitrust matters concerning the technology and healthcare industries.

Pozen also worked at the Federal Trade Commission for five years as a staff attorney and assistant to the director of the Bureau of Competition. She earned a B.A. from Connecticut College in 1986 and a J.D. from Washington University in 1989.

Pozen’s appointment is not expected to affect the Justice Department’s ongoing review of AT&T’s proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA. The Federal Communications Commission is also reviewing the deal. National Journal first reported Pozen’s appointment.

Varney announced her resignation earlier this month, effective Friday. In her last speech as assistant attorney general, she pointed to the conditions attached to the Comcast-NBC Universal merger as a highlight of her tenure.

President Obama will still have to nominate a permanent replacement for
Varney who will be subject to Senate confirmation.