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.

The leading contender to replace her is Arnold & Porter antitrust group head William 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-WI) 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.