John Nannes Appointed
to Antitrust Division

(April 3, 1998)  The Department of Justice announced the appointment of John M. Nannes as Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division on March 27.  Nannes was a law partner of Bob Bennett, President Clinton's sexual harassment lawyer, at the time of his appointment.  Nannes is one of several recent top level appointments to the team of lawyers investigating and litigating against Microsoft Corp.  The appointment does not require Senate confirmation.

Nannes will work under Joel I. Klein, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division.  Nannes will supervise the Computers & Finance, Civil Task Force, Transportation, and Energy & Agriculture sections.  He will also be responsible for most civil non-merger matters in the Division.  His appointment is effective on March 29, 1998.   He replaces Lawrence R. Fullerton, who resigned earlier this year.

For the past 21 years Nannes has been associated with the Washington, DC, office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP where he has been a partner and devoted his time predominantly to antitrust issues.  Skadden Arps is representing President Clinton in the Paula Jones sexual harassment suit, and in matters pertaining to the Special Prosecutor's investigation.

Skadden Arps' biography of Mr. Nannes describes his work as follows:

"He has handled numerous mergers and acquisitions reviewed by the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. He has represented air carriers in a number of significant transactions involving transfers of international routes and asset acquisitions that were reviewed by the Departments of Justice and Transportation. He has also represented motor and rail carriers in acquisitions and joint ventures reviewed by the Department of Justice and the Surface Transportation Board. ... In addition ...   Mr. Nannes has represented parties in government investigations and treble-damage actions in the securities, ocean shipping, rail, and freight forwarder industries. Mr. Nannes has represented various companies in agency and court proceedings involving
application of antitrust concepts to traditionally regulated industries."

Joel Klein stated in a Justice Department press release that "John's tremendous knowledge of antitrust issues, combined with his prior experience at the Antitrust Division, means that he will hit the ground running and make immediate and substantial contributions to the work of the Antitrust Division."  Klein further stated that "He is well-known and respected within the Antitrust Division and the private antitrust bar. The Antitrust Division will be well served by a person of tremendous talents."

Work history:

• Law clerk to Judge Roger Robb, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
• Law clerk to Justice William H. Rehnquist, U.S. Supreme Court.
• Special Assistant to former Assistant Attorney General Thomas Kauper, Antitrust Division, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1975-1977.
• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, 1977-1998.

Memberships and Activities:

• Bar Associations of the District of Columbia, Michigan, and New York.
• Chairman of the D.C. Circuit Advisory Committee on Procedures.
• Member of the Committee for the District of Columbia Bar's Public Service Activities Corporation.
• Trustee of the Supreme Court Historical Society.
• Chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee of the Antitrust Section of the
  American Bar Association, 1987-1991.
• Vice President of the Association of Transportation Practitioners, 1987-1990.
• He taught antitrust at Georgetown University Law Center as an Adjunct
  Professor (1979-1981 and 1983-1984), and most recently as a Distinguished Visitor from Practice.

Education:

• University of Michigan, B.B.A., with Highest Distinction, 1970.
• University of Michigan Law School,  magna cum laude, 1973.  (Order of the Coif, Articles Editor of the U. Michigan L.R.

Sources: Skadden Arps; U.S. Department of Justice; Martindale Hubbell.

Other Resources.

• Martindale Hubbell Entry on Skadden Arps.