As reported by Crowell & Moring, the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division appointed Richard Powers as its new Deputy Assistant Attorney General (DAAG) for Criminal Enforcement. The selection of Mr. Powers - who will serve on an acting basis until his appointment receives all the necessary administrative approvals - concludes a nearly year-long process to fill the Antitrust Division’s most senior criminal enforcement position. In his new position, Mr. Powers will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement program and will be a key decisionmaker in determining whether the Division brings criminal charges against a corporation and/or its employees.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Powers had served as a trial attorney in the DOJ’s Criminal Division. Consequently, his appointment represents the first time that the Antitrust Division has not selected one of its current career prosecutors to serve as the head of its criminal enforcement program. That said, Mr. Powers will not be a complete stranger to the Antitrust Division or antitrust prosecutions - he spent the first 6 years of his career with the Division and has been working on investigations being jointly conducted by the Antitrust and Criminal Divisions during the past 2 years. 

[For a more complete summary of Mr. Power's professional background, click on below link.]