Intel Hires Antitrust Expert as General Counsel

With Intel’s longstanding legal dispute with AMD (AMD) resolved, Douglas Melamed the company’s new general counsel, will have one less thing to worry about when he starts work–not that he lacks the experience to deal with it. Melamed served as acting assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department’s antitrust division, where he worked from 1996 to 2001. He replaces longtime Intel (INTC) GC Bruce Sewell, who left the company to become general counsel of Apple (AAPL) back in September.

“We’re extremely pleased to have Doug join the Intel team,” said Intel CEO Paul Otellini. “His breadth of experience and legal expertise combined with his background in government are an outstanding fit for us.”

Melamed’s appointment must be quite a relief for Otellini and Intel, which, as I’ve noted here before, is grappling with some of the most important legal issues the company has ever faced.