“The Justice Department’s decision to retain a New York
investment firm is a clear sign the government would like to break
up Microsoft, legal experts say.”
“While Justice Department spokesperson Gina Talamona said
Greenhill & Co. would assist in ‘a full range of possible
remedies,’ which include ‘conduct and structural relief,’ antitrust
experts contend there is only one reason to retain the firm:
divestiture proposals.”
“The timing, which followed the start of settlement talks by two
days, is the government’s way of sending Microsoft a message about
its intentions, [George Washington University Law School professor
Bill] Kovacic said.”
“Though settlement talks started off smoothly, antitrust experts
are skeptical the government and Microsoft can reach an agreement.
Bob Lande, an antitrust professor at the University of Baltimore
School Law, said he doesn’t think settlement is possible.”