Financial adviser to examine Microsoft break-up?

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. The government Thursday tapped Greenhill & Co., a specialist in mergers and acquisitions, to advise on possible remedies in the landmark antitrust trial. 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 principal reason you would ask them to come in would be to design a structural remedy, in particular how do you restructure a company and minimize its impact on the firm, to capital markets, for shareholders, and for employees," said George Washington University Law School professor Bill Kovacic said. The government would not retain a firm specializing in mergers, acquisitions and divestiture to "propose conduct-related remedies," Kovacic said.