Katherine B. Forrest, a litigation partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore who specializes in antitrust and intellectual property, has left the firm to join the U.S. Department of Justice today as deputy assistant attorney general in the antitrust division.

Katherine B. Forrest

Ms. Forrest, 46, will oversee operations for the division’s criminal and civil programs. Her portfolio will also include overseeing international issues and appellate policy for the division, according to a Justice official. She had been with Cravath since 1990, making partner in 1998. “We are very excited for Katherine as she takes on this new challenge,” Evan R. Chesler, Cravath’s presiding partner, said in a statement. “The firm has a long tradition of commitment to public service and Katherine is joining a long line of Cravath partners who have accepted important government service roles over the years.”