Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has secured the role as lead counsel for Google in what appears to be a pretty pitched battle between the search giant and the Federal Trade Commission over Google’s proposed $750 million acquisition of mobile advertising firm AdMob, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Cleary partner David Gelfand is leading the firm’s team advising Google on the matter, according to the sources. Gelfand did not immediately return a call seeking comment.