Valukas picked to probe Lehman Brothers

The Justice Department has nominated former U.S. attorney Anton Valukas to investigate the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.

Valukas, the chairman of law firm Jenner & Block LLP, served as a U.S. attorney in Chicago from 1985 to 1989. He also worked for the Justice Department in other capacities from 1970 through 1976.

The appointment will need approval from U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge James Peck, who ordered an examiner help investigate the firm’s collapse.

Peck has already said the examiner — Valukas, if he is approved — may not make public comments about the case until it is complete, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

Federal prosecutors and creditors are also conducting separate investigations into the firm, which filed for bankruptcy in September.