Apple taps former Intel exec as general counsel

Apple Inc tapped former Intel Corp executive Bruce Sewell as its new general counsel and senior vice president of legal and government affairs.

Intel announced Sewell's departure Monday as its general counsel as part of a broad reorganization. He had worked for the chipmaker since 1995.

Daniel Cooperman, who has served as Apple's general counsel for the past two years, will retire at the end of the month, the company said.

With Bruce's extensive experience in litigation, securities and intellectual property, we expect this to be a seamless transition, Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said in a statement.

Apple has come under increased scrutiny of late from federal regulators. The Federal Trade Commission has been examining the relationship between the boards of Apple and Google, which still share a director despite the resignation of Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt from Apple's board.

The Federal Communications Commission launched an inquiry in July into why Apple failed to approve Google's Voice application for the iPhone.

Shares of Cupertino, California-based Apple were up $1.74 to $175.46.

(Reporting by Gabriel Madway; editing by John Wallace)