From The Post's Bo Jones:

I am saddened to announce that at the end of the summer Mary Ann Werner will take a leave of absence and step down as Vice President & Counsel. On a brighter note, Eric Lieberman will be assuming that position.

During her 12-plus years heading legal matters here, Mary Ann has been an invaluable adviser and problem-solver. She has kept legal problems at The Post to a minimum and, equally important, has been a strong force for fairness in the way the newspaper treats the people who work here, the subjects of our news articles, and those doing business with us. She has firmly upheld The Post's interests through good judgment, tough-mindedness, and great practical skills. She has also overseen a variety of other matters such as emergency preparedness, building renovations, and sale of the parking lot and other real estate. Mary Ann came to The Post in 1988 as a staff attorney, after graduating from George Washington University's National Law Center (where she was editor-in-chief of the Law Review) and then clerking for Judge Spottswood Robinson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

While this is a time in her life when Mary Ann wants to make a change, thanks to her The Post remains in good shape with an outstanding legal team, starting with Eric. He is very much in the Mary Ann tradition of being a truly helpful counsel, and as consulting attorney she remains available to him.

Eric has the confidence of people throughout the newspaper, and he is shamefully popular as well. He joined The Post as Associate Counsel in 1998 and became Deputy Counsel and Director of Government Affairs last year. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Duke Law School. He clerked for Judge James Oakes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit and worked as an attorney at Williams & Connolly before coming to The Post.