General Motors has named Michael Millikin as vice president and general counsel. He replaces Robert Osborne, who is departing the company to return to law firm Jenner & Block in Chicago.

Millikin, who joined GM's legal staff in 1977, was appointed head of the company's in-house litigation practice area in 1987. A decade later he moved to Zurich to become vice president and general counsel of General Motors International Operations, before returning to Detroit as associate general counsel in 2005. Millikin is also a board member of GM's Korean subsidiary, GM Daewoo Auto, and Technology Company.

The appointment of Millikin comes at a time when General Motors is trying to recoup from its recent bankruptcy after receiving $50 billion in government bailout money.