Administrative staff in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee this morning confirmed the departure of Zach Fardon, formerly first assistant U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. No successor to Fardon has yet been announced by U.S. Attorney Craig S. Morford.

Fardon, who left the U.S. Attorney's office on Dec. 29, recently joined the Chicago office of global law firm Latham & Watkins LLP. Fardon had earlier served in the Chicago office of the U.S. Attorney, and he had been instrumental in the conviction of former Illinois Governor George H. Ryan Sr. of public corruption.

Fardon's spouse, Rachel Fardon, served until recently as an attorney with the law department of Metro Government. Fardon has not yet returned calls placed to his Chicago office.

Fardon is the brother of Alex Fardon, an attorney heading the litigation practice of Nashville-based Harwell Howard Hyne Gabbert & Manner PC. He was a candidate last summer for the job of Tennessee Attorney General that eventually went to Robert E. Cooper.