NEW YORK (Bloomberg) — American International Group Inc. general counsel Anastasia Kelly, who threatened to quit over government-imposed pay limits, may depart as early as this month, said three people familiar with the matter.

Kelly, 60, said in a December 1 letter she was prepared to leave AIG by year-end because of impending compensation restrictions, and the insurer hasn't sought to keep her, said the people, who declined to be identified because an announcement hasn't been made. Michael Leahy, a lawyer who works at AIG's New York headquarters, is among candidates being considered to succeed Kelly, said one of the people.

AIG was rescued last year in a US bailout that has swelled to $182.3 billion, placing the company under the jurisdiction of Kenneth Feinberg, the Obama administration's special master for executive compensation. Kelly hired Washington-based law firm Dickstein Shapiro LLP to represent her and four AIG managers concerned that Feinberg would impose limits on salaries and severance pay, said one of the people.

"If people aren't seeing a long-term future there, maybe they're blaming the pay," said Bill Bergman, an analyst at Morningstar Inc. in Chicago.

The executives' severance awards may equal as much as two years of salary and bonuses, AIG said in a June regulatory filing. Kelly may be eligible for a severance payment.