The White House is expected to tap Kenneth Feinberg as the independent administrator of an oil-spill escrow fund being negotiated by BP PLC and the administration, according to U.S. officials.

In his Oval Office address Tuesday night, President Barack Obama said BP should establish a restitution fund with "whatever resources are required," controlled by an independent administrator.

Lawmakers have suggested BP contribute $20 billion to the fund, which would would compensate Gulf residents for losses associated with the oil spill.

Mr. Feinberg will run the claims process as independent third party.

The attorney has taken on a series of high-profile arbitration cases during his career. He is currently the U.S. government's pay czar, a role in which he butted heads with financial executives over their pay packages. He also oversaw the federal government's compensation fund for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.