October 16, 2006

THE RECORDER

By Kellie Schmitt

LOS ANGELES – Robert Kovelman, the head of Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner’s intellectual property practice in Los Angeles, left for Steptoe & Johnson Wednesday, bringing with him three attorneys from the firm’s 16-lawyer office here.

The departure comes as Brown Raysman is wrapping up talks to merge with Thelen Reid & Priest.

Kovelman would not comment publicly on whether the impending merger had a role in his departure.

“I chose Steptoe because I like the platform, the skill sets, and the collegiality,” he said. “I felt like I was coming home.”

Kovelman brings with him of counsel Brooke Quist and associates Vanessa Owen and Andy Chen. He also brings clients including Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. and Bally Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of gaming systems.

The move “is going to give me entry to clients I didn’t have entry to before, and it’s going to give me a level of integrity and respect to expand my practice,” he said.

Peter Brown, a name partner at Brown Raysman, did not return calls seeking comment.

The additions are a coup for Steptoe, which has been beefing up its presence in Los Angeles since the opening of its Century City office earlier this year, said recruiter Larry Watanabe, whose firm brokered the deal.

“Robert’s got a significant practice “ the biggest practice by far in L.A.” for Brown Raysman, he said.

Steptoe launched its Century City office in July by poaching a group from Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan and a partner from Christensen, Glaser, Fink, Jacobs, Weil & Shapiro. With the new additions, the office has 15 lawyers.

Kovelman’s intellectual property expertise will give Steptoe a strong foundation to build that practice in California, according to Roger Warin, the firm’s chairman. Adding the group fits with the firm’s overall plan to add new clients on the West Coast, “a region with a strong base of companies engaged in computer and information technology,” he said.

Kovelman said he’s looking forward to helping Steptoe expand that department in Los Angeles: “My understanding is that I will be the IP anchor.”