July 23, 2007

THE DAILY JOURNAL

By Rebecca U. Cho

LOS ANGELES – Seyfarth Shaw last week added labor and employment litigator Jeffrey Wortman, formerly of Steefel, Levitt & Weiss, as a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office.

Wortman, 44, is the latest in a string of partners to leave Steefel, a 41-attorney business and environmental litigation firm with offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Wortman’s defection leaves Steefel’s L.A. office with four partners and two associates, down from 11 attorneys when the office opened in 2002.

In recent months, seven partners have left Steefel’s San Francisco office, including prominent land-use and development attorney Judy Davidoff and litigator Arthur J. Friedman, as well as four associates, all of whom joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton in April. The same month, Timothy Tosta, along with two partners and two associates, moved his real estate practice from Steefel to Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps.

Over the past year, Steefel’s attorney count has dropped from about 75 to 40. Since 2004, the firm has lost 16 senior attorneys, dropping from 29 to 17 partners, according to industry sources. Some have cited management troubles, including the defection of former managing partner Michael Lawson to Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in May 2005. Lawson was at Steefel for 30 years.

A representative from Steefel could not be reached for comment.

Wortman said his decision to leave for Seyfarth Shaw and its 700 attorneys was unrelated to any defections from his old firm. “My focus was on what I saw as an opportunity to expand my practice,” he said, noting the firm’s strong labor and employment practice.

Wortman’s litigation experience covers a range of issues including wage and hour, sexual harassment and whistle-blowing matters. His clients include Golden State Water Company and Banc of America Investment Services, for whom he recently won summary judgment and appeal in an age discrimination and defamation case.

“We were particularly attracted to his extensive experience with clients in the financial services industry,” said Seyfarth Shaw labor and employment partner Raymond Kepner.

Wortman graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1995. He has a master’s degree in communication studies from Baylor University.

Legal search firm Watanabe Nason Schwartz & Lippman brokered Wortman’s move.

Seyfarth Shaw has offices in nine U.S. cities and Brussels, Belgium.