A group of litigation lawyers and staff from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan totaling more than 20 professionals are following the two partners leaving for Steptoe & Johnson this month, according to sources with knowledge of the moves.

Sources with knowledge of both firms also said Steptoe, at one point a potential merger partner for Stroock, is in talks to take over the New York-based law firm’s Los Angeles office lease, in a scenario in which Stroock would shed its sole West Coast outpost.