The group of lawyers and staff moving from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan to Steptoe & Johnson now includes 35 people, including 27 lawyers and eight business services professionals in New York and Los Angeles.

Steptoe confirmed the moves on Wednesday, in a major expansion of its regulatory enforcement, litigation and investigations practices. In an interview, Steptoe chair Gwen Renigar said the group hire was part of a longer-term plan for growth in these areas and the firm is still pushing forward on that strategy.