Richard R. Verma Rejoins Steptoe & Johnson LLP

(December 11, 2007, Washington, DC) – Steptoe & Johnson LLP, a leading international law firm, today announced that Richard R. Verma, will rejoin the firm after serving five years as a key senior policy advisor to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.  Effective immediately, Mr. Verma will be a partner with primary responsibilities in the firm’s Government Relations and Public Policy Group and additional involvement in its International Regulation and Compliance Group.

Mr. Verma has recently served as Senior National Security Advisor to the Senate Majority Leader, shaping U.S. national security policy and strategy in that position. After leaving Steptoe in 2002, Mr. Verma initially became Senator Reid’s Foreign Policy Advisor and thereafter held a range of positions with successively more responsibility.  Among those was managing the legislative strategy and coordinating the policy related to issues of national security for the Senate Democratic caucus. 

Senator Reid called Rich “a first-rate lawyer, a true professional, and someone whose judgment we relied on during a pivotal time for the Senate and for the country.”  

“We are pleased Rich is returning to the firm after a period of high-level public service to the nation,” said Roger Warin, Steptoe’s Chairman.  “His knowledge of how the Congressional leadership operates and his understanding of the legislative processes and workings of both the House and the Senate will be extremely valuable to our government relations and public policy clients.”

Mr. Verma initially joined Steptoe in 1998 as a member of the firm’s International and Technology Practices. Before coming to the firm, he served as a U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate for four years, as well as Staff Assistant to Congressman Jack Murtha, longtime Chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, under whom Mr. Verma had responsibility for a broad portfolio of legislative projects.

“Rich brings senior-level Senate experience to Steptoe,” said Scott Sinder, a member of the firm’s Government Affairs & Public Policy practice. "His experience in the defense, appropriations, trade policy, and homeland security arenas will be invaluable for several of our key practices and for our clients worldwide.”

“Steptoe has a top tier international platform to which I am delighted to return,” said Mr. Verma. “It has a first-rate reputation as a go-to firm for solving the most complex and challenging problems in a highly professional manner.  I will miss Senator Reid and the Senate, but I am looking forward to rejoining my many colleagues here.”

Mr. Verma holds degrees from Lehigh University (B.S.), American University’s Washington College of Law (J.D.) and Georgetown University Law Center (LLM).  He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Board of Advisors of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and the Board of the Marsh Institute for Public and Government Policy at Shenandoah University.