Former Rep. Rothman to run defense-lobbying practice at law firm

Former Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) is joining the lobbyist ranks to start up a new defense industry group at a Northeast law firm.

Rothman has been hired by Sills Cummis & Gross, a New Jersey- and New York-based law firm that specializes in healthcare, medical devices, real estate and banking.

The hire is a step into the defense world for the firm, which has not previously had much work in the defense industry.

At the law firm, Rothman has been tasked with building up a new defense-aerospace lobbying business, where he will look to sign on new clients and could help current ones move toward defense issues.

The firm said in announcing Rothman's hire that his new defense group would handle lobbying, litigation and corporate issues for aerospace and defense clients.

Rothman was an eight-term congressman before he lost in a member-versus-member primary in 2012 to Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.). He was a member of the Appropriations Defense subcommittee.

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