PALO ALTO — Washington, D.C.-based Steptoe & Johnson is planting a flag in Silicon Valley and expanding its IP practice with three partners from King & Spalding, the firm announced on Thursday.

The Palo Alto post, scheduled to open its doors on Jan. 27, will be led by veteran patent litigator William Abrams, whose move The Recorder reported Wednesday. He will be accompanied by Valley IP partner Sanjeet Dutta. Boyd Cloern will be joining Steptoe’s D.C. office as a partner.