California-based Venrock announced the promotion of David Stepp to partner on Wednesday. 

Prior to his appointment as partner, Stepp worked at Cooley LLP where his responsbilities centered on venture capital partnerships and emerging growth and small-market public technology businesses. He first became part of Venrock in 2007 as a general counsel.

"David Stepp has been a key contributor across all dimensions of our business over the last six years," remarked Venrock partner Bryan Roberts. "David's promotion is a recognition of his commitment to our firm, its limited partners and our entrepreneurs. He is a terrific colleague and richly deserves this recognition."

Venrock, which was first established as the Rockefeller family's venture capital arm in 1969, focuses primarily on forming partnerships with entrepreneurs to build successful, long-lasting businesses. The firm concentrates mainly on companies in the technology and healthcare sectors which include Apple Computer, SlideShare, Illumina, Tudou, Centocor, Check Point Software, Endeca, Idec Pharma, Intel, DoubleClick and Adify.