Stephen Colbert isn't the only one in his family starting a new, more high-profile gig this month.

As intellectual property-centered firms weather turbulent times, New York's Kenyon & Kenyon has elected the comedian's older brother, Edward Colbert, to lead the firm as managing partner. Colbert, who headed Kenyon's Washington, D.C., office for a decade, began a three-year term at the start of the month. His kid brother Stephen, meanwhile, debuted as David Letterman's replacement on CBS on Sept. 8.

Colbert, 68, has focused his practice on trademark and copyright litigation, areas where he said he hopes to see Kenyon & Kenyon grow. He said reforms under the America Invents Act that made it easier to challenge patents before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office could open up opportunities as well.