Bradley Reportedly Being Courted by Law Firms : Politics: Mayor won’t reveal his plans. An aide says he has made no commitments.

Speculation that Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley may end his 30-year City Hall career next year gained momentum Thursday with a television report saying that a number of international law firms are quietly courting the mayor with lucrative offers.

Bradley reportedly has been talking with, among others, the San Francisco-based law firm of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, which has a downtown Los Angeles office and extensive business ties overseas, according to KABC-TV political reporter Linda Breakstone.

The mayor, who has promised to announce his plans later this month, would neither confirm nor deny the television report when questioned by The Times on Thursday night.

“Can’t you just wait? Have patience,” Bradley said. “You’re not going to rush me. I’m going to do this when I want to. I won’t let anyone else set the time for me.”

Managing partner John Larson of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison also would not confirm or deny that talks are under way with Los Angeles’ five-term mayor.

“There is nothing on the table,” he said in a telephone interview. “If Mayor Bradley has anything to announce, I’m sure he will.”

Larson said that the office has had recent discussions with Bradley, but they have centered primarily on the firm’s involvement in bringing two Vons markets into South Los Angeles as part of the area’s rebuilding effort.

Larson said that the talks apparently have prompted the speculation about a possible job for Bradley at the firm. “I’m sure people have just taken it to another step,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Mark Fabiani stressed that although Bradley might have received inquiries from various firms, the mayor had “absolutely not” made a commitment to anyone.

“It is not unusual for the mayor to be approached by any number of firms and organizations interested in his future plans,” he said. “(That) doesn’t have anything to do with the mayor’s very personal decision about whether he’ll run again or not.”

Bradley’s extensive foreign travels on behalf of the Port of Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport could make him a valuable addition to an international law firm, particularly one with Pacific Rim interests.

“I have heard several international, major firms have approached Bradley,” said former Deputy Mayor Tom Houston, now an attorney who works in a firm with global clients. “Obviously he would be a terrific catch for any of them given his contacts throughout the world.” Houston said his firm has not made Bradley an offer.

In recent weeks, many City Hall insiders have speculated that the mayor will not seek another term, citing his low standing in recent polls in the wake of the riots.

For many Bradley associates, a key indication that the 74-year-old mayor will not seek reelection has been the lack of any visible fund raising for what would surely be a multimillion-dollar campaign.

So far, only Councilman Michael Woo has declared his candidacy. Times staff writer Rich Connell contributed to this report.