Wake Up Call: Dechert to Fete ‘Queen of Toxic Torts’ Birnbaum

Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily rundown of the top news for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel.

• On March 12, Dechert will celebrate International Women’s Day with its presentation of “Sheila’s Story,” featuring recently retired partner Sheila Birnbaum. Birnbaum, known in legal circles as the “queen of toxic torts,” has won numerous plaudits for her work, including her role as a special master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. (Dechert)
• Big Law firm recruiting shops Johnson Downie and Lippman Jungers have combined, with an aim “to become the Am Law 20’s top headhunter.” The new entity, which will announce a name soon, are combining recruiting networks in New York, California and Texas and will include about 20 recruiters. (Law.com)
• Laura Swihart, co-chair of Dechert’s global finance and real estate practice groups, lauds Big Law women’s support groups and mentoring programs as “very helpful"—but says “soft support” only helps young women lawyers so much. “Making sure that female associates are being staffed on the more high profile, exciting matters for the most strategic clients and invited to industry and client events is most important,” she said. (Above The Law)

Laterals, Moves, In-house

• Tangela Richter has joined GEICO as its chief legal officer. She joins from Wells Fargo.
• Robert Fitzgerald has been appointed a tax partner at Grant Thornton in Ireland.