A West Coast-based litigator who defended BP, Johnson & Johnson and General Motors in some of the highest profile civil trials of the 21st century has left Dechert, where she co-led the products liability and mass torts practice, to join Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.

Partner Kimberly Branscome joined Paul Weiss’s Los Angeles office on Saturday after nearly four years at Dechert, prompting the latter firm to appoint new leadership in the practice.