For Sheila Birnbaum, co-chair of the products liability and mass torts practice at Dechert, these are “interesting” times to be a defense lawyer.

States and municipalities are showing up more and more often opposite her in the plaintiffs chair. Birnbaum, dubbed the “Queen of Toxic Torts” because of her standing in the defense bar, says government lawyers are using the power of the press conference to help shape public opinion on the sorts of cases she handles.