Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith announced this week that it merged with 14-lawyer Mannion Gray, giving the California-based Am Law 100 firm a greater presence in a handful of Eastern and Midwestern states. The deal became effective on Jan. 1.

With the addition of Mannion Gray, Lewis Brisbois will expand its catastrophic injury and insurance defense practice into five new cities, said Lewis Brisbois toxic tort and environmental litigation practice group chair R. Gaylord Smith.