Donald Lewis, the former partner of Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht who is ensnared in litigation with the firm, is now suing Littler Mendelson and Putney Twombly Hall & Hirson for defamation, accusing them of supporting a campaign to smear him after he was fired.

In an amended complaint Friday, Lewis added Littler and Putney Twombly as defendants to his defamation complaint against Pierce Bainbridge. The two firms have served as outside counsel to Pierce Bainbridge. Lewis’ amended complaint, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, seeks $45 million in total compensatory and punitive damages, along with other relief.