Making a definitive move away from its former status as a litigation-only firm and sending a signal that it’s in regional-expansion mode, Houston’s Beirne, Maynard & Parsons has combined with New Orleans-based Lemle & Kelleher.

The combination, effective Jan. 1, creates an 80-lawyer firm with offices in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Lemle & Kelleher brought 19 lawyers, plus offices in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, to the combination.