A New Orleans-based law firm is expanding into Mississippi as it merges with a firm based in Jackson.

The New Orleans firm is Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre L.L.P.

It is combining with Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A., a firm that includes former Mississippi Gov. William Winter.

The firms say in a news release Tuesday that the merger should be complete by Jan. 1, and the combined firm will have 375 attorneys.

It will go by the current name of the New Orleans firm, Jones Walker.

After the merger is complete, Jones Walker will have 15 offices in Louisiana, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Mississippi, Texas and the District of Columbia.