Morrison Foerster is scaling back its presence in China by closing its Beijing office, following a trend observed among several other major law firms. The closure is planned to take place by the end of this year when the office’s lease ends. According to a statement from Morrison Foerster, the firm’s operations will continue to be managed from its other offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and beyond.
“Nearly all of our work for clients in China is already being done by lawyers and other professionals based in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and other firm offices,” Morrison Foerster noted in its announcement. The decision aligns with a broader pattern of international law firms reducing their footprint in China, driven by factors such as strained US-China relations, stringent local security regulations, and a slowing Chinese economy.
Notably, since 2020, several prominent firms, including Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Baker Botts, McDermott Will & Emery, Vinson & Elkins, and Latham & Watkins, have closed at least one of their China offices. Mayer Brown recently announced its separation from its Hong Kong offices, while Dentons parted ways with its China arm last year.
Morrison Foerster’s Beijing office currently houses four partners, who are also affiliated with the firm’s other locations. For detailed information on these developments, you can [read more here](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/morrison-foerster-to-close-beijing-office-as-rivals-cut-presence).