Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is set to close its Beijing office, choosing to merge its operations with those in Hong Kong. The firm’s spokesperson noted that the consolidation aims to enhance efficiency in serving clients throughout the region. The Beijing office, currently comprising seven lawyers, including two partners, will transition its operations by July 2025.
This move aligns Cleary Gottlieb with a trend observed among other American law firms reducing their on-ground presence in Mainland China. For more details, you can access the original article. Additionally, this shift comes shortly after the firm experienced the departure of veteran M&A partner Sang Jin Han and his team of three associates to the Big Six Korean firm, Kim & Chang.