Two foreign law firms are set to restructure their presence in China, with Latham & Watkins closing its Shanghai office and Ropes & Gray downsizing its branch in the same city.
Latham’s lease in Shanghai will expire later this year and the firm invited all personnel to relocate to the Beijing office.
The firm’s website said the Shanghai office has partner Rowland Cheng and nine lawyers, while the Beijing office has partner Xu Hui and four lawyers.
“We have a strong track record in China and across Asia, and we are confident that we have the resources, expertise and market knowledge to serve our clients effectively from a consolidated hub in Beijing,” a Latham spokesperson told China Business Law Journal.
The firm added that China is an integral part of Latham’s practice in Asia and globally.
Latham also has a Chinese presence in Hong Kong with 78 lawyers, including 23 partners, making it the firm’s largest office in Asia.
Ropes & Gray will relocate some staff members to Hong Kong, its largest office in Asia, and retain four lawyers in Shanghai.
