Biglaw firms are eager to get out of China while the getting is still good — or at the very least, consolidate their offerings there — and the latest firms to do so are at the tippy top of the Am Law 100.
As reported by Law.com International, Weil Gotshal is now in the process of closing its Shanghai office after first thinking of doing so back in March, while Sidley has now shuttered its Shanghai office. Here are some additional details:
Sidley has relocated some of its lawyers, including its two Shanghai partners, to its Beijing and Hong Kong offices, according to one lawyer at the U.S. law firm.
Weil’s only Shanghai partner, Charles Ching, has also moved to Hong Kong and the firm is in the midst of winding down its Shanghai office, according to someone with knowledge of the matter.
Weil said in a statement that its office is technically still open and that its current status is reflected on its website.
A Sidley spokesperson offered a statement on the firm’s closure of its Shanghai office, which was first opened in 1999: “As part of our review of office space and attorney requests to relocate or retire, we will not be renewing our Shanghai lease. We will consolidate our China operations in September 2024 with relocations to Beijing, Hong Kong and other Sidley offices. We remain committed to offering a full range of services in the China market and our clients will not be impacted.”
Both firms will maintain single offices in mainland China that will remain open: Sidley still has an office in Beijing, and Weil’s still has an office in Hong Kong.
Which Biglaw firm will be the next say zàijiàn to its offices in China? You can email us or text us (646-820-8477) if you have any intel. Thank you.
China Closures Continue as Sidley Shutters and Weil Winds Down Shanghai Offices [Law.com International]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on X/Twitter and Threads or connect with her on LinkedIn.
