Morrison Foerster to Close Beijing Office as Rivals Cut Presence

Morrison Foerster is scaling back its China presence by shuttering its Beijing office, following similar moves by Big Law rivals.

The firm anticipates the office will close before the end of the year, and it plans to continue serving its clients in China from other outposts, Morrison Foerster said in a statement.

“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 said in the statement. “Our Beijing office lease will terminate later this year.”

China’s deteriorating relations with the US, tighter security regulations in the country and an economic downturn in the area have prompted Big Law operations to retrench their operations.

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Baker Botts, McDermott Will & Emery, Vinson & Elkins and Latham & Watkins have closed at least one China office since 2020. Mayer Brown said in May it was breaking away from its offices in Hong Kong, and Dentons last year separated from its China arm.

Morrison Foerster’s Beijing office houses four partners, all of whom are based in additional locations, according to the firms website.