Biglaw firms continue to shutter their offices in China. Today, we have news on the sixth large law firm to close the doors of a Chinese office in 2025.
As noted by the American Lawyer, Seyfarth Shaw — a firm that brought in $931,927,000 gross revenue in 2024, putting it at No. 61 on the most recent Am Law 100 — plans to shut down its Shanghai office, which it first launched in 2013. The firm plans to retain its Hong Kong office, which will become its only presence in Asia. A firm spokesperson issued the following statement:
“As part of our ongoing strategic review to ensure we are best positioned to serve our clients globally, we have made the decision to close our Shanghai office later this year. We remain committed to supporting our clients with needs in Mainland China and will do so by consolidating our presence and refocusing our resources in our Hong Kong office. We look forward to continuing to provide the innovative solutions our clients need to navigate the region’s dynamic and evolving landscape.”
This is a milestone office closure, because it marks the 20th U.S.-based firm to have shut down one or more offices in mainland China since the exodus began in 2024.
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.
Seyfarth Closes Doors in Shanghai, Retains Office in Hong Kong [American Lawyer]
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 Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
