05-03-2025
Wilson Sonsini to shut Beijing office in latest US law firm exit
March 5 (Reuters) - Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is planning to shut down its office in Beijing, making it the latest big U.S. law firm to scale back in the Chinese legal market.
The Palo Alto-founded firm, which also has offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong, "has decided to forgo renewing its office lease in Beijing and to begin the process of winding down operations in that location," a spokesperson said late Tuesday.
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Lawyers in Wilson Sonsini's Greater China practice have advised companies and investment banks in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and private equity deals. Clients have included pharmaceutical company WuXi AppTec and ride-sharing app operator Dida, according to its website.
At least 11 U.S. law firms in 2024 closed or said they would shutter offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong amid muted deal activity, geopolitical tensions and growing pressures on foreign businesses.
The closures have continued into 2025, with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton set to close its Beijing office and shift operations to its Hong Kong location in July.
Wilson Sonsini, which is known for advising technology and life sciences companies, said it will continue to serve clients in Asia and will "take the steps needed to ensure a smooth transition for clients, attorneys, and professional staff." The firm opened in Beijing in 2012.
Its website lists 14 lawyers in Beijing, including corporate partner Weiheng Chen, who heads the firm's Greater China practice and also works from Hong Kong and Shanghai.
