CHINA

Chart of the Day: The Law Firms Leaving the Chinese Mainland

Published: May. 5, 2025 5:34 p.m. GMT+8

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Since 2023, more than a dozen well-known foreign law firms, most of them American, have scaled back operations or exited completely from the Chinese mainland, according to incomplete data compiled by Caixin.

Rather than withdrawing completely, many U.S. firms have closed offices in Beijing or Shanghai while keeping operations in Hong Kong and consolidating their businesses.

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Since 2023, over a dozen major foreign law firms, mainly American, have scaled back or exited mainland China, with some consolidating operations in Hong Kong.
The number of foreign law firm offices fell from 244 in 2017 to 205 in 2022 but rebounded slightly to 208 in 2023; since 2023, 15 foreign firms gained approval to open offices.
Some U.S. and Southeast Asian firms are expanding in China, targeting cities like Shenzhen and Hainan to serve evolving business ties.

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Who’s Who

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP: Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is a New York-based law firm that was among the first foreign firms to enter China, opening a Beijing office in 1981. The firm closed its Beijing office at the end of 2024, leaving it without a mainland presence, but it continues to operate an office in Hong Kong.

Dentons: Dentons, one of the world’s largest law firms, ended its eight-year alliance with Beijing Dacheng Law Offices in August 2023. The firms originally teamed up in 2015 to meet growing legal demand. After the split, Dacheng updated its website to reflect its independent status but remains a preferred law firm for Dentons in China.

Beijing Dacheng Law Offices: Beijing Dacheng Law Offices was in an eight-year alliance with Dentons, one of the world’s largest law firms, beginning in 2015. In August 2023, the partnership ended. After the split, Dacheng updated its website to show its independent status, though it remains a preferred law firm for Dentons in China.

Mayer Brown LLP: In May 2024, Chicago-based Mayer Brown LLP restructured its Hong Kong operations, with its partner team reviving the name Johnson Stokes & Master (JSM) and separating from Mayer Brown’s international business. They now operate under a temporary association, expected to end in late 2025. Mayer Brown will continue in Hong Kong through a new partnership focused on international and Asia strategies.

Johnson Stokes & Master (JSM): Johnson Stokes & Master (JSM) is the historical name revived for the Hong Kong partner team of Mayer Brown LLP in May 2024. After restructuring, JSM and Mayer Brown’s international business now operate under a temporary association, expected to end in late 2025.

Loeb & Loeb LLP: In September 2024, Los Angeles-based Loeb & Loeb LLP expanded its China presence by acquiring a 17-member Beijing-based team of lawyers, paralegals, and intellectual property specialists from Seattle-based Perkins Coie LLP, along with Perkins Coie’s intellectual property agency in Beijing.

Perkins Coie LLP: According to the article, in September 2024, Perkins Coie LLP, a Seattle-based firm, saw its Beijing-based team of 17 lawyers, paralegals, and intellectual property specialists, along with its intellectual property agency in Beijing, acquired by Los Angeles-based Loeb & Loeb LLP.

Dorsey & Whitney LLP: Since 2021, the headcount at the Beijing office of Minneapolis-based Dorsey & Whitney LLP has more than doubled, indicating that the firm is expanding its presence on the Chinese mainland while many other foreign law firms are scaling back or exiting the market.

Pinsent Masons LLP: According to the article, Pinsent Masons LLP is a British law firm that, since 2023, has been approved by China’s Ministry of Justice to establish a representative office in the country. This is part of a recent trend where several foreign law firms, including those from the UK and Southeast Asia, have opened offices in China, particularly in cities like Shenzhen and Hainan, to strengthen business ties with the region.

Holman Fenwick & Willan LLP: According to the article, Holman Fenwick & Willan LLP is a British law firm that, since 2023, has been approved by Chinese authorities to establish a representative office in China. This is part of a broader trend of foreign law firms, especially those from Britain and Southeast Asia, setting up or expanding their presence in China, particularly in cities like Shenzhen and Hainan, to serve growing business ties between China and these regions.

Rajah & Tann LLP: According to the article, Rajah & Tann LLP is a law firm from Singapore that was approved to establish a representative office in China since 2023. This move reflects the growing economic and business ties between China and Southeast Asia, as more Southeast Asian law firms set up offices in China to serve expanding Chinese investments and operations in the region.

Allen & Gledhill LLP: According to the article, Allen & Gledhill LLP is a Singapore-based law firm. Since 2023, it has been approved by China's Ministry of Justice to establish a representative office in the country, reflecting the increasing presence of Southeast Asian law firms in China.

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