K&L Gates To Close Beijing Office Amid US Law Firms’ Retreat From China

K&L Gates to Close Beijing Office Amid US Law Firms’ Retreat from China

U.S. law firm, K&L Gates, has announced the closure of its Beijing office, consolidating operations into its Shanghai office. This move follows a global review of the firm’s operations by its new leadership, including newly appointed Global Managing Partner Stacy Ackermann, effective July 1, and the firm’s updated management committee co-chair structure.

A K&L Gates spokesperson confirmed that the firm will continue serving Chinese and international clients from its offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and other locations across Asia. The Beijing office, which opened in 2004, currently has 14 lawyers, six of whom are already based in other cities.

The closure reflects broader trends among U.S. law firms, which have been scaling back operations in China over the past two years due to muted deal activity, geopolitical tensions, and increasing regulatory pressures on foreign businesses. Major U.S. firms, including Wilson Sonsini, Cleary Gottlieb, Winston & Strawn, and Seyfarth Shaw, have also announced plans to close offices in Shanghai, Beijing, or Hong Kong this year.

The influx of foreign law firms into China reached its peak approximately a decade ago, with recent years seeing a gradual exit of U.S. firms.

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