Cleary Gottlieb Set to Leave China as Big Law Exodus Continues

Cleary Gottlieb is closing its Beijing office, the law firm announced Monday.

“In July 2025, Cleary Gottlieb will merge our Beijing operations with Hong Kong, closing the Beijing office and consolidating our Greater China presence into Hong Kong,” the firm said in a statement. “We continue our commitment to serving clients in the region and believe this decision will allow us to do so more efficiently.”

Cleary is the latest in a series of Big Law firms shrinking their footprints in China, with several leaving the country altogether. Milbank LLP plans to close its Beijing office early this year, while ...