WilmerHale Closing Beijing Office as US Firms Dial Back Presence

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr announced Tuesday it will close its Beijing office, becoming the latest US law firm to exit China and Hong Kong as business conditions grow more challenging.

“Like many others, WilmerHale has evaluated our global footprint and has made the decision to close our office in Beijing,” the firm said in a statement.

The firm will continue serving clients with China-related needs, focusing on “trade, sanctions and export control, anti-money laundering, and corporate transactions,” according to the statement.

WilmerHale’s exit follows a pattern of law firms leaving Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong amid deteriorating US-China ...