英国罗夏信律师事务所近日宣布，在经历7年运营之后，律所决定关闭其北京办公室，同时调整其香港办公室业务重心。
作为最早进入中国市场的国际律师事务所之一，罗夏信于2013年设立北京办公室，最初该办公室不设合伙人，只有两位法律主管。2018年，北京办公室迎来合伙人徐作青律师及其带领的11人律师团队加盟，但徐律师于第二年离任加盟了美国艾金·岗波律师事务所。
目前，罗夏信北京办公室有一位合伙人林纯慧律师，她也将于今年晚些时候离任。
与此同时，罗夏信也将调整其在香港业务，以更好配合其全球核心业务领域——包括诉讼、公司并购、资产融资及私人财富管理——发展。
罗夏信目前在中国开设有上海及香港办公室，以及2016年在广州与伟途律师事务所设立的联营律所。
律所同时宣布任命Jamie Stranger为大中华地区新任管理合伙人，同时宣布在香港晋升四位新合伙人，此举显示了律所“对大中华地区市场无可置疑的投入”。
“作为最早进入香港市场的国际律所之一，我们在很多年中都享受到了‘先行者’的甜头。但我们不能固步自封，而要重新审视促进业务发展的方法。当下做出的改变可以确保律所业务与客户需求契合。” Jamie Stranger评论道。
作为亚洲策略的一部分，罗夏信还将继续扩大在东南亚地区的影响力，并发展首尔办公室。
目前，律所在大中华地区、韩国和新加坡的收入占据其总收入的四分之一。
这也是继奥睿律师事务所和奥斯本·克拉克律师事务所近月相继宣布退出香港市场后，在港国际律所做出的又一调整。
Stephenson Harwood to close Beijing office, refocus HK offering
UK law firm Stephenson Harwood is closing its seven-year-old office in Beijing and refocus its offering in Hong Kong, following a review of its presence in Asia.
One of the first international law firms to establish a presence in China, Stephenson Harwood set up its Beijing office in 2013, initially two just legal directors. The office got a boost in 2018 with the arrival of partner Allen Shyu and his eleven-lawyer team from Troutman Saunders.
However, Shyu left just one year later to join Akin Gump. The office currently has just one partner - Lin Chunhui – and she will be leaving later this year.
Meanwhile, the firm will also refocus its Hong Kong business to better align with its core practices, namely litigation, corporate M&A and asset finance, as well as developing its private wealth capability.
In Greater China, Stephenson Harwood will be left with offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and an association with Wei Tu Law Firm in Guangzhou, which was established in 2016.
The firm has also named Jamie Stranger as its new Greater China managing partner, replacing Voon Keat Lai, and the promotion of four partners in Hong Kong, which, in the words of the firm, reflects that “our commitment to Greater China is not in question.”
“As one of the first international firms to establish a presence in Hong Kong we enjoyed an ‘early mover’ advantage for many years. But it’s important not to rest on your laurels and to continually look at ways to improve as a business. The changes we’re making – to focus on, and strengthen, our core practices – ensures that we continue to align our business with the needs of our clients,” Stranger added in a press release.
As part of a larger strategy plan, Stephenson Harwood will explore expansion opportunities in Southeast Asia and continue to develop its Seoul office.
The firm’s practices in Greater China, Korea and Singapore now generate around 25 percent of its revenue.
The past few weeks have seen two other international firms streamlining their China operations: both Osborne Clarke and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe announced that they would be closing their Hong Kong offices.
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