芝加哥老牌律所温斯顿律师事务所的一位发言人向ALB证实，“温斯顿正在关闭其位于中国的最后一家办公室”，即上海办公室。

“这一决定是我们全球战略评估的一部分，旨在确保我们能够更好地为全球客户提供服务。我们依然致力于服务中国客户，并将通过我们在其他地区的办公室及与其他律所的既有合作关系，继续为他们提供支持。”该所说道。

温斯顿告诉ALB，其上海办公室目前有4名律师。根据其网站信息，他们是：

上海办公室首席代表张亚樵律师，他是知识产权、尤其专利诉讼领域专家，于2017年加入温斯顿。

顾问邓伟龙律师，她是跨境直接投资、并购等领域专家；合伙人Jacob Harding，他同时工作于温斯顿洛杉矶办公室，主要为跨国公司提供跨境投资相关服务；以及律师助理Shuyi Zhang，她主要工作于跨境交易领域。

温斯顿并未透露四位律师下一步的动向。

温斯顿2009年随美国总统奥巴马出访中国的脚步来到中国市场，于当年设立了北京、上海办公室，并在2008年底设立了香港办公室。

不过其北京办公室已于2017年关闭；香港办公室于2024年2月关闭。目前，温斯顿在亚洲不再开设有实体办公室。

2020年，温斯顿取代其芝加哥竞争对手McDermott Will & Emery（MWE），与中国元达律师事务所结成联盟所“元达温斯顿”，继承了MWE原有的律师团队和办公场所。不过其网站显示，元达温斯顿已于去年10月31日结束联盟。

温斯顿成为继威尔逊、佳利后，今年又一家调整中国布局的美国律所。

Winston to close its last office in Asia

A spokesperson for Winston & Strawn, a long-established Chicago-based law firm, confirmed to ALB that “Winston & Strawn is in the process of closing its remaining office in China,” referring to its Shanghai office.

"This decision is part of our ongoing strategic review to ensure we are best positioned to serve our clients globally. We remain committed to our clients in China and will continue to support them through our other offices and existing relationships with other law firms," the firm said.

Winston told ALB that the Shanghai office “is home to four lawyers.” According to its website, they are:

• Ya-Chiao Chang, Chief Representative of the Shanghai office, an expert in intellectual property, particularly patent litigation, who joined Winston in 2017;
• Susan Deng, Of counsel, specializing in cross-border direct investment and M&A;
• Jacob Harding, Partner, also based in Winston’s Los Angeles office, providing cross-border investment services to multinational companies;
• Shuyi Zhang, Legal consultant, focusing on cross-border transactions.

The firm did not disclose the future plans of the four professionals.

Winston entered the China market in 2009, following then-U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to China, by opening offices in Beijing and Shanghai, after launching its Hong Kong office in late 2008.

However, the Beijing office closed in 2017, and the Hong Kong office was shut down in February 2024. With the closure of its Shanghai office, Winston no longer maintains a physical presence in Asia.

In 2020, Winston replaced its Chicago rival McDermott Will & Emery (MWE) to form a joint operation with Yuanda Law Firm, under the name YuandaWinston, inheriting MWE’s former team and office space. However, according to Winston’s website, “the alliance has ended effective October 31, 2024.”

Winston becomes the latest U.S. law firm, after Wilson Sonsini and Cleary, to scale back its China operations this year.