Stephenson Harwood has closed its office in Gaungzhou, China taking it to nine offices worldwide.

SH has had a presence in Gaungzhou for 20 years, opening in 1994. It opened in Beijing last year and as recently as last month was granted a licence to practice in Seoul. It also has offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong. With all this Asia-growth it comes as a surprise that it’s now going in a different direction in Gaungzhou, but CEO Sharon White maintained that the firm will continue “to maintain strong ties with the city”. Just not in the form of an office.

    One lawyer didn't get the memo


As for the lawyers affected by the closure, it is understood that they are setting up their own independent PRC firm and will remain in close contact with their former employer. So at least they're staying friends, which is more than can be said of its London support team.

In a statement White says the office closure comes as the “legal landscape in China has changed considerably”.

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