The British law firm of Mishcon de Reya has decided to pull back from the Big Apple expansion they began in 2010. As reported by the American Lawyer:
London-based Mischon de Reya, which opened a New York office in 2010, is poised to halve the size of its partnership in the Big Apple.
The decision, which comes after a review by Mishcon of its business in the city, will see the number of partners drop from six to three. Overall lawyer head count in the office—the British firm’s only outpost in the U.S.—has also fallen by three to 12.
The cuts are part of a change in strategy for the firm, as New York will now be focused on patent litigation, IP work, and international arbitration:
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“As part of an ongoing review of how we meet our clients’ needs internationally, we now believe that in some practice areas it is more effective for us to offer clients services via these relationships,” the firm said in a statement. “This fits with our broader international strategy—working with best-in-breed firms in key jurisdictions. The New York office will primarily offer patent litigation, soft IP and international arbitration services.”
Best of luck to the firm, and the displaced lawyers, as they navigate the shark-infested waters of the New York legal market.
After Review, British Firm Slashes its New York Partnership [American Lawyer]
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Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).