New year, new departure! U.S.-based Biglaw firms are continuing to reduce their presence in China. Today, we have news of the first Biglaw firm to close its doors in Shanghai in 2025.
As noted by the American Lawyer, Fenwick & West will be shutting down its Shanghai office — its first international office — which was opened in 2014. Fenwick now becomes the 15th U.S. firm to shutter an office in mainland China since the exodus began in 2024.
It seems that the sole attorney working at Fenwick’s Shanghai office is retiring, thus prompting the closure. Am Law has additional details:
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Niping Wu, Fenwick’s last remaining Shanghai partner, is now listed as partner emeritus. She joined the firm in 2015 from legacy Kaye Scholer, where she was also a partner, and advised on cross-border mergers and acquisitions with an emphasis on private equity and strategic investments in Chinese companies. She also advised on debt financing transactions as well as outbound Chinese investments and issuances in the U.S.
The technology and life sciences specialist law firm’s website no longer lists Shanghai as an office location, although it still says the firm has a China practice which provides corporate, intellectual property and tax advice. It lists one partner, and two associates based in New York and Silicon Valley as part of its China offering.
The firm did not respond to a request for comment on the shuttering of its Shanghai location.
Which Biglaw firm will be the next say zàijiàn to its offices in China? You can email us or text us (646-820-8477) if you have any intel. Thank you.
Fenwick Shutters Shanghai Office [American Lawyer]
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Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.