U.S. law firm Latham & Watkins is closing its Shanghai office, launched in 2005, as it looks to consolidate its mainland China presence.

The Shanghai office’s 10 lawyers, including corporate partner Rowland Cheng and private equity counsel Liyun (Louise) Deng, have been invited to relocate to Beijing.  

The world’s second-largest law firm by revenue said it made the decision as the lease of its Shanghai office was expiring.

“We are confident that we have the resources, expertise, and market knowledge to serve our clients effectively from a consolidated hub in Beijing. China is an important market for the firm, and an integral part of our practice in Asia and globally. We are proud of our accomplishments in the region and are excited by the continued opportunities to serve our clients in this vibrant and dynamic economy,” a Latham spokesperson told ALB via email.

Earlier this month, Dentons parted ways with its China arm Dacheng, citing “recent Chinese government mandates on Chinese law firms, including those relating to cybersecurity and data protection.” However, sources familiar with Latham’s move denied that the Shanghai closure was prompted by concerns related to the toughening regulatory environment in China.

Latham’s Beijing office currently has five lawyers, with investigations and litigation specialist Hui Xu being the sole partner, according to the firm’s website. Hong Kong remains Latham’s largest outpost in Asia with 23 partners.