Magic circle firm to cut 15% of its lawyers in China

Reading time: one minute 

Magic circle firm Linklaters LLP has announced redundancies across all three of its China offices, reducing staff by 15%.  

The move, which the firm describes as a response to “the prolonged downturn in the China market”, will see 30 of its 200 lawyers across offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai made redundant. 

Despite this reduction in staff, Linklaters has insisted it remains “fully committed” to its Chinese offices, affirming that China “continues to be an important market” for the firm. 

Linklater’s redundancies see its staffing numbers in China fall just below those of rival firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, which has just under 200 lawyers across Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai.  

Linklaters isn’t the only firm reducing its headcount in China though. Just six weeks prior to the magic circle firm’s announcement, Dentons elected to close its Chinese offices. According to The Times Dentons’ decision came “over fears that Beijing’s beefed-up data security and privacy laws would hinder cross border operations”.  

You can find out more about law firm operations in China via this Commercial news round-up.