French law firm Gide Loyrette Nouel has closed its Hong Kong office, and moved its three-member team there to local outfit Howse Williams Bowers (HWB), with which it has established an alliance.

The team joining HWB includes partner Gilles Cardonnel, senior associate Carmen Che and an assistant. The closure of the Hong Kong office leaves Gide with three offices in the Asia-Pacific region, in Beijing, Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City.  

“Gide will continue to remain active in Hong Kong and service our clients there through our partnership with Howse Williams Bowers,” said Guo Min, a partner with Gide in Beijing. “In fact, our Hong Kong practice remains a key element of our China and Asia-wide practice.”

Gide was founded in Paris in 1920 and currently has 600 lawyers across its 14 offices globally.