U.S. law firm Debevoise & Plimpton has closed its five-year-old office in Tokyo.

“After a careful business review, we made the decision to close our Japan office,” the firm said in a statement. “We continue to serve the Japan market effectively from New York and other offices.”

Debevoise opened its office in the Japanese capital in March 2016, the firm’s ninth office globally. At that time, corporate partner Christopher Smeall and bengoshi international counsel Naomi Aoyama were named as office co-heads.

With the Tokyo exit, the New York law firm becomes the latest international firm to cut back on its presence in Asia. Debevoise still maintains Asia offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Earlier this year, Mayer Brown shut its office in Bangkok. And last year, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), Stephenson Harwood and Vinson & Elkins closed mainland China offices, while Osborne Clarke and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe exited from Hong Kong.

 

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