Addleshaw Goddard is set to close its Hong Kong office in September this year, “having carefully considered our position in Hong Kong and the unique set of challenges we face there,” according to a statement put out by the firm.

The Hong Kong office, which opened in 2012, has 20 fee-earners, including seven partners. Some of these partners are expected to relocate to Singapore, Dubai or London, the firm said.

Hong Kong has had a difficult few years since 2019, when protests first erupted in opposition to the National Security Law. Since then, the city has endured the COVID-19 pandemic, and consistently harsh restrictions from the SAR government in order to maintain its “Zero-COVID strategy.”

Besides offices in Hong Kong and Singapore, Addleshaw Goddard has regional business groups for China, India, Korea and Malaysia, and a formal alliance in Japan with local firm Hashidate Law Office. It said in its statement that it would revert to a “’best friend' approach going forward in order to serve client needs in Hong Kong.”

After it closes in Hong Kong, the firm will have 17 offices globally.