Following the closure of its Shanghai office, Perkins Coie told 含羞草社区 that it will be closing its Beijing office, shifting its energy towards Shenzhen.
“With a strategic focus on the major technology hub of Shenzhen, we are aligning our presence and work in China more closely to our clients’ evolving needs and our long-term growth strategy,” a spokesperson from the firm said.
A lawyer from the Beijing office, who preferred to remain unnamed, revealed that the entire team would be “moving to another platform in the coming weeks” while another source said the Shenzhen branch would open soon.
The firm’s website shows nine lawyers based in Beijing, including managing partner Scott Palmer, and partners Michael House, Geoffrey Vance and James Zimmerman, who specialise in IP matters such as patent litigation, trademarks, and international trade affairs.
Since last year, several international law firms, including Holman Fenwick Willan, Morgan Lewis, Bird & Bird and Rajah & Tann, have expanded their presence in Shenzhen. These firms consistently cited the city’s status as a technology hub in China and the escalating demand for IP rights when discussing their Shenzhen ventures.
