The US-headquartered law firm, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, is closing its offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai, affecting 33 people and meaning the firm will no longer have a presence in the region, this publication can confirm.

The US-headquartered law firm, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, is closing its offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai, affecting 33 people and meaning the firm will no longer have a presence in the region, this publication can confirm.

Of the 33 affected staff, all but one are in Hong Kong. It is understood that there are talks at present on whether some of these people will transition into other jobs at the firm, or go elsewhere.

The firm still expects to serve clients from Asia because it has kept its Shanghai license and is exploring its license options in Hong Kong. The Shanghai office was opened in 2007.

Other offices are in New York, Washington DC, London, Paris and Frankfurt. It covers a wide range of work for corporate and individual clients, including trusts, estates, and tax. It works in areas including white collar crime and securities regulation.