Taylor Wessing is parting company with its Hong Kong arm, which will relaunch as an independent firm.
The new Hong Kong firm, H.M. Chan & Co, is currently a member of Taylor Wessing’s Swiss Verein, which it joined in 2021, having operated in association with it before then.
What the two sides have dubbed a “decoupling” will take place on 17 November, after which they will continue to work together.
The move is the latest example of international firms scaling back their presence in China and mirrors Mayer Brown’s split with its China arm, which relaunched last December as the Hong Kong-based Johnson Stokes & Master, the name of the prestigious legacy firm that merged with the US giant in 2008.
Taylor Wessing co-chair, Shane Gleghorn, said: “I am pleased that we have mutually and amicably agreed to this decoupling, with a commitment on both sides to remaining close and collaborating to deliver outcomes for clients.”
Mark Chan, who founded H.M. Chan & Co in 2015, said: “Our relationship with Taylor Wessing stretches back over 10 years and we are delighted that this will continue into the future. We are excited to re-launch H.M. Chan & Co and look forward to strengthening our presence in Hong Kong and across Asia.”
Taylor Wessing put the move down to “an ambitious growth strategy focused on achieving pre-eminence in its core sectors across major European markets, with carefully calibrated presence in other regions, led by its clients’ cross-border needs”.
In March, the firm announced a shake-up of its mainland China presence, which is overseen by the German Verein member firm. Under the plan, the Shanghai representative office will handle inbound work, and its Beijing arm will be operated by its trademarks and IP arm, Beijing Tailun IP Agency. The firm also plans to open an office in Shenzhen next year.
Taylor Wessing currently lists six Hong Kong-based legal professionals on its website: three partners, two associates and a trainee.
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