Baker McKenzie has become the latest leading practice to leave Russia, with the international firm today announcing that its operations in Moscow and St Petersburg will ‘become an independent law firm’.

The firm, which has 260 staff including 130 lawyers in the country, said: ‘We have made this difficult decision following ongoing consultation with our multinational clients, whose urgent on-the-ground legal needs we are serving, as well as careful consideration of the wellbeing of our many people in the wider region.’

Baker McKenzie, the first global law firm to be registered in Russia and which has been operating in the country for 33 years, added: ‘We will not act for any individuals or entities that are controlled by, or directly linked to, the Russian state and/or current regime, anywhere in the world.’

The firm follows international firms Dentons and DLA Piper, who both announced yesterday that they were leaving Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

Dentons said it would ‘separate from its offices in Moscow and St Petersburg’, which will operate as an independent firm, with global chairman Joe Andrew adding: ‘We look forward to a day when we will be able to reunite with our esteemed colleagues with whom we have successfully served clients from all over the world.’

DLA Piper said: ‘In light of Russia’s actions in Ukraine and the resulting humanitarian crisis, and our consequent decision not to act for clients connected to the Russian state, we have concluded that maintaining a presence in Russia is not aligned with our values and therefore no longer viable.

‘Accordingly, after 17 years in the country, we are withdrawing from our operations and will no longer have DLA Piper offices in Moscow and St Petersburg. Our intention is to transfer the Russian business to our team there.’

Last week, more than a dozen firms left Russia including five – CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang, Debevoise & Plimpton, Dechert, Hogan Lovells and White & Case – on Friday alone.

Magic circle firms Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer all said they would leave the Russian capital last week, after Linklaters announced it was closing its Moscow office the previous Friday. Slaughter and May did not have an office in the country.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Eversheds Sutherland, Gowling WLG, Herbert Smith Freehills and Norton Rose Fulbright have also announced their plans to depart Russia, as have US-based firms Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Baker Botts, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Latham & Watkins, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, Squire Patton Boggs and Winston & Strawn.

 

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