Another US Law Firm Closes London Office

The Kansas-headquartered law firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon has become the latest U.S. law firm to close its London office.

The litigation-focused firm, with more than 520 lawyers, now only has offices in the U.S., counting 18 locations in the country. Earlier this week, two of its London partners Sarah Croft and Simon Castley, joined international law firm CMS.

In London, Shook, Hardy & Bacon had been based in 25 Old Broad Street.

In a statement on Tuesday, the law firm said it has been winding down the firm’s operations in the U.K. for the “past few months” following a business assessment.

“Consistent with its ongoing strategic planning process, Shook continuously evaluates the most efficient and effective ways to serve our clients, including, for example, the locations where the firm’s services are delivered. Following a recent assessment of business operations and a re-alignment of strategic objectives, Shook’s leadership team has spent the past few months winding down the firm’s operations in the U.K. We have worked diligently to ensure a smooth transition for our clients, attorneys, and professional staff.”

The firm added: “With three lawyers in the London office, this change will have minimal impact on the firm’s overall business and will not affect Shook’s ability to represent global companies from our robust platform in the United States. We will continue building our network of relationships with firms worldwide to achieve the best possible outcomes for the clients we represent. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our London colleagues and friends for their many years of service. We wish them the best with their future endeavors.”

In the 2023 financial year, Shook, Hardy & Bacon had revenues of $459.5 million, which was almost static on the previous year. Its average profit per equity partner decreased 5% to $1.3 million.