Chicago-based McDermott Will & Emery has closed its Seoul office, as the South Korean government has reportedly planned to cancel the firm’s licence to operate a foreign legal consultant office in the city.
The firm confirmed it is the second foreign firm to withdraw from South Korea, following Simpson Thacher & Bartlett’s relocation from Korea to Hong Kong in November last year. A report from Korean news site Lawtimes.co.kr said the ministry of justice would cancel the US firm’s licence.
In a statement, the firms said: “While we have closed our Seoul office, McDermott Will & Emery will continue delivering superior service to our South Korean and Asia-based clients, from our more than 20 other global offices.”
