Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has said it is closing its Moscow office, making it the last major international firm to leave Russia following an unprecedented two weeks for the legal industry.
A spokesperson for the firm said: “The firm is in the process of closing its Moscow office, and a team of our lawyers will be relocating to other Akin Gump offices.”
Akin Gump has had a presence in Russia for over 24 years, with the firm’s Moscow office being home to 14 lawyers, including three partners, according to its website.
Following Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom’s announcement that it would be shutting its operations in Moscow and relocating all of its lawyers “to ensure their safety in the face of increasing anti-American sentiment within Russia,” Akin Gump was the only remaining firm to clarify what is happening to its Moscow base.
The withdrawal of its people from its Moscow office means all 25 large international law firms that had a base in the country have now confirmed they are leaving. Linklaters was the first firm to announce the closure of its Moscow office 12 days ago. Since then firms including Allen & Overy, Dentons, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Baker McKenzie have said they are closing down operations.
Akin Gump said in a previous statement that it was “deeply saddened and shocked by the events in Ukraine and the tragic and senseless loss of life of so many innocent Ukrainians” and would be “suspending operations in Moscow”.
