U.S. law firm Mayer Brown confirms split from China operations

HONG KONG/NEW YORK -- Chicago-headquartered law firm Mayer Brown has reached an agreement in principle to split from its China operations, ending a 15-year partnership that once formed the world's largest law firm by revenue.

Mayer Brown said it would operate in Hong Kong but with a "new partnership" while the Hong Kong partnership will revert to its legacy name, Johnson Stokes & Master (JSM). Subject to approval from the Law Society of Hong Kong, the agreement is set to take place before the end of this year, with transitional arrangements in place until mid-2025.