Eversheds Sutherland and Morgan Lewis have confirmed they will no longer have a presence in Russia.
"This decision has not been made lightly and is not a reflection on our valued colleagues in those offices, but we will not continue to operate in Russia given its government’s invasion of Ukraine," said an Eversheds spokesperson, explaining that the firm's priority is to support its 50 colleagues in Moscow and Saint Petersburg and to "ensure an orderly transition of the business."
A Morgan Lewis statement informed that, after the firm focused over the last two weeks on "colleagues in Moscow, assisting them in addressing the disruption in their lives, potential threats to their safety, and in implementing their personal plans, including relocating to other jurisdictions where they have made that choice," it is now winding-down all its operations in Moscow, noting that many of the lawyers who had previously practiced in the office will continue with the firm in other jurisdictions. "We join with others in condemning the Russian government’s aggression and violence that has caused unspeakable suffering to innocent people," the statement concluded.
This morning, CEE Legal Matters reported the exits of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Latham & Watkins, Mannheimer Swartling, and Gowling WLG, following Linklaters, Borenius (as reported on March 7), and Norton Rose (as reported on March 8) also announcing the winding-down of their Russian offices.
