CMS Cameron McKenna is to close completely its Washington DC office following announcements over the summer that it was further scaling down.

In July partners Greg Williams and Joel Zipo announced they would be leaving (see [2003] Gazette, 24 July, 9), and managing partner Dick Tyler said the firm would consider whether to continue with the office.

A spokeswoman for the firm said: 'We were hoping that there would be a way forward, but we've had to make a very difficult decision and close the office completely.'

She said six remaining lawyers in the office would be affected by the closure - which will take effect from the end of this month - and that Camerons would continue to serve the region from its New York-based Bureau Francis Lefebvre, and its Toronto-based association with Power Budd.

Earlier this year Camerons drastically scaled back its Asia practice, closing its Beijing branch and reducing its Hong Kong arm to an insurance capability.

Jeremy Fleming