Magic circle firms Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy today announced they will ‘wind down’ their Moscow offices, joining the growing exodus of major law firms from Russia.

Clifford Chance, which previously decided to not accept new work from Russian state-controlled entities or individuals linked to Vladimir Putin, said in a statement: ‘We have decided to progress our steps for an orderly wind down of our operations in Moscow.

‘Our priorities are to focus on the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues during this difficult time and on ensuring the winding down of our services is consistent with our legal and professional responsibilities to our clients and our responsible business principles and values.’

Allen & Overy said it was ‘not an easy decision to make as we have 55 people there’, but that it was ‘made necessary by the illegal and senseless invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing humanitarian crisis’. Staff at its Moscow office, which opened in 1993, will be redeployed to other offices ‘where possible’, the firm added.

The decisions by A&O and Clifford Chance means no members of the magic circle will have an office in Russia, following announcements by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters. Slaughter and May does not have an office in the country.

Herbert Smith Freehills said earlier today that it is also closing its Moscow office and is ‘bringing to an end any work associated with the Russian state, in line with our legal and professional responsibilities’.

The international firm – which has 111 staff in the Russian capital, including 55 lawyers – said: ‘Following a review of our Russia business, we have taken the decision to close our office in the country. This is a complicated process, being undertaken under difficult circumstances.’

International firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner announced its exit from Moscow today, saying: ‘After very thorough, careful thought and consideration, BCLP is ceasing its operations in Moscow in response to Russia’s ongoing actions in Ukraine.’

The firm, which said its headcount in Moscow is 200 including 17 partners, added: ‘We will be stopping and transitioning client work in accordance with our legal and professional obligations and will not accept mandates from state-owned entities in Russia or related individuals.’

US firm Skadden, Arps Slate, Meagher & Flom is also moving its Moscow-based lawyers out of the country to ensure their safety, the Gazette understands.

Leading firms are scrambling to leave Russia, with international practices Eversheds Sutherland, Gowling WLG and Norton Rose Fulbright all deciding to close their offices in the country.

A number of US-based firms have also decided to depart or ‘wind down’ their presence in Russia, including Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Latham & Watkins, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, Squire Patton Boggs and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

Other leading practices, such as CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang, Debevoise & Plimpton and White & Case, are keeping the future of their Moscow offices under review, as is DLA Piper, which has offices in Moscow and St Petersburg.

International firm Kennedys said it decided to shut its Moscow office last autumn as it was ‘uncomfortable with the direction the country was taking’, while global firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan said it closed its office in the Russian capital in 2019 ‘in part because of our advocacy for Ukraine against the Russian Federation’.