Following a full-scale review of its Far East practice, Bryan Cave LLP is consolidating its focus in Hong Kong on private client work.

The decision by the 12-lawyer Hong Kong office of the US firm has already resulted in the loss of two partners. Robert Jewkes and Eliza Chan recently left the firm to set up their own practice under the name of Jewkes Chan and Partners.

Lou Ann Pfeifer, senior business development manager based in the firm's St Louis, Missouri home office, said: "Bryan Cave and Robert Jewkes and Eliza Chan are continuing their good working relationship and look forward to working together on certain client matters going forward in Hong Kong."

Pfeifer added: "Bryan Cave regularly evaluates its operations and practices as a course of doing business. The strategic review of our legal practices is ongoing and worldwide and, in that process, we are continuing our evaluation of the Asia practice."

Bryan Cave enjoys a solid reputation for its private client practice, which is manned by 34 lawyers worldwide. Led in Hong Kong by partner Mimi Hutton, the firm was short-listed last year in ALB's 'Tax & Trusts Law Firm of the Year' category.

Pfeifer said the firm's Shanghai office - its only other in Asia - will continue to provide full service coverage in the PRC.

"We are very interested in building our practice in the PRC and are determining the best course of action there," she said. "We continue to develop our plan for the firm's Asia practice ... it is possible that the Shanghai office could grow significantly."

Bryan Cave's Shanghai office covers a broad range of projects for business clients such as establishing branch operations; structuring cross-border investments; due diligence, negotiation and documentation of investments in Chinese domestic companies and joint ventures, acquiring assets and other M&A activity; supervising litigation in Chinese courts and representing clients in China-related arbitration; distribution, supply, processing and manufacturing arrangements; licensing, trade mark protection and other IP activites; and antidumping matters.