Simmons blames global crisis as firm pulls plug on Moscow arm

Simmons & Simmons is to pull out of Russia little more than two years after launching its Moscow office. The top 15 City firm will start shutting down the base with immediate effect after putting the closure to a partnership vote this week. The exit will see four Russian lawyers and a further four business support staff made redundant, with the office head, capital markets partner Tony Smith, set to relocate to London in December. Simmons said the decision to close the office was based on the turmoil in the global financial markets.

Simmons blames global crisis as firm pulls plug on Moscow arm legalweek.com Thu, Oct 29, 2009