Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has pulled the plug on its Brussels outpost, as the Texas leader looks to focus its resources on Asia and the Middle East.

The office, which was headed by corporate governance partner Martine de Witte, closed on 1 January.

While It is unknown what the next move for De Witte – the office's only partner – will be, European policy advisor Wim van Velzen has already joined the local arm of US rival Covington & Burling in a non-legal role.

Akin's decision to close the office comes as the energy giant opens its doors for business in Beijing. The four-lawyer Beijing branch – which becomes the firm's second office in Asia alongside an outpost in Taipei – will focus on energy, natural resources and environment law, international trade, intellectual property, private equity funds and public policy.

London chief Fred Heller said other regions were more of a priority than Continental Europe in the firm's core oil and gas markets. He added: "We want to focus our resources where we can distinguish ourselves."