Sedgewick LLP, an 84-year-old global law firm based in San Francisco, will close its doors by the end of the year, laying off nearly 50 attorneys and staff in Los Angeles, a company official said.

After a year of defections and office closures, Sedgwick told firm members and employees Monday that the firm would close all its worldwide offices at the end of December, according to Law360 and confirmed by a Sedgwick employee in Los Angeles.

The downtown Sedgwick L.A. office, founded in 1979, had peaked at 200 attorneys and staff two years ago before dwindling to the 45 employees before the closure announcement, the employee said.

Health business reporter Dana Bartholomew can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @_DanaBart.