On the afternoon of June 20, 2025, the Criminal Practice Group of Beijing Dacheng Law Offices, in collaboration with the North China Regional Criminal Committees of Dacheng Law Offices—including the Criminal Practice Groups from Dacheng Shijiazhuang and Dacheng Taiyuan offices—jointly hosted the 23rd session of the Dacheng Criminal Forum: "Forum on the Development of Criminal Practices Post-New Supervisory Law." The forum drew extensive participation from colleagues at numerous partner law firms, who engaged in in-depth discussions about the evolution of criminal practice following the implementation of the new Supervisory Law, yielding fruitful outcomes. Wang Jun, Managing Partner of Beijing Xinglai Law Office, was invited to attend and shared her insights and experience under the topic "Pathways for Protecting Legitimate Property in Cases of Official Corruption."

The newly revised "Supervision Law of the People's Republic of China" officially came into effect on June 1, 2025. This marks a significant achievement in deepening the reform of the national supervision system and holds profound implications for strengthening anti-corruption efforts and establishing a Chinese-style national oversight framework. The new Supervision Law has been seamlessly integrated with the Criminal Procedure Law, presenting both challenges and new opportunities for defending against official-duty-related criminal cases, while also exerting a far-reaching impact on the overall development of criminal practice. As a result, how criminal lawyers can effectively adapt to this evolving landscape has become an urgent topic demanding thorough research.

The forum was chaired by Jiang Zhiqiang, Senior Partner at Dacheng Law Office and Deputy Director of the Criminal Law Committee of the Beijing Lawyers Association. He emphasized that the Supervision Law represents national legislation against corruption, and following its recent amendments, criminal lawyers must thoroughly examine and analyze both the challenges and opportunities it presents. In his opening remarks, Yuan Huazhi, Managing Partner and Chairman of the Board at Dacheng Law Office, noted that the revision of the Supervision Law marks a critical milestone in the country’s rule-of-law development amid the comprehensive advancement of law-based governance and the deepening reform of the national supervision system. He stressed that criminal lawyers must accurately grasp the law’s core principles and effectively safeguard their clients’ legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law.

On the forum, several distinguished guests delivered compelling speeches. Lou Qiuqin, Senior Partner and Leader of the Criminal Law Committee at Dacheng Law Office, presented on "Defending Against Misappropriation Crimes," drawing from her recent cases to highlight that there is significant room for effective defense in such cases. She emphasized that lawyers must keenly identify key defense points, move beyond the simplistic "amount-based approach," and employ a variety of strategic tactics to safeguard their clients' rights to the fullest extent possible. Meanwhile, Ding Huimin, a partner at Dacheng Law Office, explored "The Prospects for 'Accompanying' Services in the Context of the New Supervision Law," noting that while there is market demand for these "accompaniment" services related to detention measures, they also carry substantial risks.

Wang Jun, Director and Founding Partner of Beijing Xinglai Law Firm, shared her insightful perspectives under the title "Pathways to Protecting Legitimate Property in Official Crime Cases." She highlighted that, increasingly, legitimate assets in such cases are being unlawfully seized, frozen, or detained—and even subject to recovery or confiscation. Drawing from her extensive case-handling experience, she identified three key strategies for safeguarding these assets: First, seek legal loopholes in the "legal basis" used to illegally seize, freeze, or detain property, emphasizing that such measures should strictly apply only to recovery or confiscation procedures. Second, explore innovative approaches within civil litigation, such as offering equivalent property as a substitute for assets already under preservation. Finally, during the trial phase, strive to precisely define the nature and whereabouts of illicit funds involved, laying a solid foundation for subsequent property enforcement efforts. These recommendations provide practical and effective solutions for protecting legitimate assets in official crime cases.

Additionally, Zhou Lei, a lawyer from Beijing Yinghe Law Firm, suggested that lawyers should rethink their business positioning and develop standardized legal service products. Chang Jie, a lawyer from Dacheng’s Taiyuan office, provided an in-depth analysis of the new Supervision Law and its profound implications for criminal practice and defense systems, highlighting the evolving role lawyers must embrace. Wang Chaoyong, a lawyer from the Beijing Association for Supervisory Law Studies, outlined the "four principles" that should guide lawyers handling cases involving official misconduct. Cao Dequan, from Dacheng’s Shijiazhuang office, examined the market potential, practical challenges, and optimal strategies for the emerging "accompaniment" services related to detention measures. Meanwhile, Zhang Xuefeng, from Beijing Zeheng Law Firm, summarized the five key highlights and strategic considerations arising from the new *Supervision Law* and its implementing regulations. Finally, Hou Haidong and Zhang Zhiyong, both lawyers from Dacheng Law Firm, shared their insights on the unique challenges and opportunities in criminal defense under the new Supervision Law, as well as the expanded rights and expanded scope for effective defense it now affords.

Senior Partner and Co-Leader of the Criminal Practice Group at Dacheng Law Offices, Attorney Yu Xingquan, concluded by affirming the positive role of the Supervision Law in combating corruption, while encouraging criminal defense lawyers to refine their expertise, dedicate themselves meticulously to their work, and embrace the challenges ahead. The forum featured both cutting-edge theoretical analysis and practical experience sharing, offering valuable insights and guidance for criminal lawyers as they navigate the evolving landscape following the implementation of the new Supervision Law.

Edited and Layouted by: Wang Xin

Review: Management Committee