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Cheng Xiaolu

CHENGXIAOLU

 

Chairperson of the Partner Meeting at Beijing Xinglai Law Firm

Doctor of Law from Renmin University of China. Former Senior Partner at Beijing Deheng Law Firm. Researcher at the Institute of Legal Practice at Renmin University of China, Member of the Criminal Law Committee of the All China Lawyers Association, Special Supervisor for Lawyers at National Detention Centers under the Ministry of Public Security, Vice Director of the Criminal Procedure Committee of the Beijing Lawyers Association, and Vice Director of the Professional Committee on Judicial Credibility at the Beijing Credit Society. He also serves as an off-campus practical mentor in criminal defense at Peking University, Renmin University of China, and other institutions. Additionally, he is a lawyer listed in the Beijing Lawyers Association’s talent pool specializing in "Transnational Crime, Fugitive Pursuit & Asset Recovery, and International Trade." Furthermore, he is an expert consultant for the Zhuhai Corporate Compliance Promotion Association. Previously, he held a long-term position with the Beijing Prosecutor’s Office, where he was honored with the title of "Outstanding Prosecutor of Beijing" and recognized as one of the "Top 10 Research Experts." He has published over 50 professional articles in national-level journals such as *Chinese Journal of Criminal Law* and *Journal of the National Prosecutors College*, and his research achievements have earned him the First Prize in the National Competition for Applied Procuratorial Theory Articles.

With over 19 years of extensive experience in criminal justice practice, he excels in defending and representing clients in high-profile, complex, and challenging criminal cases. Under his leadership, his team has successfully handled a series of significant and influential cases involving economic crimes, organized crime, corruption-related offenses, and hybrid criminal-civil matters. Known for his exceptional expertise and meticulous approach to defense, he has earned high praise from clients. Additionally, he has provided specialized criminal legal services to numerous state-owned enterprises, publicly listed companies, and private businesses, delivering outstanding results.

Honorary Awards

2022 LEGALBAND China Lawyers Special Recommendation List: Top 15 in Business Crime & Criminal Compliance

2023 GRCD China Compliance Award: "Annual Outstanding Criminal Compliance Lawyer"

"Client's Choice Lawyers List" – Outstanding Lawyers Recommended by General Counsel of China's Leading Enterprises, 2024

2024 China Region LegalOne Client-Trust Lawyers: Top 15 in Business Crime and Criminal Compliance

2024 China Region LegalOne Client-Trust Lawyers: Top 15 Outstanding Female Lawyers (North China)

Academic research

Attorney Cheng Xiaolu has either contributed to or currently advises on the drafting and revision of over ten normative documents for various organizations, including the Legal Work Committee of the National People’s Congress, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security, and the All China Lawyers Association. She has also served as the lead author in drafting multiple inter-departmental, jointly signed legal documents related to litigation—such as those involving Beijing’s public security, prosecution, judicial, and political-legal systems, as well as the Communist Youth League Municipal Committee. Additionally, she has spearheaded several key research projects commissioned by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and the Beijing Municipal Procuratorate, with her research findings earning the prestigious First Prize in the National Competition for Applied Procuratorial Theory Articles. Moreover, Attorney Cheng has published more than 50 professional articles in prominent national publications, including *Journal of Litigation Law and Judicial System*, *Journal of the National Prosecutors College*, *People’s Procuratorate*, *Chinese Journal of Criminal Law*, *Democracy & Rule of Law*, and *China Lawyer*. She has also co-authored five notable books, such as *Research on the Suspended Prosecution System*, *An Analysis of the *Criminal Procedure Rules of the People’s Procuratorates (Trial Implementation)*, and *The Path to Becoming an Outstanding Prosecutor*. Most recently, she led a team in compiling *A Comprehensive Guide to Key Principles in Criminal Judgments Involving Enterprises* (over 700,000 characters, published by the Law Press in March 2022). Additionally, she is set to publish *Practical Guide to Corporate Anti-Corruption Compliance*, a work exceeding 200,000 words, through the Prosecution Press soon.

 

Typical Case

  1. The defense attorney representing Gao Moumou, the chairman of the company involved in the Changchun vaccine case—once a nationally prominent issue that received high-level attention under central leadership—defends him in connection with charges including the production of substandard drugs, bribery by a non-state official, misuse of funds, and corporate bribery.
  2. The case of Wang Moujun and others involving the misappropriation of funds (the entire case was withdrawn from prosecution, resulting in a decision not to prosecute; it was named one of the Top 10 Judicial Cases by Democracy & Rule of Law Weekly in 2019 and also recognized as one of the Top 10 Classic Cases of Innocent Defense in the 2019 "Zhonglvping Cup" competition).
  3. The Wuzhou No. 3 Mafia Case (jointly supervised by the Public Security, Procuratorate, and Courts of Guangxi Autonomous Region)—defending the primary defendant, Ou Moumou; the entire case was reclassified as a non-mafia offense, with four charges dropped, ultimately making a significant impact within the province.
  4. Shandong Cao County case involving Zhu Moumou and others (defending the primary defendant, achieving complete removal of organized crime charges, and dropping 5 specific offenses);
  5. The head and senior executives of a major private enterprise group in Shandong are suspected of smuggling (the entire case was ultimately not prosecuted, and the defense was awarded the inaugural Deheng Classic Case Award for Innocence Defense).
  6. The case of Wang Moumou and four others accused of sabotaging a computer information system (involving environmental management and responsibility-sharing issues at a major local enterprise; the entire case was withdrawn, resulting in a decision not to prosecute, and was recognized as an Outstanding and Representative Defense Case at the 2nd Deheng Awards).
  7. The case of Bai Moumou, accused of embezzlement in office, was not prosecuted (after a request for recusal prompted the court to return the case file, which subsequently led to the higher-level procuratorate designating jurisdiction in a different location, ultimately resulting in the decision not to prosecute).
  8. CCTV producer Qian is suspected of embezzlement (this case is part of CCTV's financial channel's broader corruption scandal). Thanks to effective legal defense, the amount involved was significantly reduced, and he was ultimately sentenced to probation.
  9. The case involving Deng, the financial director of a southern bank—a bribery case where the suspect is not a state employee—has been placed under high-level supervision by the Ministry of Public Security as part of the Hongyuan Securities series of cases. (Thanks to effective legal defense, the penalty was significantly reduced.)
  10. Second-instance acquittal defense case for Wu, involving charges of embezzlement in office and bribery by a non-state employee (following effective legal representation, the second-instance court ordered a retrial, which was later overturned with a significantly reduced sentence).
  11. The securities manipulation case involving Liu Moumou and 15 other individuals, supervised by the Ministry of Public Security (thanks to effective legal defense, the amount of illegally obtained profits was reduced by 290 million yuan, changing the potential sentence from more than 5 years in prison to a recommended sentence of 2 to 2.5 years, with probation applied).
  12. Li, the head of a private real estate company in Sichuan, is suspected of contract fraud, bid-rigging, and forgery of corporate seals—charges involving an alleged amount exceeding 600 million yuan. Thanks to effective legal defense, the charge of contract fraud was reclassified as illegal fundraising, while the forgery charge was dropped entirely. As a result, the potential sentence of life imprisonment was reduced to a nine-year prison term (earning recognition as the Second Outstanding and Typical Defense Case by Deheng Law Firm).
  13. Zhong, the general manager of Henan T Company, was involved in a case of contract fraud and embezzlement of company assets (the first-ever M&A "earn-out" contract fraud case in Henan, covered extensively by media outlets such as Red Star News). The total amount at stake reached 500 million yuan. Thanks to effective legal defense, the second trial overturned the conviction for contract fraud (originally sentenced to 14 years in prison with a fine of 4 million yuan), leaving only the charge of embezzlement. As a result, the overall sentence was reduced from the initial 16 years to 7 years.