On December 27, 2025, the high-end forum of “New Journey of Chinese Lawyers” and the 30th anniversary celebration of Hubei Lifeng Law Firm was successfully concluded in Wuhan Wanda Ruihua Hotel. More than 300 legal experts, business representatives and representatives of the lawyer industry gathered in Jiangcheng, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Lifeng Law Firm, and exploring the responsibility and mission of the lawyer industry in the new era. Tian Wenchang, honorary director of King&Capital Law Firm and honorary president of Northwest University of Political Science and Law Advanced Institute of Criminal Defense, Zhu Yonghui, director of King&Capital Law Firm, and Liang Yali, senior partner of King&Capital Law Firm, director of Criminal Defense Research Center and president of Northwest University of Political Science and Law Advanced Institute of Criminal Defense, Beijing Branch, were invited to participate in the event, and offered professional insights in the form of keynote speeches and seminars, which showed the profound strength of King&Capital Law Firm in the industry. King&Capital Law Firm was invited to participate in this event to provide professional insights in the form of keynote speeches and symposiums, which demonstrated the profound influence of King&Capital Law Firm in the industry.
The scene of the event
Tian Wenchang's Keynote Speech: Anchoring the New Journey, Interpreting the Responsibility and Mission of Lawyers
In the forum keynote speech, Mr. Tian Wenchang, Honorary Director of King&Capital Law Firm and Honorary Director of the Institute of Advanced Criminal Defense Studies of Northwestern University of Political Science and Law, delivered a speech titled “Responsibility and Mission: A New Journey for China's Lawyers”. The following is the summary of Tian Wenchang's speech:
Tian Wenchang delivering his keynote speech
Dear Colleagues:
It is a great honor to be invited to participate in the Hubei Lifeng Law Firm thirty anniversary of the establishment of a series of celebrations. Thirty years of pectus, the growth trajectory of the law firm is the development of China's lawyers industry vivid microcosm. Today, I would like to focus on the theme of “China's lawyers new journey”, combined with the development of the industry and their own feelings, and discuss with you the mission and direction of the new era of lawyers.
First, the history of China's lawyers system: the bumps in the bud
Talking about the new journey of Chinese lawyers, the history of the industry is inseparable from the retrospective - the history of China's lawyers, is essentially a “starting from scratch, difficult to find” course.
Western lawyer system can be traced back to the ancient Roman period, when lawyers are regarded as the defense of justice “warrior”, widely recognized by society and development. In ancient China, although there was a similar role of the defender, such as the Spring and Autumn period of Wei Hou's “Da Shi” Shi Rong, Zheng specializing in litigation agency Deng analysis, but the former was executed for losing the lawsuit, the latter because of the official confrontation with the government was stifled, and did not form a lawyer system in the true sense. Ancient lawyers were only able to write documents for their clients and had no legal status in court, and were never officially recognized.
Modern China lawyers system development is through ups and downs, roughly divided into five stages: 1912, “lawyers provisional regulations” promulgated by the republic of china to start the construction of lawyers system, but by the warlords and warlords, the influence of the slow development of internal and external problems; 1949 to 1954, the new china abolished the old law, outlawed lawyers, the system is in a void; 1954 to 1957, learn the soviet model of the formation of lawyers From 1954 to 1957, learning from the soviet model to form a lawyer team, three years to more than 2000 people; 1957 to 1979, because of the right struggle again banned lawyers, the system is again blank; 1980 to the present, after the reform and opening up of the lawyers system to restore and rebuild, ushered in the golden age of rapid development.
Second, the generation of Chinese lawyers (1980-2020): the scale and the foundation of the laying of the foundation
The forty years from 1980 to 2020 is the “generation period” of Chinese lawyers, and the core has completed three major basic constructions:
The first is the reconstruction of the system and the innovation of identity and practice. The identity of lawyers has changed from “state legal workers” (public office attribute) in 1980, to “practitioners providing legal services for the society” in 1996 when the Lawyers Law was promulgated, and then to “providing legal services for the clients” in 2007 when the Lawyers Law was revised. “practitioners who provide legal services for clients” (private property), the positioning is becoming clearer and clearer. The form of law firms has evolved from the state-run “Legal Consultant Office” in 1980, to cooperative law firms in 1988, to partnership firms and individual firms on a pilot basis in 1993, and ultimately to the “state-funded, partnership, and individual firms” as determined by the new Lawyers Law in 2008. The three forms coexist, with partnership firms becoming the mainstream.
Secondly, the scale of the team is expanding rapidly. The number of lawyers has grown from nothing to 800,000, making it an indispensable force in the construction of the rule of law.
Third, the overall quality of lawyers is steadily improving. Threshold for entry into the profession has been improving, from the early unit of direct transfer, the ministry of justice special approval, and gradually transitioned to lawyers qualification examination, legal professional qualification examination, selection standards are becoming more and more rigorous; business training to form a regular, lawyers continue to make progress in their professional ability.
Of course, there are obvious shortcomings in this period: the growth rate of the number of lawyers far exceeds the quality improvement, and the status quo of “quantity is better than quality” still needs to be gradually improved in the subsequent development.
The New Journey of Chinese Lawyers: Towards Formalization and Specialization
During the forty years of development, Chinese lawyers have overcome difficulties, paved the way, and built up the foundation of the profession in the process of exploration; now, the profession has formally stepped into the “development period”, and the core goal is to achieve “formalization and specialization”. -Formalization means a firm concept of the rule of law and a correct professional orientation, while specialization requires a deep theoretical foundation and exquisite professional skills. To achieve this goal, we need to focus on promoting the “three enhancements”:
1. Conceptual enhancement: building a firm foundation of faith in the rule of law
China's rule of law construction for more than 40 years, although the whole society has realized the “concept of the rule of law” identity, but has not yet really formed the “concept of the rule of law”. The long history of the rule of man, the concept of deep-rooted, and even the existence of the rule of law in the name of the reality of the rule of law" phenomenon, resulting in the presumption of innocence, the principle of the rule of law from the doubt is difficult to land.
For lawyers, the concept of enhancement is a pressing task: on the one hand, we should innovate ourselves, clarify the professional ethics, duty orientation, independence of the right to defense and other core issues, abandon the “service for private rights”, “confidentiality obligations”, “conflict of interest grasp” and other aspects. Conflict of interest grasp" and other aspects of the wrong perception; on the other hand, to take the initiative to play, in the process of practicing the case, through a specific case of defense and representation, to call for the spirit of the rule of law, to promote the concept of the rule of law of the whole society to enhance.
2. Theory Enhancement: Breaking the Misunderstanding of “Paper Talk”
The current legal theory there are hollow, fragmentation, the bad tendency of the mystery, some lawyers into the “only know the skin do not understand the principle, only know the reason why” predicament, there is also a disconnect between theory and practice, a single structure of knowledge, entity and procedure separation and other issues.
The real theoretical merit, should be able to guide practice, with practical value of knowledge. Lawyers need to break the limitations of thinking, build a systematic and grounded theoretical system, not only to plough the field of specialization, but also to expand the boundaries of knowledge, to avoid in the civil and criminal cross-complex cases such as one-sided thinking, so that the theory of the real practice of the “navigator”.
3. Skill enhancement: polishing “science + art” of practicing skills
“Knowledge of law is not equal to know skills”, skills training is the core task of the development of lawyers. Lawyer business is both science and art: science embodied in the “standardized action”, that is, follow the legal rules, the lawsuit law and professional habits of the necessary operation; Artistic embodied in the “optional action”, that is, the lawyer combined with their own advantages of free play.
Whether standardized action or optional action, there is no “best” only “better”. Lawyers need to continue to polish the trial defense, evidence combing, negotiation and other core skills, not only to protect the bottom line of the “standardized action”, but also in the “optional action” to show professional wisdom, to provide quality services for clients with superb skills.
In a word, China's new journey of lawyers, although there are still confused and challenges, difficult to walk, but the future is bright, a long way to go. Hubei Lifeng Law Firm thirty years of perseverance and growth, is the industry's resilience of the vivid embodiment. This bright and heavy responsibility, will eventually fall on the shoulders of the young generation of lawyers. May we together adhere to the rule of law, in the formalization, specialization of the road steadily, with the professional force escort the rule of law construction, write China's lawyers more exciting future!
ZhuYongHui speech to send congratulations: thirty, talk about the development of the industry resonance
Forum discussion session, King&Capital Law Firm Director Zhu Yonghui to Hubei Lifeng Law Firm to send sincere congratulations, the following is a summary of the speech of Director Zhu Yonghui:
Zhu Yonghui made a speech
Dear teachers, fellow lawyers, everyone! First of all, congratulate Li & Fung thirty birthday! This year, both Li & Fung and King&Capital Law Firm celebrated their 30th anniversary, and it can be said that both Li & Fung and King&Capital Law Firm are thirty years old, and the two founders of Li & Fung and King&Capital Law Firm are in the prime of their lives (applaud)! Director Wang Shaopeng gave us a review of Li & Fung's thirty years of struggle and harvest, and our respected Mr. Tian brought us a wonderful report on “The New Journey of Chinese Lawyers”! I as a 25 years of experience in practicing lawyers, from the perspective of individual lawyers to talk about a few learning experience:
Talking about the new journey, first of all, we have to thank the lawyer seniors for us to lay the cornerstone! Mr. Tian, Wang Shaopeng director as the representative of the older generation of lawyers for us to break out of the sky;
First, the new journey, we have to be determined to persevere, to meet the new journey may appear in a variety of difficulties and challenges; Mr. Tian recalled the Chinese lawyers from ancient times to the present day is not easy, I personally believe that the development of China's lawyers to today is not easy, the future of the road will not be easy, we may be able to swim with ease, but also may be in a hurry to even roll with the crawling, there must be a psychological preparation to face the difficulties, and get through the We must be psychologically prepared to face difficulties and have the confidence to overcome them.
Second, the new journey, we should be standardized and professional, shaping the lawyer in the official and social positive, positive image.
Third, the new journey, we should be the ultimate service spirit and high professional value, to create a lawyer in front of the client trusted professional image.
Fourth, finally, the new journey, we should be full of confidence to meet the new era! In addition to care about their own business growth, but also pay attention to the development of the lawyer industry, but also concerned about the process of the national rule of law, and actively involved in the construction of the rule of law in the country! Let us work together, embrace the new era, embark on a new journey, to meet Mr. Tian said “the emergence of the real barristers” of the rule of law era!
Liang Yali Seminar: Focus on enterprise-related rights, crack the law enforcement and judicial problems
In the keynote seminar, Ms. Liang Yali, Senior Partner of King&Capital Law Firm, Director of Criminal Defense Research Center, and Director of the Beijing Branch of Northwestern University of Political Science and Law's Institute of Advanced Studies in Criminal Defense, shared her in-depth views on the “Challenges of Entrepreneurial Protection and Regional Law Enforcement in Enterprise-Related Cases”. The following is the summary of the speech of Ms. Liang:
Ms. Liang Ya-Li's speech
Dear Mr. Tian, leaders, and colleagues of Li & Fung:
Good afternoon, everyone!
I am honored to participate in this ceremony today to witness the 30th anniversary of Li & Fung, and also wish Li & Fung to create another brilliant future under the leadership of Mr. Wang Shaopeng.
Just now I have carefully understood Mr. Tian's keynote speech on the new journey of China's lawyers mentioned a few enhancements, that is, the enhancement of the concept, theory and skills of the enhancement. Since engaging in the legal profession, Mr. Tian has been following this kind of high standard and high requirements in the process of team building of King&Capital Law Firm. From the point of view of the development of the lawyer industry, the demand for the concept, theory and skills improvement can be said to be a “just need”, especially in the criminal-civilian cross and criminal cross category of cases, I believe that every criminal defense people have a deep understanding. Therefore, today I would like to talk to you about the protection of entrepreneurs in enterprise-related cases and the challenge of profit-oriented law enforcement from the perspective of specialization.
Speaking of the protection of the private economy, on May 20, 2025, the Private Economy Promotion Law was introduced, establishing for the first time in the form of legislation the core principle of safeguarding the legal rights of the private economy. One of the biggest challenges faced is convergent law enforcement. In criminal-civilian and criminal-executive cases, civil disputes and administrative violations face the risk of being further upgraded and regulated by means of criminal offenses; in addition to this, the issue of expanding the scope of the crackdown occurs in many cases, such as expanding the scope of the crackdown by identifying the co-conspirators in the crime of insider trading and expanding the scope of the crackdown by identifying the real controllers in the crime of major liabilities accidents, etc.; and secondly. Secondly, the independence of coercive measures is involved in environmental and drug cases as well as many cases involving enterprises, such as coercive measures against people and “investigation, freezing and seizure” of things. I believe that we all have a deep understanding of its harmfulness.
For a lawyer, how to face the challenge of law enforcement, from what angle, how to defend the legitimate rights and interests of entrepreneurs and enterprises involved in the case? Personally believe that should be from the entity and program level. Entity level, we have to distinguish between crime and non-crime, for civil disputes, can not be upgraded to a criminal case; Secondly, we have to activate the Criminal Law Article 13 on the content of the “proviso”, to further study and grasp the identification of this crime and the other; In addition to this, there should be the concept of the amount of the crime, involving the base of the forfeiture of the issue, are We have to examine this at the substantive level.
At the procedural level, it is not difficult to see that the essence of the procedural contest is aimed at forcing the justice of the entity through the justice of the procedure.
First of all, about the source of law enforcement tendency, that is, the jurisdiction of the case, preemptive case, how to relief, we need to further study, but also rely on the continuous improvement of the relevant system; Secondly, the public security stage “check, freeze, detain” and take the coercive measures, in particular, the problems in the designation of residence, the previous teachers have spoken to, and will not repeat; In addition to this, the public security stage “check, freeze, detain” and take compulsory measures, especially in the designated residence in the problem, before teachers have said In addition, in the state of “to detain for compensation”, how to defend the rights? These are the key issues that we have to pay attention to in the investigation stage.
Review prosecution stage, is the connection between investigation and trial of transitional links, its core function is to “filter illegal, unnecessary prosecution”, in this stage, what can lawyers do? That is, let the procuratorial organs and prosecutors, comprehensively see the problems of the case, including characterization problems, evidence problems, etc., the most critical is that we have to be good at the law to the procuratorate to put forward the application for non-prosecution. In the court hearing stage, illegal evidence exclusion is always a focus; In addition, on the property issue, the public security to the theory of capital penetration, to exceed the scope, exceed the amount, exceed the amount, exceed the period of time to “check, freeze, seize”, lawyers for “check, freeze, seize” assets and suspects, the correlation between the assets and the suspect. Attorneys should carefully analyze the relevance of the assets to the criminal suspect.
At the stage of execution of criminal judgment, there is the problem of adding a third party outside the case by ruling, even if the third party is not related to the criminal offense, it will still be added and executed, so how to start the procedure of protecting the third party is particularly important in criminal cases.
The protection of the private economy is a systematic governance project that requires the common governance of the whole society. It is hoped that we, the legal professional community, can continue to inject solid protection for the high-quality development of China's private economy, thank you!
The three representatives of King&Capital Law Firm gathered in Wuhan, is not only a sincere blessing to colleagues in the industry, but also a positive practice of the new journey of Chinese lawyers. As a senior law firm in the same year, King&Capital Law Firm will continue to take professionalism as the foundation and mission as the soul, deeply plowing the legal practice, promote the progress of the industry, and together with the national counterparts, to promote the comprehensive rule of law on the road to bear the heavy responsibility, and move forward.
