BeijingMay 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On May 10, 2026, the “Global Vision • Legal Safeguard – King & Wood Mallesons Criminal Forum,” co-hosted by King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) and the School of Criminal Justice of China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), was successfully held in Beijing. The forum focused on the construction of a foreign-related criminal rule of law, grounded in a global perspective and integrating theory with practice. It delved into in-depth discussions on criminal risk prevention for Chinese enterprises “going global” and for multinational corporations operating in China. At the same time, the forum served as a key initiative to implement the cooperation agreement between CUPL and KWM, enhance the training mechanism for foreign-related legal talent, and deepen research on foreign-related criminal legal issues.
The forum was divided into two main sections: a closed-door seminar and an open forum. The closed-door seminar invited experts from judicial practice departments, senior scholars specializing in foreign-related criminal law, and KWM criminal lawyers from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and North America. The seminar focused on hot topics such as cross-border jurisdiction, cross-border evidence collection, and cross-border financial crimes, facilitating professional, in-depth exchanges and intellectual collision. The afternoon open forum featured multi-dimensional discussions on topics including legal risk prevention for enterprises going overseas, the importance of foreign-related criminal issues for Chinese enterprises “going global,” risk prevention and response in the globalization process of Chinese enterprises, and regulatory risk prevention and response for multinational corporations operating in China. Nearly a hundred guests, including experts and scholars from universities and research institutions, practitioners, and corporate legal heads, attended, receiving enthusiastic responses and positive feedback.
During the open forum, KWM released the “2026 White Paper on Foreign-Related Criminal Risks for Chinese Enterprises.” This white paper consolidates the practical experience and research findings of KWM’s Criminal and Regulatory Investigation practice team over the years, outlining high-risk areas for criminal offenses in over 130 countries and regions. It aims to provide systematic guidance for Chinese enterprises to identify, prevent, and respond to foreign-related criminal risks during their overseas expansion, thereby building a solid legal barrier for their stable and sustainable growth.
Attendees at the forum included Liu Yanhong, Vice President and Professor of CUPL; Wang Zhiyuan, Executive Dean and Professor of the School of Criminal Justice, CUPL; Wang Xiaodong, Director of the Academic Committee of the G20 Anti-Corruption Fugitive Repatriation and Asset Recovery Research Center, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Criminology, and Vice President of the Chinese Society of Criminal Procedure Law; Wang Xiumei, Vice President of the International Association of Penal Law and Chair of its China Branch, and Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at Beijing Normal University; Liu Yanling, Chair of KWM China Management Committee; Gong Mulong, Managing Partner of KWM; Yu Rihong, Member of KWM Management Committee and Lead Partner of the Dispute Resolution Department; Chang Junfeng, Member of KWM Management Committee and Lead Partner of the Criminal and Regulatory Investigation Practice; along with over ten experts and scholars from CUPL and Beijing Foreign Studies University, and more than ten KWM partners and professionals.
Professor Liu Yanhong, Professor Wang Zhiyuan, Lawyer Liu Yanling, and Lawyer Gong Mulong delivered speeches at the forum. In his address, Lawyer Liu Yanling noted that strengthening the construction of a foreign-related rule of law and coordinating the advancement of domestic and foreign-related rule of law are core tenets of the foreign-related rule of law ideology. “Enhancing the foreign-related legal system and capacity building” has been consistently incorporated into China’s “14th Five-Year Plan” and “15th Five-Year Plan.” KWM has always aligned with national development strategies, courageously taking on the role of a pioneer in the internationalization of law firms, continuously improving its foreign-related legal service capabilities. Foreign-related criminal practice is a vital component of KWM’s internationalization strategy.
The “Global Vision • Legal Safeguard – King & Wood Mallesons Criminal Forum” achieved a deep integration of theory and practice in foreign-related criminal legal issues. The successful hosting of the forum represents both KWM’s important practice in aligning with national strategies and deepening the construction of a foreign-related rule of law, and CUPL’s significant attempt to strengthen research on foreign-related legal issues and advance the training of foreign-related legal talent. The forum brought together the professional strengths of judicial practice departments, arbitration institutions, universities, the business community, and law firms, injecting robust, globally-oriented momentum into enhancing foreign-related criminal legal capacity and safeguarding the stable and sustainable “going global” of Chinese enterprises. Based on strategic cooperation and looking to the future, KWM will continue to collaborate with universities and enterprises to build platforms, create ecosystems, and pool resources, contributing professional strength to the high-quality development of Chinese enterprises going overseas and global clients operating in China.