FINANCE

China’s Yingke Law Firm Scandal Draws Scrutiny as Fundraising Details Emerge

Published: Mar. 20, 2026 4:34 p.m. GMT+8

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Mei Xiangrong.

The crisis at Yingke Law Firm is deepening as new details emerge on fundraising linked to its former chairman, raising concerns over risks in China’s fast-growing legal services sector.

Yingke said late March 11 that former Chairman Mei Xiangrong had resigned from all positions, noting that issues tied to businesses run by his family were unrelated to the firm’s legal operations.

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Yingke Law Firm faces scrutiny after ex-chairman Mei Xiangrong resigned amid fundraising controversies potentially totaling up to 4 billion yuan, though some sources say 1 billion yuan.
Authorities are investigating whether external fundraising linked to Mei breached legal boundaries; Yingke’s rapid expansion and business model are also under review.
Yingke has over 25,000 staff across 104 regions and reported $1.4 billion revenue in 2024, making it the world’s largest law firm by employee count.

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Who’s Who

Yingke Law Firm: Yingke Law Firm, often dubbed the "world's largest law firm," is a rapidly expanding Chinese legal services provider with over 25,000 employees and a global network. It recently generated $1.4 billion in revenue. Currently, the firm is under scrutiny due to fundraising issues linked to its former chairman, Mei Xiangrong, raising concerns about potential legal violations and the firm's expansion model.

King & Wood Mallesons: King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) is mentioned in the article as a significant player in the legal industry. In 2024, KWM's revenue was reported as $1.25 billion, a figure surpassed by Yingke Law Firm's $1.4 billion. This comparison highlights Yingke's rapid growth and positions KWM as a benchmark in the global legal services market.

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What Happened When

2024：: Yingke generated $1.4 billion in revenue, surpassing King & Wood Mallesons’ $1.25 billion, according to The American Lawyer’s Global 200 ranking.