Yu Yong is a criminal defence lawyer at Shanghai Shengwo Law Firm. He has practised for 16 years and focuses on bail applications, evidence and procedure, white-collar and regulatory matters, and the criminal-risk questions that arise for foreign executives and employees in China.
How he works with international clients
A criminal or regulatory enquiry can move quickly and can affect a person's liberty, employment and immigration status. Yu's first task is to establish the procedural stage, the authority involved and the immediate deadlines. He then advises on the immediate steps, the evidence that should be preserved and the communication that should be made to the company, the family and, where relevant, the consulate.
For international clients, he works with the firm's English-language client desk so that the client and the overseas head office receive a clear explanation of the process and the realistic options.
Foreign-related criminal-risk strengths
- Foreign executives and employees facing investigation, detention or exit restrictions in China.
- Customs, tax, commercial-bribery and regulatory matters with a criminal dimension.
- Bail applications and detention-review applications at the investigation stage.
- Evidence and procedural objections, including challenges to the lawfulness of evidence collection.
- Coordination with foreign counsel where the same facts are also relevant to proceedings outside China.
The work is fact-specific. Yu reviews the evidence and the procedure before making a commitment about the likely route, and he explains the limits of what a lawyer can achieve at each stage.
Services for international clients
- Emergency advice after detention or a regulatory visit.
- Bail and detention-review applications.
- Defence at the investigation, prosecution and trial stages.
- Appeals and sentence-reduction applications.
- White-collar, customs, tax and regulatory risk assessment.
- Civil claims and contract or tort disputes connected to the criminal matter.
Background
Yu obtained his master's degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and qualified as a lawyer in 2010. He is a member of the Criminal Procedure and Defence Committee of the Shanghai Bar Association. His practice also covers contract disputes and tort claims, including sale, loan, traffic-accident and personal-injury matters.
Working style
Yu's approach is evidence-led. He examines how the evidence was obtained and whether the procedure was followed, because those points can affect the defence as much as the substantive facts. He keeps a written record of the key steps and explains each stage to the client in plain language.
He does not promise a result. The objective is to protect the client's procedural rights, identify the strongest available defence and make decisions with a clear understanding of the risks.