Criminal Litigation Lawyers in China

Criminal litigation preparation should begin with the exact alleged offence, participation theory and procedural stage. The defence file should separate each element and person, test how evidence was obtained and attributed, identify exculpatory and mitigating material, protect access and participation rights, and connect objections and factual alternatives to a concrete request on charge, admissibility, fact finding, procedure, sentence, property, compensation or other disposition.

Questions that change the route

What must the prosecution prove against this person or entity?

Break the alleged offence into conduct, object, result, causation, knowledge or purpose, participation, jurisdiction, time and amount; distinguish principal, accomplice, unit and responsible-person theories; and map each allegation to supporting, contradictory and missing evidence.

Was each item obtained, preserved, attributed, and presented lawfully?

Review search, seizure, inspection, interrogation and identification records; custody and access; originals and copies; witnesses; experts; physical, documentary, financial, audiovisual and electronic evidence; collection legality; exclusion issues; disclosure; translations; and continuity from investigation to trial.

Which procedure and outcome should the defence request?

Calendar detention, review, filing, service, conference, hearing and appeal steps; identify jurisdiction, recusal, witness or expert appearance, supplementary investigation, evidence applications and objections; and develop alternatives addressing acquittal, reclassification, withdrawal, non-prosecution, sentencing, restitution, confiscation and attached civil claims where legally available.

Evidence to organize first

• Charging and procedural documents, detention and custody record, service and deadline chronology, authority and jurisdiction map, access requests, notices, applications, decisions, hearing record, judgment and enforcement material
• Element-by-element proof chart covering witness statements, interviews, physical and documentary exhibits, financial and transaction data, devices and electronic evidence, expert opinions, collection legality, chain of custody, attribution, contradictions and missing material
• Person-by-person role and knowledge chronology, lawful-purpose and alternative-explanation evidence, company controls and authority where relevant, alibi or location material, loss and property calculations, restitution, mitigation, health and family material, and requested-outcome memorandum

Official orientation sources: Criminal Procedure Law (2018 revision) · SPC interpretation of the Criminal Procedure Law. Source check: 8 October 2026.