Rumors about Yingke Law Firm's founder facing financial guarantee issues and surrendering to authorities spread rapidly online on March 11. Screenshots circulating online contained details such as "Yingke has encountered financial troubles," "Lao Mei used lawyer fees for financing and provided guarantees," and "currently facing a 4 billion yuan shortfall and has surrendered." The term "Lao Mei" refers to Mei Xiangrong, the Party Committee Secretary, Director, and former Global Board Chairman of Yingke Law Firm.
According to Red Star Capital Bureau, when contacted at noon on March 11, Yingke Law Firm's Beijing headquarters declined to comment or accept interviews, stating that an official announcement would follow. A staff member answering the legal consultation hotline listed on Yingke's website, who was from the Changsha branch, said they had not heard about the rumors and noted that Mei Xiangrong manages the entire Yingke operation.
Jiemian News reported that Yingke's Beijing headquarters similarly stated it was "not convenient to accept any interviews or responses." Multiple Yingke management members and partners privately indicated they could not comment on the rumors but did not refute them.
Lanjing News contacted Yingke's official legal consultation line and was told the firm was operating normally. When calling the Beijing headquarters directly, a staff member briefly responded "false" to inquiries about the rumors before hanging up. A Shanghai branch employee mentioned that Yingke offices nationwide operate independently and were unaffected, with no further information available.
Previously, 21st Century Business Report quoted Yingke Law Firm as urging people not to believe or spread rumors, emphasizing normal operations without any internal notifications.
With a large number of lawyers, Yingke Law Firm is known in the industry as a "mega firm." Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Beijing, the firm has 127 branches in mainland China plus one Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao joint operation, employing over 25,200 staff nationwide. Since 2022, it has ranked first globally in lawyer headcount in the Global 200 survey.
Yingke promotes its "One-Hour Global Legal Service Ecosystem," with a network covering 199 international cities across 104 countries. In China, it maintains 127 branches and one joint operation, while overseas offices span 57 cities in 46 countries.
Tianyancha data shows Beijing Yingke Law Firm was established in 2001 with 10 million yuan in registered capital. Headed by Mei Xiangrong, it is a comprehensive law firm with experienced lawyers handling both litigation and non-litigation matters across sectors including finance, securities, insurance, real estate, corporate affairs, intellectual property, taxation, foreign investment, international trade, and criminal/civil/administrative law.
Mei Xiangrong is listed as the firm's founding partner and director, previously serving as Global Board Chairman. He is a part-time professor at Renmin University Law School and a joint supervisor for Tsinghua University Law School's master's program. Graduating from Tsinghua University's Automotive Engineering Department in 1995, he earned an EMBA from Peking University's Guanghua School of Management in 2012 and is currently pursuing a doctorate at China University of Political Science and Law.
Since starting his legal career in 1996, Mei pioneered the "lawyer-agent property purchase" service model in 1997. After joining Yingke in 2007, he expanded its practicing lawyers from 24 to 1,600 by 2011, establishing the firm's scale-driven development.
Beyond legal services, Mei has interests in automotive and real estate sectors. He served as legal representative for 29 companies and held shares in 35 enterprises, mostly investment firms like Shanghai Liyuan Investment Center and Beijing Rongchuang Jiaye Investment Management. Most have now been deregistered, leaving only five active companies including Beijing Shuimu Huaqing Investment Center.
Lanjing News reported Mei's involvement in Beijing Xiangrong Qingneng Technology Co., Ltd., a company focused on hydrogen-fueled commercial vehicle R&D. On December 31, 2021, the company signed a 10-billion-yuan financial leasing agreement with Xinqiao United Financial Leasing to promote hydrogen commercial vehicle applications, while collaborating with Tsinghua University's Vehicle and Mobility College and Yihuatong Technology on industry-academia partnerships.
Notably, according to Yingke's official WeChat account, Mei attended Yingke Beijing's International Women's Day event and delivered a speech just three days earlier on March 8.
Meanwhile, Yingke's social media announced on March 11 that Li Jingwu would assume the role of new Global Board Chairman, a position previously held by Mei Xiangrong. The statement did not mention Mei, only noting that board members conducted换届 work fairly and openly.
As of publication, Yingke Law Firm has not released any official statement regarding the rumors.