Interview with a Person | From Criminal Defense to Corporate Anti-Corruption: The Professional Breakthrough of a Criminal Lawyer - Lawyer Zheng Chen

A life governed by law, wisdom like an ocean, a sincere heart like a bell, and working together with Dehe. Every lawyer at Dehe holds the original aspiration of serving the people, adheres to the service philosophy of "diligence, craftsmanship, and excellence", and marches forward bravely on the broad road of the rule of law with an energetic spirit. They shine and excel in their beloved fields. In the "Personality Interview" of Dehehantong, we invite you to join us in exploring the diverse lives of the Dehe people.

Lawyer Introduction

Zheng Chen, currently a senior partner of the Shanghai office of Dehehantong and the director of the Anti-Corruption and Compliance Business Committee of Dehehantong in Shanghai. She graduated from Fudan University Law School with a bachelor's degree and obtained a master's degree in law. She was awarded the title of Excellent Graduate of the University. Since starting her career, she has been specializing in economic crime defense, anti-corruption investigations in enterprises, and the establishment of compliance management systems.

Many of the cases she handled have received attention and coverage from media such as CCTV's Legal Affairs Program and "Eastern 110". Especially in complex cases involving financial crimes and futures and securities, by relying on solid professional analysis and meticulous pre-trial preparations, she has achieved substantial defense results on multiple occasions, gradually becoming a key figure in the field of corporate compliance and anti-corruption.

While most people only see the glamorous surface of the business world, she focuses on uncovering the risk bottom line behind every transaction - identifying fraud in seemingly compliant processes and pursuing the truth in the silent battlefield of numbers and contracts. With the sharp perspective of a criminal lawyer, she measures every compliance boundary in the enterprise's operations; between rationality and emotion, she always chooses to move forward with clarity and warmth - having both the delicacy and responsibility of "being in the case files but caring about the common people", as well as the determination and composure of "not fearing clouds and remaining clear and bright". She is Lawyer Zheng Chen, a pioneer in anti-corruption who uses professionalism to safeguard the bottom line of enterprises and balances the scale of law with the warmth of humanity. Today, let's follow De Xiaohuo and join us as we enter into Lawyer Zheng Chen's legal career.

01 Original Intent

The profound mission of legal professionals lies not in judging the right or wrong of what has already occurred, but in establishing the beacon of order when chaos first emerges.

This statement can almost encapsulate Zheng Chen's original intention for choosing the anti-corruption field. Graduated from Fudan University's Law School, she possesses both the analytical depth of Fudan students and the discernment and pragmatism characteristic of legal professionals. However, if the reason for her rapid growth in the criminal field is merely explained by her prestigious school background, it might oversimplify the uniqueness of this path. Here, profound theory is the starting point, and the true weight comes from the training both inside and outside the courtroom, the insight into human nature, and the ability to build trust in the darkest moments.

"The trust of the parties involved and their families is both a burden and a driving force," she confessed. As a female criminal lawyer, she not only has to contend with the clash of legal provisions, but also faces the challenge of winning the complete trust of the clients at critical moments - when the hopes of an individual or a family are placed on her shoulders, that expectation far exceeds what any resume can encompass. It is this sense of being needed and trusted, as well as the sense of achievement from achieving substantive breakthroughs in cases, that has made her increasingly determined to embark on this path that combines sharpness with warmth.

The major case involving organized crime that she was involved in during her internship was the starting point of her career and the anchor of her values. There were over fifty defendants and hundreds of thick case files. She immersed herself in them every day, from early morning until late at night. "Those transcripts contain vivid snapshots of life," she recalled. "The same event, told by different people, varies greatly. Exploring the essence beneath the facts, that feeling fascinated me."

This pursuit of the essence not only shaped her approach to handling cases but also, unconsciously, laid the groundwork for her future professional path.

02 Exploration

It was this relentless pursuit of "the essence" that enabled her to keenly perceive the path of anti-corruption and compliance in enterprises, which was rarely explored by lawyers. "When most lawyers view anti-corruption as an adjunct to criminal law, I saw a unique professional space within it - it requires you to understand business logic and be able to identify criminal risks." Her words were gentle, yet carried an unquestionable certainty. This certainty stemmed from her clear professional understanding: true professionalism is not competing in the red sea, but establishing standards in the blue sea.

Therefore, in May 2025, she took the lead in establishing the Shanghai Anti-Corruption and Compliance Business Committee of Dehehantong, converting her acute insights and thorough exploration into systematic and professional team practices. "Many small and medium-sized enterprises are high-risk areas for corruption, but they are also the places with the least professional support," she said. "Our work is not only about remedying after the fact, but also about preventing in advance. Making them realize that corruption is not only a moral issue but also a legal red line, and helping them establish an 'immune system' - this is the deeper meaning of our work."

From her fascination with "essence" to pioneering a professional "blue ocean", Zheng Chen completed a crucial exploration from concept to practice. On this path, she was not only a breaker of the deadlock but also a builder.

03 Practice

The case of the film investment company was a landmark footnote in Zheng Chen's career. The company invested in several box-office hits, but its accounts suffered consecutive losses. Beneath the seemingly compliant procedures, there was a turbulent undercurrent.

After Zheng Chen and her team got involved, they initiated an unspoken investigation. There was no confrontation or interrogation; only massive financial data, related contracts, and fund transactions. "The core shareholders transferred over 50 million yuan through a series of complex related-party transactions," she said. "It was a meticulously designed financial maze."

They spent several months navigating through the digital maze and eventually constructed a complete and clear chain of evidence. "The sense of achievement at that moment was not about defeating anyone; it was about bringing the concealed facts to light," she said, her tone calm yet carrying solid strength.

The other sports company fraud case was even more challenging. The involved advisors received kickbacks at multiple stages, but due to the lack of a formal labor relationship with the company, the charge of "embezzlement of official duties" was difficult to establish. The case fell into a legal gray area.

"Evidence does not automatically form a chain, especially in atypical relationships," Zheng Chen did not back down. She led the team to apply criminal investigation thinking, approaching the case from multiple angles such as electronic data recovery, interviews with peripheral personnel, and reverse tracking of funds. Like putting together a jigsaw puzzle, they pieced together the fragmented information one by one.

"Many people think that law is black and white, but in fact, the real legal work often occurs in the gray spectrum, finding the scale closest to justice," she said.

This ability to find a way out in the grey area is also demonstrated in a major tax-related case she handled. Due to the complexity of the case and the lengthy investigation period, the client had previously gone through multiple lawyers who failed to successfully arrange a meeting. After accepting the case, Zheng Chen, while strictly adhering to the legal procedures, relied on unwavering determination and professional communication to visit the detention center multiple times for coordination. Eventually, he successfully arranged a meeting with the client, becoming the first lawyer to have in-depth communication with the client in this case. This breakthrough not only legally protected the client's litigation rights but also, through concrete actions, strengthened the trust foundation between the client and their family.

04 Sedimentation

High intensity and high pressure are the norm for criminal and anti-corruption lawyers. However, on Zheng Chen, there were few signs of exhaustion. Instead, he exuded a calm and composed aura.

Her secret lies in "orderly balance". Beyond work, she is a regular fitness enthusiast and a tennis lover. "Professionalism requires an extreme level of dedication, but people also need to detach themselves from specific tasks. A balance of tension and relaxation is necessary to maintain clear judgment and sustained enthusiasm."

This wisdom of balance is also reflected in her professional philosophy. She often quotes the words of Zhang Chao from the Qing Dynasty: "Self-discipline should have an autumnal air, while dealing with the world should have the warmth of spring breeze." When handling cases, she is calm and rigorous, as cautious as autumn wind; when dealing with clients, she listens and empathizes, as gentle as spring breeze.

"I often think that if I hadn't become a lawyer, I might just have been an ordinary person among the crowd," she confessed. "This profession has given me a unique perspective, enabling me to provide support professionally during the most difficult times for others or businesses. It is a heavy responsibility, but also a precious gift."

05 Forward

From an outstanding student at Fudan University to a professional lawyer, from the field of criminal defense to the exploration of anti-corruption, Zheng Chen's path has been clear and firm. On this journey, there is an ultimate pursuit of professionalism, as well as a continuous concern for the depths of human nature.

Her courage lies in the willingness to venture into the "unexplored areas" of the professional field; her confidence stems from the judgment skills honed through countless complex cases; her resilience is demonstrated in her unwavering patience in persistently seeking solutions when facing legal gray areas.

"As the water is repeatedly filtered and washed, although it is arduous, eventually gold can be obtained after all the sand is blown away." When talking about the future, her eyes are clear. She hopes to deepen and thoroughly develop the anti-corruption business, becoming a professional benchmark recognized by the industry. She also hopes to use the law as a yardstick to help more enterprises build an "immune system where they dare not commit fraud, cannot commit fraud, and do not want to commit fraud".

"Law is not just a craft; it is also a way of viewing the world and settling matters in the human realm." She said, "I am willing to continue as the person holding the candle, illuminating a bit more space and clarifying a bit more boundary in the complexity of business and the subtleties of human nature."