2026.03.23
On March 23, 2026, the international legal media company Asian Legal Business (ALB) unveiled its list of Top 15 Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers in China for 2026. JunHe partner Ms. DONG, Ming, with over two decades of experience and her ability to handle complex and challenging cases, was honored on the list.
To outsiders, bankruptcy and restructuring might seem like a mix of cold data, intense negotiations, and an endless game of tug-of-war. But to Ms. Dong, it is a skillful art likened to 'rebirth'. When a company is on the brink of collapse, and the fate of thousands of employees and creditors hangs by a thread, Ms. Dong is not only an enforcer of rules but someone who weaves hope anew amidst thorns, using the law as her framework.
With dual legal qualifications in China and New York State, USA, Ms. Dong's professional vision has never been confined to one area. Over more than two decades of practice and 15 years with JunHe, she understands local law firms and the complex texture of cross-border commercial rules. In the face of challenges such as the restructuring of listed companies, the substantive consolidation of large sized bankruptcies, cross-border debt restructuring, and the resolution of financial institutions' risks, Ms. Dong clarifies intricate relationships and steers a steady course through turbulent waters.
Ms. Dong's career resembles a microcosm of the history of China's bankruptcy and restructuring developments, with stories on each page of breakthroughs and new creations.
Ms. Dong has led or participated in significant bankruptcy restructuring cases, using innovative ideas and efficient execution to solve corporate difficulties. She led the first benchmark case after the implementation of the new regulations for the restructuring of listed companies. Ms. Dong balanced the interests of all parties with an innovative repayment plan amidst a vacuum of rules and over multiple negotiations, and she safeguarded the core operational value of the enterprise. She has participated in the consolidation and restructuring of large local state-owned enterprises, building efficient government-court linkage mechanisms to resolve massive debt through diverse solutions such as debt extension, interest reduction, and debt-to-equity swaps, thereby maintaining the livelihood of employees and local stability. Ms. Dong has assisted in obtaining key regulatory exemptions for the restructuring of cross-border delisted companies, bridging the communication gaps between different legal systems and leaving valuable practical examples for similar cross-border bankruptcy cases. She has also engaged in several large corporate debt risk resolution projects, providing comprehensive strategic legal support for clients with her keen risk perception and firm stance on defending rights.
Ms. Dong's skills not only lie in 'breaking through' but also in 'reshaping'. She understands that true restructuring is not a numbers game or a simple debt reduction but is about enabling a company to run again. Ms. Dong excels at finding the buried value in crises, and by stripping inefficient assets for a fresh start, she focuses on core businesses to regain their original mission and optimize corporate governance for long-term sustainability. From distress to rebirth, she endows each case with a life beyond the legal texts.
Ms. Dong's professional excellence has earned her a leading reputation in the industry and she has been selected many times as a recommended lawyer on international lists such as Who's Who Legal and The Legal 500. Her cases have also been recognized as Top 10 Outstanding Administrator Performance Cases by the Shanghai Bankruptcy Court. Ms. Dong is also a promoter of the legal industry and she has published over ten professional papers summarizing her practical experience. She has participated in discussions on the revision of bankruptcy and company laws and she has served as the Chair of the China Chapter of the International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC), actively promoting domestic and international industry exchanges and integrating the Chinese voice into global dialogues. Ms. Dong gives back to society through pro bono legal services, bankruptcy law education, and charitable donations, fulfilling her broader social responsibilities beyond her legal duties.
Clients praise her thus: "Her professional ability is impressive, and her feedback and execution are efficient and timely". Colleagues commend her: "She combines professional depth, responsibility, and industry influence". But Ms. Dong prefers to see herself as a 'connector'—connecting domestic and international commercial legal practices, connecting crises and rebirth and connecting rules and human hearts.
Ms. Dong's experience ranges from the first benchmark case after the introduction of the new regulations, to regulatory exemptions for cross-border delisting, state-owned enterprise restructuring and the risk resolution of large enterprises. She has proven that true legal wisdom is not just about resolving disputes but empowering rebirth. Reconstructing hope amidst thorns and lighting a flame in the darkest moments, this is the greatest honor for a bankruptcy and restructuring lawyer.
