Ming Li
Ming Li asks thoughtful questions, examines every angle, and turns complex legal issues into practical options for clients.
- Holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Selected to argue in the University of Illinois’ Green Honorary Round
- Managed First Amendment Clinic matters from intake through court pleadings
Ming Li
Attorney in Champaign, IL
Ming helps clients navigate the legal questions that come with running a business, managing a workforce, and responding to disputes. An associate in Heyl Royster’s Champaign office, her practice spans Business Organizations & Transactions, Employment & Labor, Intellectual Property, and Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy, as well as Business & Commercial Litigation and Appellate Advocacy. Her Healthcare work includes Long-term Care & Nursing Homes, Medical Malpractice, Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices, and Qui Tam matters. She works closely with the firm’s transactional team and colleagues across offices to address related concerns and keep each client’s goals in view.
Ming’s path to law began with a different ambition: becoming a philosopher. She came to the United States to pursue graduate studies, earning a master’s degree at Columbia University and a doctorate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Along the way, she discovered that legal practice offered a way to put her thinking into action. Her academic background shapes how she approaches a problem—questioning assumptions, testing arguments, and explaining why a particular approach makes sense.
Warm and soft-spoken in conversation, Ming is a determined advocate who will stand her ground and fight for her clients when needed. As a member of her law school’s moot court team, she competed on winning teams and was invited to argue in the Green Honorary Round during her final semester. Her preparation involves exploring alternative arguments and closely examining details that could change the analysis. She also gained a judicial perspective through an externship with the Honorable Regina Scannicchio in the Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County.
In the University of Illinois College of Law’s First Amendment Clinic, Ming handled matters from client intake through court pleadings. Her work with the Immigration Project gave her additional experience listening to clients, sometimes through interpreters, and helping them explore options for obtaining legal status. These experiences reinforced her commitment to understanding each client’s circumstances and taking ownership of the work entrusted to her.
Before entering law, Ming earned three degrees in philosophy: a bachelor’s from Fudan University in China, a master’s from Columbia University, and a doctorate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. During her doctoral studies, she presented her research at academic conferences and was recognized multiple times as a Teacher Ranked as Excellent. She then earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Outside the office, Ming enjoys time with her family, especially her young son, who was born during her second year of law school. Philosophy remains part of her life, and she still reaches for philosophy books when she has time to read. She has also spent several years volunteering with a local Champaign group, delivering furniture to people in need.
Practices
Credentials
Education
University of Illinois College of Law, J.D., cum laude
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Ph.D., Philosophy
Columbia University, M.A., Philosophy
Fudan University, B.A., Philosophy
Licensure(s) and Admission(s):
State Courts of Illinois
Languages
English, Mandarin Chinese
Public Profile
Ming helps clients navigate the legal questions that come with running a business, managing a workforce, and responding to disputes. An associate in Heyl Royster’s Champaign office, her practice spans Business Organizations & Transactions, Employment & Labor, Intellectual Property, and Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy, as well as Business & Commercial Litigation and Appellate Advocacy. Her Healthcare work includes Long-term Care & Nursing Homes, Medical Malpractice, Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices, and Qui Tam matters. She works closely with the firm’s transactional team and colleagues across offices to address related concerns and keep each client’s goals in view.
Ming’s path to law began with a different ambition: becoming a philosopher. She came to the United States to pursue graduate studies, earning a master’s degree at Columbia University and a doctorate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Along the way, she discovered that legal practice offered a way to put her thinking into action. Her academic background shapes how she approaches a problem—questioning assumptions, testing arguments, and explaining why a particular approach makes sense.
Warm and soft-spoken in conversation, Ming is a determined advocate who will stand her ground and fight for her clients when needed. As a member of her law school’s moot court team, she competed on winning teams and was invited to argue in the Green Honorary Round during her final semester. Her preparation involves exploring alternative arguments and closely examining details that could change the analysis. She also gained a judicial perspective through an externship with the Honorable Regina Scannicchio in the Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County.
In the University of Illinois College of Law’s First Amendment Clinic, Ming handled matters from client intake through court pleadings. Her work with the Immigration Project gave her additional experience listening to clients, sometimes through interpreters, and helping them explore options for obtaining legal status. These experiences reinforced her commitment to understanding each client’s circumstances and taking ownership of the work entrusted to her.
Before entering law, Ming earned three degrees in philosophy: a bachelor’s from Fudan University in China, a master’s from Columbia University, and a doctorate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. During her doctoral studies, she presented her research at academic conferences and was recognized multiple times as a Teacher Ranked as Excellent. She then earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Outside the office, Ming enjoys time with her family, especially her young son, who was born during her second year of law school. Philosophy remains part of her life, and she still reaches for philosophy books when she has time to read. She has also spent several years volunteering with a local Champaign group, delivering furniture to people in need.
