Helping people resolve disputes, commercially and pragmatically
Lu is a pragmatic disputes and business lawyer who has built a practice helping people solve contractual and property disputes, shareholders disputes, building disputes and other commercial disputes. She also assists clients with debt recovery and insolvency.
She is known for putting her clients’ goals and needs at the forefront of all work - and advising from a commercial perspective if they should be proposing a settlement or choosing to proceed with litigation. In any event she will endeavour to find the most cost effective solution for the client.
Lu’s clients claim that her biggest asset is that she can pick up on key issues, even in complex transactions, very quickly. She gets to the heart of the problem immediately using her clear thought process and experience working with both local and foreign businesses.
Providing proactive business advice to prevent disputes
Given her background as a litigator and seeing the issues that businesses face, she has also built a practice in proactively helping businesses with transactions and drafting agreements.
Lu has negotiated on behalf of clients in property development projects as well as the sales and acquisitions of businesses and shares. She has significant experience helping developers - including those investing in the Australian market from abroad.
From working with business owners for many years, she has advised many individuals and families on succession planning. Likewise, she has helped people protect their wealth or contest a will where appropriate.
Understanding of Chinese culture
Lu is bilingual, fluent in both English and Chinese Mandarin. She has a strong understanding of Chinese culture and approaches problems and suggests fee arrangements with this culture in mind.
Having been personally involved in numerous transactions between Chinese businesses and Australian entities, Lu has observed firsthand the cultural and language challenges that often arise in communication and mutual understanding. She takes pride in helping bridge these gaps and sees significant value in fostering better cross-cultural collaboration.
She is an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation and holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of Melbourne. Lu is also an active member of the Australia-China Business Council and the Rotary Club of Box Hill.
Successful Cases
Overseas Investment & Corporate Advisory
- Represented a Chinese state-owned enterprise in acquiring an Australian listed mining company, involving complex regulatory approvals, including approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).
- Represented a Chinese enterprise in making a strategic investment in an Australian clean energy company, involving renewable energy project approvals and applicability of government subsidy policies.
- Assisted a well-known Chinese logistics company to establish operations in Australia, providing ongoing legal support covering labour law, lease agreements, and contract reviews.
- Provided legal advice and guidance to an overseas listed company in acquiring an Australian education and training institution, including designing legal frameworks and optimising corporate structure.
- Represented a multinational corporation in acquiring an Australian manufacturing project, involving both equity and asset acquisitions.
- Represented Luzhou Laojiao in its negotiations with the Australian Open (AO) in securing partnership agreements.
- Assisted an international renewable energy processing company in establishing operations in Australia, ensuring compliance with local environmental regulations and investment policies, and provided strategic legal advice.
- Represented a Chinese university press in acquiring a local Australian publisher, handling legal due diligence, drafting acquisition documents, completing the acquisition, and issuing post-acquisition legal opinions to meet Chinese audit requirements.
Shareholder Disputes
- Represented numerous disputes involving family businesses, private companies, and joint ventures, including breach of directors’ duties. Successfully litigated against negligent directors and recovered company losses.
- Enforced non-compete clauses, including cases where shareholders unlawfully set up a competing company and misused former company’s client resources and trade secrets. Successfully obtained injunctions and secured favourable settlements.
- Acted in cases involving control disputes, applications for company dissolution, and share valuation disputes.
- Well-versed in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and relevant case law, Ms Cheng is adept at safeguarding clients’ rights in complex shareholder structures and conflicts of interest.
Economic & Online Fraud
- Represented multiple victims in cross-border currency exchange fraud cases between China and Australia, assisting them in litigation and recovery of losses and legal costs.
- Represented a large Hong Kong enterprise in an online fraud case where the CFO was targeted by phishing and fraudulent payment instructions were sent to accounting staff. Obtained urgent freezing orders from Australian courts and successfully recovered the funds transferred to Australian accounts.
Fund Investment Disputes
- Represented clients in complex disputes arising from failed investments, fraudulent conduct, misleading statements, and mismanagement by fund managers.
- Represented a Chinese investor in litigation concerning an Australian property development project where funds had been diverted. Successfully obtained a court freezing order and recovered the investment along with compensation.
- Skilled in clarifying liability, assessing risks, and developing effective solutions in disputes involving private investments, joint ventures, venture capital, real estate development, and cross-border capital flows.
Insolvency & Liquidation Litigation
- Represented shareholders of a property-holding company that was liquidated after unpaid bills, efficiently resolving company debts and concluding liquidation proceedings swiftly.
- Represented trade creditors who had received preferential payments in insolvency proceedings, defending against liquidator clawback claims.
- Represented liquidators in claims against former directors for unlawful transactions, invalid transfers, and asset recovery from third parties.
Other Litigation
- Represented a Chinese enterprise in a major breach of contract case in Australia, recovering millions of dollars in damages.
- Represented an Australian company in debt recovery, successfully obtaining a court payment order and recovering losses through winding-up proceedings.
- Represented an Australian company against a former employee who misappropriated copyright and other intellectual property, securing injunctions and damages.
- Represented an investor in enforcing a loan repayment, obtaining court judgment, seizing and liquidating debtor assets, and fully recovering the debt.
- Represented a commercial landlord in lease disputes where a tenant defaulted on rent and damages. Successfully froze tenant assets and recovered rent arrears and repair costs.
- Represented clients in will disputes where certain heirs were excluded due to the deceased not updating their will, securing a fair inheritance share for the client.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws
Memberships
- Law Institute of Victoria
- Commercial Litigation law Accredited Specialisation Advisory Committee
- Australia-China Business Council
- Rotary Club of Box Hill
Recognised in the 2026 Best Lawyers in Australia™ category for Litigation.
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