Vancouver is fast becoming an international city, drawing people from all over the world. Years ago, Lauren moved here from China, where she was born, raised and educated. Today, she is one of just a few English-fluent and native-Chinese litigators practicing within a major law firm in Vancouver.

Her cross-cultural background allows her to assist a wide range of clients across a variety of demographics as Vancouver grows more each day into a global hub.

Work Highlights

  • Obtained a worldwide Mareva Injunction of $20.5 million on behalf of a creditor in a cross-border dispute, protecting the creditor’s interest in the debtor’s assets in Canada.

  • Conducted harassment and discrimination investigation that involve complainants whose first language is Chinese and made post-investigation recommendations for higher learning institutions
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After her first university degree in China, Lauren worked for the government of a major tourist city in mainland China. She then gained extensive business experience by owning and operating a private company in Shanghai. Given this cross-disciplinary experience between business and law, Lauren has a unique understanding of our clients’ perspectives and concerns, and how to best meet their needs.

Services

Estate & Trust Litigation
Represent parties in multi-jurisdictional estate litigation involving jurisdictional and choice of law dispute Represent parties in challenging or defending the validity of Wills
Represent parties in pursuing or defending Wills variation claims Represent trustees or beneficiaries in claims relating to trusts
Represent parties in committeeship applications Represent executors or beneficiaries in accounting proceedings
Represent parties in probate actions
Estate Planning and Estate Administration
Assist financial advisors with the estate planning of their high net worth clients from China Advise executors on estate administration and particularly administration involving multi-jurisdictional elements
General Litigation and Asset Recovery
Represent parties in enforcing foreign judgment or defending the enforcement of foreign judgement in Canada Represent parties in asset tracing, freezing injunction and recovery
Represent parties in any contractual dispute and general litigation
Strata Property
Represent strata corporations in Supreme Court proceedings and administrative tribunal proceedings regarding diverse condominium disputes Assist strata corporations with bylaw review, resolution drafting, and provide opinions on diverse condominium issues and interpretation of the Strata Property Act

Lauren takes a proactive and empathetic approach to resolving issues. She is a tenacious court advocate when litigation serves our clients’ best interest, and she has successfully litigated in all levels of court, including successfully defending Supreme Court of Canada leave applications. Lauren’s cases such as Wei v. Mei have been studied and analyzed in the United States, Canada and China for its precedent setting effect. In the meantime, Lauren has a deep understanding and appreciation of the emotions and stress involved in litigation. As such, when dealing with the very human issues of wills and estates, she works proactively to mitigate clients’ distress while also representing them relentlessly.

With Lauren’s cross-cultural background, her outstanding skillset, her expertise in jurisdictional and choice of law dispute, and her international connections, Lauren is sought out to resolve disputes involving international elements. These include cases involving competing jurisdictions of countries, potential conflicts between the laws of different countries, and enforcing or defending the enforcement of foreign judgments in Canada. Lauren is often involved in the strategic planning at the onset of a dispute to place our clients in the most advantageous position both for settlement negotiation or litigation, and work collaboratively with legal counsel from other jurisdictions.

Because of Lauren’s litigation, language and cross-cultural skills, she has been called upon to conduct harassment and discrimination investigation that involve complainants whose first language is not English, and make post-investigation recommendations to the institutions.

In addition to her litigation practice, Lauren also assists clients with their estate planning. Her litigation perspective and experience allows her to identify potential loopholes that may open doors for future challenges and to take proactive measures to address issues at the estate planning stage to prevent possible future litigation.

Awards & Distinctions
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  • Obtained a worldwide Mareva Injunction of $20.5 million on behalf of a creditor in a cross-border dispute, protecting the creditor’s interest in the debtor’s assets in Canada.
  • Conducted harassment and discrimination investigation that involve complainants whose first language is Chinese and made post-investigation recommendations for higher learning institutions
Thank you for your awesome service, just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your work!

Anonymous, Litigation client

“Lauren always responded to our questions and concerns with great patience, and put our best interests first. Both Lauren and her assistant Jocelyn answered our phone calls and emails quickly, and courteously, something that is unusual this day and age. Her diligent work on our case from start to finish, in a very professional and respectful manner, was greatly appreciated.

Anonymous, Estate executor

“Not only does Lauren offer a vast wealth of substantive knowledge and experience, I have found her to be extremely efficient, always there to assist, patient and easy to work with. She works well with me to achieve the best result for the client with great turnaround time. I would highly recommend Lauren as I can rely on her, and she makes my job much easier!”

Anonymous, Property manager

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Awards & Distinctions
Industry Involvement
  • Canadian Association of Gift Planners, member
  • Canadian Bar Association, Wills and Trusts Section member
  • Professional Association of Managing Agents, member
  • Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners Asia, member
  • State Capital Group Legal, firm representative
Community Commitments
  • BC Children's Hospital Foundation, Chinese-Canadian Planned Gift Committee, advisory member, 2012 - Present
  • Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, volunteer, 2001 - 2009
  • S.U.C.C.E.S.S., board of directors, 2018 - Present
Education & Call to Bar
  • Call to Bar: British Columbia, 2010
  • University of British Columbia, Juris Doctor, 2009
  • University of British Columbia, Bachelor of Arts, 2004
  • Sichuan Foreign Studies University, Bachelor of Arts, 1997
Additional Languages
  • Mandarin
External Presentations
  • Panelist, "Dispute Resolution Trends: Litigation vs. Arbitration", SCG Legal Annual Meeting, State Capital Group Legal, 2023
  • Presenter, 24th Annual Fraud Conference, Association of Certified Fraud Investigators of Canada, 2022
  • Presenter, Condominium Home Owners Association of BC Seminars, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017
  • Presenter, Legacies Round Table, BC Children's Hospital Foundation, 2013, 2014, 2016-2019
External Publications
  • Contributing author, British Columbia Estate Litigation textbook, published by LexisNexis, 2020
  • Contributing author, CLE Practice Manual: BC Probate and Estate Administration: Chapter 2 Devolution of Assets on Death, The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia
  • Contributing author, CLE Practice Manual: BC Estate Planning and Wealth Preservation: Chapter 7  Protection from Claims in Estate Planning, The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia
  • Contributing author, CLE Practice Manual: BC Strata Property Practice Manual: Chapter 10 Dispute Resolution, The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia