Lauren Liang’s 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. 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.Years ago, Lauren moved to Vancouver 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.
- 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.
- Successfully defended a foreign judgment that contains penalty rate that is in contravention of the criminal rate of interest under the Criminal Code of Canada and obtained an order for interest payable at 60% per annum, the maximum allowed under the Canadian law, which turned a $5 million foreign judgment into a $22 million Canadian judgment, and successfully defended the appeal of the said order, including leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. (Wei v. Mei, 2018 BCSC 157; Wei v. Mei, 2018 BCSC 1057; Wei v. Li, 2019 BCCA 114; ACIC | Canadian Update: Wei vs. Lei BCCA 114; Legaldaily)
- Conducted harassment and discrimination investigation that involve complainants whose first language is Chinese and made post-investigation recommendations for higher learning institutions.
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.
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
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
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.
Credentials
Awards & Distinctions
- Corporate/Securities Law Moot Court National Competition representing University of British Columbia, 2009, 3rd place team
Industry Involvement
- Canadian Association of Gift Planners
- Canadian Bar Association, Wills and Trusts
- Professional Association of Managing Agents
- STEP Asia
- Representative of Clark Wilson LLP at State Capital Group Legal
Community Commitments
- BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Chinese-Canadian Planned Gift Committee, Advisory Member (2012-present)
- Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, 2001-2009, Volunteer
- U.C.C.E.S.S. Board of Directors (2018-present)
Education & Call to Bar Call to Bar
- British Columbia, 2010
- Juris Doctor, University of British Columbia, 2009
- Bachelor of Arts, University of British Columbia, 2004
- Bachelor of Arts, Sichuan Foreign Studies University, 1997
Languages
- Mandarin
External Publications & Presentations
- Contributing Author: CLE Practice Manual: BC Probate and Estate Administration: Chapter 2 Devolution of Assets on Death
- Contributing Author: CLE Practice Manual: BC Estate Planning and Wealth Preservation: Chapter 7 Protection from Claims in Estate Planning
- Contributing Author: CLE Practice Manual: BC Strata Property Practice Manual: Chapter 10 Dispute Resolution
- Presenter: Condominium Home Owners Association of BC Seminars, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017
- Presenter: Legacies Round Table of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, 2013, 2014, 2016-2019
