Chuan (CiCi) Cheng

Biography

Cases

Commercial Litigation

• Won a groundbreaking appeal successfully arguing a motion to vacate a $150 million arbitration award on behalf of the majority owner of Colorado cannabis corporation.
• Jushi FL SPV, LLC v. San Felasco Nurseries, Inc. (AAA Case No. 01-10-0003) - Won a $14.3 million arbitration award, plus attorneys' fees, for a multistate cannabis operator in a Florida franchise dispute involving lost royalties and right-of-first-refusal issues.
• Helped to successfully negotiate a class settlement—for 2.5% of the claimed damages—for a major utility provider and its subsidiary in a 15-year-old putative antitrust class action in Colorado federal court.
• Obtained preliminary injunction for a television provider against a large Middle Eastern media company that violated an exclusive distribution agreement.
• Won a motion to dismiss all claims arising from a securities fraud class action in Colorado federal court.
• Achieved favorable settlement, after winning dismissal of foreign affiliates and multiple individually named defendants, for a solar energy development company in federal litigation for alleged breach of contract and fraud brought by a joint venturer over a multimillion-dollar energy project.
• Won summary judgment for a major manufacturing and engineering corporation against a multimillion-dollar indemnification claim. The litigation involved winning a motion to dismiss a parallel Michigan action and winning summary judgment that was affirmed by the First Department of the New York Appellate Division.
• Served as lead associate to efficiently resolve a noncompete, trade secrets misappropriation, and federal computer crimes litigation for a software company; managed intricate discovery issues and spearheaded settlement negotiations to achieve a complex do-not-transact agreement between multiple parties.
• Argued jury instructions and directed verdict motion for a major mining corporation in a two-week jury trial in Colorado state court on various claims for breach of contract, noncompete, and theft of trade secrets.

Pro Bono

• First-chaired a First Amendment bench trial in Colorado federal court for an incarcerated youth contesting a Colorado youth detention policy of banning access to local news.
• Represented the named plaintiff in a federal class action of student-visa holders challenging the constitutionality of an immigration executive order.
• Secured a significant victory for a leading Denver arts organization, the nonprofit Denver Center for Performing Arts (DCPA), against collection efforts by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health & Human Services for alleged debt arising out of a transfer discrepancy in federal funding by DHHS, and ultimately induced the DOJ to formally decline to file claims against DCPA.

Other Representative Experience

• Won a bench trial as first chair in a breach of contract case against an interior design and construction company, securing judgment on all claims and for the full amount in dispute.

Publications & Speaking Engagements

Presentations

• "And the Verdict Is...?" Co-Presenter (June 21, 2022).

Other Articles/Presentations

• "Client Development through Effortless Action," Legal Marketing Launch podcast, (March 2019).
• "The Colorado Pledge to Diversity,"Co-Author, Denver Bar Association's Docket, (June/July 2018).
• "Want to Improve Law Firm Diversity? Hint: Start Upstream,"Co-Author, National Law Journal, (March 7, 2018).
• "Inclusive Excellence Leadership Series: Making a Difference," University of Colorado Law, (January 2018).
• "Finding Balance & Going with the FLOW (Corporate Yoga Event)," Association of Corporate Counsel, (August 2016 and November 2017).
• "Practicing as a New Attorney in Federal Court," Pro Bono Civil Panel Program, Faculty of Federal Advocates, (June 2017).
• "Women in Law Day (WiLD)," University of Colorado Law School, (April 2017).
• "Pledge to Diversity Overview," University of Colorado and University of Denver Law Schools, (January 2017).
• "Career Perspectives," University of Colorado Law School, (October 2016).

Press

• Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell Elects Four New Partners in 2022
• Two from WTO Selected to LCLD 2021 Programs
• ABA Names CiCi Cheng to National Top 40 On the Rise

Other Experience

Legal Memberships, Activities, and Honors

Community Memberships, Activities, and Honors

Personal Interests