Chuan (CiCi) Cheng

Associate

P. 303.244.1957 | F. 303.244.1879

University of Colorado Law School
J.D., 2012, Colorado Law Review, Associate Editor
National Moot Court Competition Team, Member (Regionals First Place and Best Brief Award); Rothgerber CU Law Moot Court Competition, First Place National Trial Competition Team, Switch Advocate
University of Georgia
B.S., B.A., 2009, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Political Science, Foundation Fellowship Scholar

Law Clerk to The Honorable R. Brooke Jackson, U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Judicial Intern to Chief Justice Nancy E. Rice, Colorado Supreme Court

Judicial Intern to The Honorable Christine M. Arguello, U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Colorado
U.S. District Court, D. Colorado

Biography

CiCi Cheng helps clients navigate the intricacies of complex commercial disputes. She handles cases involving breach of contract, trade secrets, antitrust and unfair competition, and shareholder derivative and securities class actions. In 2018, the American Bar Association named CiCi to its Top 40 Young Lawyers On the Rise, which recognizes just 40 young lawyers nationwide who exemplify high achievement, innovation, vision, leadership, and legal and community service.

Additionally, CiCi has handled cases involving trade secrets, antitrust and unfair competition, shareholder derivative and securities class actions, and other business issues.

CiCi attentively guides clients through all phases of litigation, including:

Early assessment of claims and strategy development, including pre-filing negotiations.
Motions practice, particularly dispositive motions to narrow and streamline an action.
Targeted and efficient management of electronic discovery, depositions, and expert discovery.
Focused and dynamic oral argument and trial representation.
Settlement negotiations, including drafting complex, multiparty settlement agreements.

Cases

Commercial Litigation

Obtained preliminary injunction for a television provider against one of the largest media companies in the Middle East 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.

Publications & Speaking Engagements

"Client Development through Effortless Action," Legal Marketing Launch podcast (March 2019).
Co-author, "The Colorado Pledge to Diversity," Denver Bar Association's Docket (June/July 2018).
"Want to Improve Law Firm Diversity? Hint: Start Upstream," National Law Journal, Co-author (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

ABA Names CiCi Cheng to National Top 40 On the Rise

Other Experience

Holland & Hart LLP
Native Mandarin Chinese speaker

Legal Memberships, Activities, and Honors

American Bar Association “On the Rise,” 2018
Colorado Rising Stars
Business Litigation, 2018-2020
Colorado Pledge to Diversity, Co-President
Law School Sí Se Puede Program, Mentor
Faculty of Federal Advocates, Member Colorado Lawyers Committee, Children’s Task Force, Member
Northfield High School Mock Trial, Volunteer Coach, 2016-2017
Lawyers in the Classroom, Denver Public Schools, Volunteer, 2015-2016
Colorado and Denver Bar Associations, Member
Colorado Women’s Bar Association, Member
Colorado Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Member
Colorado Intellectual Property Inn of Court, 2011-2015

Community Memberships, Activities, and Honors

Jane-A-Thon Planning Committee, Invest-In-Kids, Volunteer
Colorado Business Committee for the Arts, Leadership Arts, Alumna

Personal Interests

Certified spin and yoga instructor, Colorado mountain adventures, international travel, scuba diving