Lucy Caruana

Expertise and Practice

Lucy is experienced in commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution, particularly construction litigation, commercial arbitration, complex commercial fraud and large sensitive investigations. She has represented clients in claims for defects, variations, delays and disruption in respect of major infrastructure projects as well as residential building disputes, as both claimant and defendant. She has acted in Federal Court and South Australian Supreme Court proceedings, in arbitrations and in mediations across the government, construction, commercial and professional services sectors. Lucy has represented the South Australian Government, private corporate entities, liquidators and tertiary institutions.

In addition to construction matters, Lucy’s interests include cybersecurity. She is a passionate mentor, having tutored a number of commercial law subjects at the University of Adelaide. Lucy quickly builds rapport with her clients and colleagues, and is a diligent and organised practitioner known for her ability to manage and work with voluminous project data.

Lucy commenced at LK in 2014, after which she spent 18 months as the Associate to the Honourable Justice Stanley at the Supreme Court of South Australia before her return to LK. Lucy has a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from the University of Adelaide.

Project Highlights

new Royal Adelaide Hospital

Representing the South Australian State Government on various strategic and legal issues concerning defects, defaults, delays and disruption arising out of the AU$2.5 billion public-private partnership for the design, construction and operation of the State’s major health facility. This involves acting for the State in the associated arbitral proceedings and proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of South Australia.

South Australian Government – Confidential Investigation

Advised an agency of the South Australian Government in relation to a complex potential insolvency and regulatory dispute.

Sino Forest Group

Represented the Litigation Trustee of Sino-Forest Corporation (a Hong Kong incorporated company, and formerly listed on both the Hong Kong and Toronto Stock Exchanges) in multi-jurisdictional claims against former auditors, directors and senior management in both Canada and Hong Kong.

Victorian-based Construction Dispute

Represented a Victorian-based Building Group in a dispute over alleged defects, variations and delays in a residential building project completed in Victoria during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Investment Protection Structuring Advice

Advising Australian resource companies with overseas investments on restructuring for investment treaty protection involving interpretation of international legal instruments.

Defence of a personal injury claim

Represented a tertiary institution in defending a claim for vicarious liability arising from the alleged sexual misconduct of a former employee.

Negotiating Allegations of Misconduct against an Aged Care Institution

Represented a resident of a local aged care institution in respect of historical allegations of bullying, harassment and non-compliance with both internal dispute resolution mechanisms and applicable aged care standards.

Publications

Directors’ Duties in the Cyber Age: Navigating ASIC’s Expectations and Minimising Risk

LK Insights, Brooke Hall-Carney, Lucy Caruana and Jacob Moore (April 2025)

Down Under And Up to Code: Australia’s New Cyber Security Regime

LK Insights, Brooke Hall-Carney, Lucy Caruana, Jacob Moore and Tom McClure (December 2024)