Helen Luu

2009

• Master of Laws (Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar), Columbia University in the City of New York
• First Class Honours Degree in Law, University of Adelaide
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Adelaide
• Diploma in Languages (Chinese), University of Adelaide
• Diplome d’Etudes en Langue Francaise (DELF)

Helen is an experienced appellate and trial advocate specialising in criminal law (including criminal assets confiscations), disciplinary and regulatory laws, with an interest and practice in civil and administrative laws.

With a focus in appellate work including judicial reviews, Helen has presented arguments in the Court of Appeal, Federal Court and appeared as junior counsel in the High Court.

Helen accepts briefs in disciplinary and regulatory matters for all professionals. She has appeared in the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in matters for the National Boards for registered health practitioners.

She provides advice to a number of Commonwealth and State Government Departments.

Helen appears in jury trials for the defence and prosecution authorities and is approved counsel for the Legal Services Commission’s Complex Criminal Law Panel including the murder subpanel. She has juniored in murder trials and murder conviction appeals.

Her practice has also included appearances in the Coroner’s Court, Administrative Appeals Tribunal and other Statutory Inquiries and/or Commissions.

In South Australia and interstate, Helen has led serious maladministration investigations, acted as counsel assisting in complex corruption inquiries and a statutory body reviewing Commonwealth legislation.

She spent three months at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in New York and visited Tanzania to advise the Prevention and Combatting of Corruption Bureau on energy and mining laws.

Helen is fluent in Vietnamese, holds diplomas in French and Chinese (Mandarin) and speaks conversational Chinese (Cantonese). 

• BFG v The Queen [2014] HCATrans 131 – lies direction – junior counsel
• Counsel Assisting the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption of the Northern Territory, 2022
• Counsel Assisting the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, 2021-2022
• Alzuain et al v R [2024] SASCA – decision reserved as of Sept 2024 – junior counsel in appeal against murder convictions
• Hai Ngoc Nguyen v The Queen; Xuan Binh Tran v The Queen; Thanh Chi Nguyen v The Queen [2022] SASCA 25 – junior counsel in appeal against sentence
• Kingston (a pseudonym) v The Queen; Maxwell (a pseudonym) v The Queen [2022] SASCA 90 – trial counsel, legal argument on mixed/pure successfully appealed against conviction
• R v Nankivell [2022] SASCA 87 – Crown appeal against sentence
• Ryan v The King [2022] SASCA 110 and Ryan v The King [2024] SASCA 94 – appeal against sentence and permission for leave to appeal against conviction
• R v B, FG [2013] SASCFC 24 – extended joint enterprise, junior counsel
• Kumar v Commissioner of Police [2023] SASC 93
• Bol Bol v Australian Federal Police [2021] SASC 60 – Magistrates’ Appeal
• Gjona v The Queen [2021] SASCA 79 – appeal against sentence
• Quist v The Queen [2021] SASCA 106 – junior counsel in appeal against conviction
• R v De Sousa Leal [2019] SASCFC 57 – trial counsel, appeals against sentence and conviction
• R v AK, Church, Latta, Ngatai & Kola [2018] SADC 4 – co-counsel, forensic accounting evidence
• R v Cassidy [2017] SASCFC 134 – appeal against sentence
• Harmer v Police [2017] SASC 24 – Magistrates’ Appeal
• R v Kimmins [2016] SASC 176 – extended supervision order
• R v Hamra [2016] SADC 4; R v Hamra No 2 [2016] SADC 8 – trial counsel, cross-admissibility
• R v B, LK [2016] SADC 92; R v B, LK [2017] SASCFC 7 – trial counsel, persistent sexual exploitation
• R v C, CA [2013] SASCFC 137 – trial counsel, discreditable conduct evidence