“Truly understanding the other party’s motivations often unlocks collaborative solutions.”

An interview with Stanley Lui, Legal Director – Asia at TI Automotive in Hong Kong. 

What are the biggest external forces or trends currently shaping your role as General Counsel and how are you responding to them? 

Tariffs: 

• Stay current on regulatory changes: closely monitor updates to tariff rules and licensing requirements in relevant jurisdictions to anticipate shifts and adjust compliance strategies accordingly. 

• Engage key stakeholders proactively: coordinate with the procurement teams and major customers – especially those with influence or lobbying capacity – to support expedited licensing approvals. 

How are you balancing the increasing demands of legal risk management with the expectation to drive business value and strategic insight? 

2 things come to mind: 

• Help the business grow by spotting risks early and offering practical solutions. 

• Work closely with teams to make sure decisions are smart, safe, and support long-term goals. 

What’s one lesson or insight from your in-house journey that you wish you’d known earlier and would share with a fellow GC today? 

One lesson I’d share is the value of empathy: truly understanding the other party’s motivations often unlocks collaborative solutions. It transforms negotiations into partnerships and helps achieve outcomes that are both legally sounds and commercially meaningful.