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

An interview with Stanley Lui, former Legal Director – Asia at TI Automotive in Hong Kong, now Founder at White Hat Guys.

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.