First, Kill All the Lawyers: Premier Advice for Becoming A World-Class Business

By Stephen A. Nelson

 Renowned Taipei lawyer C.V. Chen has some advice for anyone doing business in Taiwan and China: "Get good legal advice" and make it an integral part of your decision-making process.

Chen is a managing partner at Lee and Li, one of Taiwan's premier law firms. He gave his free advice while speaking at a joint meeting of the British, American and French chambers of commerce in Taipei.

Chen warmed up the crowd by telling a couple of jokes at his own expense. He first cited William Shakespeare's best-known legal advice, "First, kill all the lawyers!"

Then he asked, "How can you tell when a lawyer is lying?"

This reporter was the only one who dared speak aloud the correct answer,"How can you tell when a lawyer is lying? His lips move."
"That's right," Chen concurred.

All kidding aside, Chen engaged his audience with true stories and cautionary tales underlining the importance of being honest. Well, at least legal. That means paying attention to:

• the law in your home country
• the law in those countries where you do business
• international law

Those who fail to obey the law do so at their own peril, Chen says. And this holds true whether you're a foreign business operating in Taiwan or a Taiwanese business operating in another country.

Yes, even in China. And even though Chen admits that "rule of law is a foreign concept in Chinese society."

From April, 2005

Taipei's BritCham Marks Battle of Trafalgar

British Chamber of Commerce in Taipei
Brits Note Nelson's Famous Battle

By Stephen A. Nelson
November-December, 2005

Christmas Presence from Christmas Past

British Chamber of Commerce (BritCham) Taipei
Gets into the Christmas Spirit(s)

By Stephen A. Nelson

January-February, 2005

BritCham Events or "What's Going On, Anyway?"

British Chamber of Commerce (BritCham) Taipei
News, Events and Happenings

By Stephen A. Nelson

May-June, 2005

October-November, 2005

May-June, 2006

Ballad of the Beautiful Isle Rolling on the River with BritCham Chums

British Chamber of Commerce (BritCham) Taipei
First-Class Cruise Offers Fun, Food and Fanfare

By Stephen A. Nelson

September-October, 2005

One of the BritCham's most successful social events was a three-hour evening dinner cruise on the Keelung River in Taipei. Featuring food, fun and fanfare... it was so successful that it spawned a sequel.

Here's my verse version of what happened on that voyage - with apologies to the Ballad of Gilligan's Isle.

Britain's Cultural Diplomacy: Official Unofficial Diplomats in 'Chinese Taipei'

British Chamber of Commerce (BritCham) Taipei
Dancing the Diplomatic Dialectic

By Stephen A. Nelson

March-April, 2006

Due to pressure from China, Taiwan suffers from its persona non grata status in the United Nations, as well as from a lack of international recognition. It has no formal diplomatic ties with Britain.

But Britain does have informal ties with Taiwan, mainly through the British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei and The British Council.

This story introduced readers to Britain's two new "unofficial" diplomats.