This is interesting, potentially career-limiting dilemma; Tim Dutton is Britain’s most senior barrister as Chairman of the Bar Council. He’s come forward to urge UK lawyers to refuse work in China, thus avoiding supporting human rights abuses. Dutton said he was concerned about the number of British law firms setting up offices in China and the danger that their work could help to support further brutality through increasing revenue to the State tax coffers. Dutton said that work by lawyers seeking to improve the Chinese legal system and respect for human rights was justifiable, but he rejects an argument made by some that commercial contact would ultimately bolster the law, saying it was taking a "very long time" for any significant progress to be seen. London firms with offices in China include Clifford Chance, Linklaters, Allen & Overy and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. China’s business morals can look shakey at the best of times. We’re particularly enjoying the story circulating that the main factory manufacturing and exporting Free Tibet flags is in…wait for it…Guangdong, China!!