'Jackie Kennedy of China' at Center of Political Drama

The wife of sacked Communist Party official Bo Xilai made quite an impression when she showed up in Mobile, Ala., 15 years ago with her young son in tow. Denver lawyer Ed Byrne, whom she had hired to represent Chinese companies embroiled in a legal mess in U.S. federal court, was struck by her brains, charm and beauty. Gu Kailai, he says, seemed like the "Jackie Kennedy of China.

"The business cards she distributed carried the name Horus L. Kai—a name she used in various business dealings over the years in the U.S. and U.K. A practicing lawyer in China, she helped chart the winning legal strategy, Mr. Byrne says. When the case was over, she invited her legal team back to China to entertain them in the port city of Dalian along with her husband, who was mayor there.        More Read