Manhattan, NY Lisa Lim has joined Rosenberg & Estis, P.C., as a member within the transactions department. Lim will contribute her experience in real estate finance and development, affordable housing, and economic development as part of the firm’s dedicated New York City development group.
Lim’s practice is focused on public-private collaborations with an emphasis on tax exempt bonds, affordable housing, and regulatory frameworks. She has served as lead counsel on multiple 80/20, affordable and mixed-use projects and played key roles in structuring and closing some of New York’s most transformative developments, including the $2 billion Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island that she negotiated with Cornell University, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp., the city and the state.
Lim has spent over 30 years representing developers, lenders, not-for-profit entities, and government agencies in the structuring, negotiation, and closing of complex transactions in every asset class, including mixed-use, multifamily, condominiums, hotels, churches, schools, and commercial property. She is a recognized thought leader who enjoys working on deals from start to finish, inclusive of land use, acquisition, financing, construction and stabilization.
Michael Lefkowitz, managing member of Rosenberg & Estis, P.C. and a leader of the firm’s transactions department, noted that Lim’s appointment comes as the city embarks on its historic City of Yes plan, the most ambitious update to NYC’s zoning code since 1961 devised to support growing businesses and commercial corridors, and to develop much needed housing.
Said Lefkowitz, “Lisa’s extensive experience in complex development and finance issues and her deep knowledge of government agencies and their programs further strengthens our award-winning team’s ability to help clients navigate historic zoning changes and position them to advance new development opportunities.”
Lim joins R&E from the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust, where she served as General Counsel. Before that, she was a partner at Akerman LLP following a career that included serving Empire State Development, New York State Housing Finance Agency, New York City Housing Authority, and the State of New York Office of the Attorney General.
Her work has included legal representation around the Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy I in Harlem, the New York Genome/University of Buffalo Genomics Center joint venture, the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center’s Healthview health center in Flushing, and a three-phase 500-unit mixed-use affordable housing project in East New York. Lim has negotiated and closed deals involving multiple City and State agencies as well as national entities, such as the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac.
“I am thrilled to be joining one of the city’s most recognized real estate law firms with a demonstrated excellence in completing complex transactions under often strict timelines,” said Lim. “As the State and City moves forward with its ambitious initiatives, I look forward to collaborating with its talented pool of attorneys to get projects financed, completed and put to use for the good of the city overall.”
Lim earned her J.D. at Fordham School of Law and B.A.’s in Economics and Political Science from Wellesley College, cum laude. She is the recipient of numerous professional accolades, including Super Lawyers (New York 2015-2023); Best Lawyers in America for Public Finance 2023; Globe Street Commercial Real Estate Woman of Influence 2022 Honoree; New York Real Estate Journal 2019, Recognized as a “Leading Woman in Real Estate”; Best Hotel Lawyer Award by the America China Hotel Association 2018; Best Lawyer Award by Taishanese in America; Sokol Media and NYCREW 2015, Recognized as “15 Top Women to Watch in 2015” in Real Estate.
Lim is a Fellow in the American College of Real Estate Layers (ACREL), where she was Co-Chair of the New Fellows Committee and now serves on the Membership Committee. Lim is an Adjunct Professor at Fordham Law School.
Lim serves as a board member of the Urban Law Center at Fordham School of Law; an advisory board member of Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) Manhattan; a board member and executive committee member of the Beaverkill Mountain Club. Lim is also a member of the board of The Child School/Legacy High School, a state funding-approved private, special education school for students with learning disabilities.
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