Carolyn S. Lee Curriculum Vitae

Education

CORNELL LAW SCHOOL, JD with Specialization in International Legal Affairs, May 1999 Chancellor, Cornell Law School Moot Court Board, 1999

WILLIAMS COLLEGE, BA in Literature and Political Science, cum laude, June 1993

OXFORD UNIVERSITY, EXETER COLLEGE

Visiting Student in Politics Philosophy & Economics, 1991-1992

STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL, June 1989

Experience

Carolyn Lee PLLC (Ithaca, NY)
Principal 2019-Present
Advise EB-5 regional centers, developers and investors on compliant project structuring, restructuring, documentation, and USCIS advocacy. Utilize experience spanning a dozen years helping project clients raise over $2.5 billion in EB-5 capital in varied projects across America. Includes counseling project clients reach I-829 approvals for over $1.27 billion. Represented and supervised investor representation of thousands of investors and family members achieve EB-5 classification and unconditional permanent residency.

Miller Mayer, LLP (Ithaca, NY)
Partner 2007-2018, Associate 2002-2006. EB-5 Immigration.

Harris Beach LLP (Ithaca, NY)
Associate 2001-2002. Real Estate, Secured transactions, Banking (lender representation).

Hunton & Williams (now Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP)(New York, NY)
Associate 1999-2001. Structured Finance (equity representation).

National EB-5 Leadership

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) EB-5 Committee
- Chair, 2019-2020
- Chair, 2018-2019
- Chair, 2017-2018
- Vice Chair, 2016-2017
- Co-Chair, 2015-2016
- Vice Chair, 2014-2015
- Chair, 2012-2013
- Member, 2009-Present
Invest in the USA (IIUSA),

Legislative Counsel (present)
Member, Public Policy Committee (2014-present)

AILA Advanced Business & EB-5 Issues Conference Committee, Member (2018-2019, Bangkok)
EB5Investors Magazine, Conference Organizer (2018, Los Angeles)
AILA Investor Conference Committee, Organizer and speaker
- 2014-2015 (August 22, 2014, Chicago)
- 2011-2012 (April 20, 2012 Bahamas)
- 2010-2011 (March 14, 2011 Las Vegas; October 20, 2011, San Antonio)
- 2009-2010 (October 2009, San Francisco)
AILA California Service Center Liaison Committee
- 2012-2013
- 2011-2012

National & International EB-5 Presentations

Panelist, AILA National Annual Conference, June 2021: EB-5
Panelist, 2021 IIUSA Leaders Advocacy Conference: May 2021: EB-5
Panelist, 2021 Uglobal, RCBI Markets & South America Virtual Conference, May 2021: E-2 & EB-5
Moderator, ILW.com EB-5 Update, Spring 2021: EB-5
Moderator, IIUSA 2020 Virtual EB-5 Forum, November 2020: EB-5
Panelist, 2020 EB-5 & Uglobal Virtual Expo, May 2020: EB-5
Speaker, AILA National Conference (San Diego) (invited), June 2020: EB-5
Moderator, IIUSA Conference (Washington DC) (invited), May 2020: EB-5 Visa Backlog
EB5Investors Magazine (Seoul), September 2019: Changes to the EB-5 Program
Moderator, Speaker, AILA National Webinar: August 2019: New EB-5 Regulations
Speaker, AILA National Webinar: August 2019: E-2 and EB-5
Speaker, ilw.com: July 2019: New EB-5 Regulations
AILA-IIUSA EB-5 Industry Forum (Chicago), October 2018: EB-5 Regulations
Moderator/Speaker, TiE Silicon Valley, “Decoding Immigration in Today’s America” (Santa Clara), August 2018: EB-5
Speaker, EB-5 Investors Magazine Conference (Los Angeles), July 2018: EB-5 (“At Risk” requirement)
Speaker, NES Financial (Webinar), EB-5 Capital: New Needs, New Sources, July 2018
Speaker, AILA National Conference (San Francisco), June 2018: Advanced EB-5
Speaker, ilw.com series on EB-5 visas for H-1B visa holders, May 2018 (New York)
Speaker, Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), May, 2018: EB-5 P3 financing
Speaker, The Knowledge Group (TKG), February 2018: EB-5
Speaker, EB-5 Investors Magazine Conference (Las Vegas), January 2018: EB-5
Speaker, Moderator, AILA EB-5 Summit (Las Vegas), December 2017: EB-5
Speaker, P3 Conference, World Trade Center, New Orleans, (invited) (NOLA), November 2017: EB-5 an public private partnership
Moderator, IIUSA EB-5 Market Exchange (Miami), October 2017: EB-5
Moderator, EB-5 Investors Magazine Conference (invited) (Mumbai), October 2017: EB-5
Speaker, EB-5 Diligence Webinar (EB-5 Legislation), October 2017
Moderator, EB-5 Investors Magazine Conference (San Francisco), July 2017: EB-5 redeployment
Speaker
Panelist, EB-5 Program Reform: LIVE Webcast (March 2017)
Panelist, NES Financial EB-5 Innovation Summit (New York, NY), February 2017
Moderator, EB-5 Investors Magazine Conference (Las Vegas), January 2017: EB-5
Discussion Leader, AILA EB-5 Conference (Washington DC), October 2016: EB-5
Speaker, EB-5 Investors Magazine Conference (New York), July 2016: EB-5
Speaker, AILA National Conference (Las Vegas), June 24, 2016: EB-5
Speaker (invited), AILA Colorado Chapter (Denver), October 12-14, 2016: EB-5
Speaker, AILA New York Chapter (NYC), May 2, 2016: EB-5
Speaker (invited), AILA New England Chapter (Boston), March 4, 2016: EB-5
Speaker, NES Financial EB-5 Innovation Summit (New York, NY), February 2016
Speaker, ILW.com EB-5 Roundtable, January 2016
Speaker, PLI, 48^th Annual Immigration and Naturalization Institute (New York, NY), December 2015: EB-5
Speaker, 2015 IIUSA EB-5 Market Exchange, EB-5 Law and Policy, October 2015 (Dallas): EB-5: Recent trends and policy updates
Discussion Leader, IIUSA webinar: EB-5 Litigation: Strategies & Trends, September 2015
Speaker, Forbes (China) Forum (Shanghai, China; Shenyang, China): EB-5, August 2015
Discussion Leader, AILA EB-5 Conference: Advanced Issues Representing EB-5 Investors (Las Vegas), August 2015
Discussion Leader, AILA Annual Conference, June 2015 (National Harbor, MD): EB-5 law
Panelist, IIUSA webinar: Loan proceeds as qualifying capital for an EB-5 Investment (“indebtedness” issue), May 2015
Panelist, AILA New York Chapter: EB-5 CLE, May 2015
Panelist, IIUSA webinar: EB-5 Retrogression, April 2015
Panelist, EB-5 Diligence webinar: Repayment and redeployment of EB-5 Funds, April 2015
Discussion Leader, 2015 Invest in American Conference, March 2015 (Shanghai, China): EB-5: Chinese investor source of funds
Moderator, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Forum on EB-5 Program, February 2015 (Condado, Puerto Rico): EB-5: EB-5 as a tool for economic development
Speaker, PLI, 47^th Annual Immigration and Naturalization Institute (New York, NY), December 2014: EB-5
Speaker, 2014 IIUSA EB-5 Market Exchange, EB-5 Law and Policy, October 22-24, 2014 (San Francisco): EB-5: Recent trends and policy updates
Discussion Leader, IIUSA Webinar ‘EB-5 Economics: Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs) & Economic Methodologies’, (September 25, 2014)
Co-host and organizer, “Conversations with the EB-5 Committee,” AILA, Teleconference (September 17, 2014)
Co-organizer, Discussion Leader, Speaker, AILA EB-5 Conference, August 2014 (Chicago, IL): EB-5: Hot topics and recent policy trends
Speaker, AILA Annual Conference, June 2014 (Boston, NY): EB-5
Speaker, IIUSA Annual Conference, May 7-9, 2014 (Washington, DC): EB-5
Speaker, U.S. Small Business Administration, Region VI Symposium, May 2014 (New Orleans): EB-5
Speaker, Los Angeles County Bar Association, EB-5 Conference, February 2014 (Los Angeles): EB-5
Discussion Leader, Speaker, AILA Annual Conference, June 2013 (San Francisco): EB-5
Discussion Leader, Speaker, AILA Mexico City Chapter, May 2013 (Miami): EB-5
Speaker, IndustryWeek, Roundtable in the Rockies, March 2013 (Vail, Colo): EB-5 (invited)
Speaker, AILA South Florida Chapter, February 2013 (Miami): EB-5 (invited)
Speaker, IIUSA Annual Conference, October 2012 (Washington, DC): EB-5
Speaker, AILA Annual Conference, June 2012 (Nashville): EB-5
Speaker, Co-organizer, AILA EB-5 Investor Conference, April 2012 (The Bahamas)
Speaker, Co-organizer, AILA EB-5 Investor Conference, October 2011 (San Antonio)
Discussion Leader, Speaker, AILA NYC Chapter CLE on EB-5, April 28, 2011
Discussion Leader, Speaker, AILA EB-5 Investor Conference, March 2011 (Las Vegas)
Speaker, Co-organizer, AILA EB-5 Investor Conference, August 2010 (Boston)
Speaker, AILA Annual EB-5 Conference, June 2010 (Washington, DC)
Speaker, Co-organizer, AILA EB-5 Investor Conference, December 2009 (San Francisco)
Speaker, ILW.com workshop, (October-December, 2009)
Speaker, AILA Annual Conference, June 2009 (Las Vegas): EB-5 (invited)
Speaker, ILW.com workshop, (April, 2009)
Speaker, ILW.com workshop, (October 23, 2008)
Speaker, ILW.com workshop, entitled ‘Investors and Entrepreneurs’ (March 20, 2008)
Speaker, ILW.com workshop ‘Investor Visas Workshop’ (December 7, 2007)
Discussion Leader, Speaker, AILA Audio Seminar, (October 25, 2007)
Speaker, ILW.com workshop (March 30, 2007)

EB-5 Publications (partial)

Author, ‘EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2020: Section-by-Section Summary,’ IIUSA (December 2020)
Co-Author, ‘Deciphering the October 2020 Visa Bulletin,’ IIUSA (September 2020)
Author, ‘EB-5 Numbers and COVID-19 Economic Recovery,’ Regional Center Business Journal, Vol. 8, Issue 1 (IIUSA, May 2020), appearing at https://iiusa.org/news-publications/regional-center-business-journal/
Author, IIUSA Member Blog, IPO Engagement regarding I-526 Inventory Processing Change (March 2020)
Author, ‘Izummi 20 Years Later: EB-5 Investments Unreasonably at Risk,’ Immigration Options for Investors & Entrepreneurs (4d ed. AILA 2019)
Author, ‘New USCIS EB-5 Redemption Policy Update,’ (ilw.com, November 2018)
Author, ‘Summary and Analysis of Litigation to Expand EB-5 Visa Capacity,’ Regional Center Business Journal, Vol. 6, Issue 2 (IIUSA, October 2018), appearing at https://iiusa.org/news-publications/regional-center-business-journal/
Author, Author, ‘Izummi 20 Years Later: EB-5 Investments Unreasonably At Risk,’ Immigration Options for Investors & Entrepreneurs (4d ed. AILA 2019) (to be published)
Author, AILA EB-5 Committee comments to Prohibited Redemption Agreements (posted October 2018)
Author, AILA EB-5 Committee comments to Rescission of Tenant Occupancy (posted May 2018)
Author, ‘Straight Talk on Redeployment,’ EB5Investors Magazine (November 2017)
Author, ‘Comparison of the Leading EB-5 Reform Legislation Proposals: Cornyn Draft and Grassley Draft,’ National Law Review, (October 2017)
Author, ‘USCIS Site Visits,’ IIUSA Regional Center Journal (October 2017)
Author, ‘At Risk and Sustaining Investment,’ ilw.com (June 2017)
Author, ‘EB- Regional Center Program Reauthorization: 2015,’ Practising Law Institute (PLI), 48^th Annual Immigration and Naturalization Institute (December 2015).
Author, Comparison of EB-5 House Bills (August 17, 2015) http://www.aila.org/infonet/comparison-chart-of-house-eb-5-bills)
Author, AILA EB-5 Committee comments to S. 1501 (posted July 16, 2015) (and subsequent legislative drafts).
Author, “Material Change: Managing the Inevitable duringEB-5 Visa Retrogression,” PLI, December 2014, reprinted in IIUSA, Vol. 2, Issue 4 (December 2014).
Author, ‘Update: The Meaning of ‘At Risk’ in EB-5 Investment’, Immigration Options for Investors & Entrepreneurs (3d ed. AILA 2014)
Author, ‘State Designations of EB-5 Targeted Employment Areas,’ Regional Center Business Journal, Vol. 2, Issue 1 (IIUSA, March 2014), appearing at .
Author, ‘Deference without Substance: Effect of Material Change Doctrine in EB-5 Deference Policy,’ (December 2012)
Author, ‘Material Change’ in EB-5 Petitions: A Need to Return to the Drawing Board,’ 15 Benders Immigr. Bull. 1505 (Nov. 1, 2010)
Author, ‘The Meaning of ‘At Risk’ in EB-5 Investment’, Immigration Options for Investors & Entrepreneurs (2d ed. AILA 2010)
Co-Author, ‘Relevance of U.S. Securities Laws to Immigrant Investors, EB-5 Regional Centers and Their Advisors,’ 14 Benders Immigr. Bull. 938 (Aug. 1, 2009)
Author, ‘Ethical and Practical Considerations in EB-5 Practice’ appearing at http://www.ilw.com/articles/2007,1120-lee.shtm and reprinted at 13 Benders Immigr. Bull. 321 (Mar. 15, 2008).
Co-author with S. Yale-Loehr on the comprehensive EB-5 article entitled ‘EB-5 Immigrant Investors’ published annually in the AILA Immigration and Nationality Law Handbook.

Professional Accolades

The Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Immigration Law (2012-2021)
Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Corporate Immigration (2019) (inaugural issue)
The Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Immigration Law (2012-2019)
Lawyer of the Year, The Best Lawyers in America, Immigration (2018)
Finance Monthly Global Awards 2017, Corporate Immigration Lawyer of the Year (USA)
An International Who’s Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers (2008-2018)
50 Outstanding Asian Americans in Business Award (2016)
AILA Presidential Commendation (2015)
AILA Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award Recipient: 2008 recipient of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)’s Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law