Carolyn S. Lee is the principal and founder of Carolyn Lee PLLC, a U.S. law firm dedicated to investment immigration. She has represented regional centers, developers, funds, and investors for over a decade, helping U.S. project clients raise over $2.5 billion in EB-5 capital.
Currently, Lee holds leadership positions in the EB-5 bar and industry and is considered a preeminent authority on EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program law. She is Legislative Counsel to Invest in the USA (IIUSA), the EB-5 trade association representing stakeholders’ interests in the Regional Center Program. As such, she advised on and drafted key portions of the 2022 EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA), particularly provisions relating to investor protection.
In addition, she advises on RIA compliance for regional centers and new project requirements, as well as on new investor lawful source of funds requirements.
Previously, she served four terms as Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) national EB-5 Committee and as Chair, Vice-Chair, or Co-Chair for six years. In these capacities, she has authored key EB-5 legislative commentary since 2012, advocating for workable reform. Her current advocacy focuses on long-term EB-5 program reauthorization and expansion.
Lee has also been listed among The Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who Thought Leaders – Corporate Immigration, and Top 25 Immigration Lawyers. Her awards include Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award, AILA’s Joseph Minsky Young Lawyer Award, and AILA Presidential Commendation.
She earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science and Literature, cum laude, in 1993 from Williams College. She earned her law degree in 1999 from Cornell Law School, where she was Chancellor of the Cornell Law School Moot Court Board. Lee graduated from Cornell with a specialization in International Legal Affairs. She also attended Exeter College at Oxford University as a Visiting Scholar.