Lisa Lim ’86 says Wellesley instilled in her a drive to solve complex problems and create opportunities for communities. She majored in political science and economics, learning the analytical and intellectual skills that would shape her career. “Wellesley taught me to be goal-oriented and think critically—skills I’ve carried with me throughout my life,” she says.
After a brief stint in banking, Lisa graduated from Fordham Law School in 1990, where she learned the methodical thinking needed for complex transactions. It also prepared her for a legal career defined by landmark deals that would transform New York City’s landscape.
Her first real estate finance position was at the New York State Housing Finance Agency in 1998. There, she helped finance projects that revitalized entire neighborhoods after they were rezoned, creating thousands of affordable housing units. “I’m proud my work has positively affected communities,” she says. As a lawyer, she has also helped to develop or finance schools (like the Harlem Children’s Zone facility), community facilities, and churches for clients.
With over 30 years’ experience as an attorney, she’s worked in both public and private sector real estate law. She’s a partner at Rosenberg & Estes, a prominent New York City real estate firm, after being the first general counsel at the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust in 2023. “At Wellesley, no one ever told me I couldn’t be a CEO, a general counsel, or a partner at a law firm,” Lisa says.
One of her proudest accomplishments is negotiating the high-stakes Cornell Tech deal, a cornerstone of the city’s tech sector. “I helped close the transaction on the eve of the Bloomberg administration, when we didn’t think we’d get all the votes necessary, but we received a unanimous vote due to the hard work that resulted in tangible community benefits for the community,” she says.
Beyond her legal work, Lisa is committed to education and mentorship. She’s an adjunct professor at Fordham Law School, teaching real estate transactions. She previously co-chaired Fordham Law’s minority mentorship program. “Minority law students received decision-making guidance and other valuable support,” she says. Her program reflected her own Wellesley experience. “Wellesley set high standards, and I always felt supported by the College and my classmates in striving to reach my goals,” she says.
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