Handel Lee is the Co-Founder and Chair of Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum, the nonprofit organization leading the effort to establish a national museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., dedicated to preserving and honoring the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans in America’s history and society.
In his legal practice, Mr. Lee has been a recognized leading lawyer in energy, infrastructure and project finance in Asia. He was partner at top-tier global law firms and was one of the earliest American lawyers to practice in China. In 1991, he founded and led the China practice of Skadden, Arps, and opened its Beijing office. He participated in and led groundbreaking foreign investment, financings, and infrastructure development projects in China
Beyond the legal profession, Mr. Lee has been a pioneering figure in introducing Western contemporary art, architecture, fine dining, and cultural innovation to China and an early patron of Chinese contemporary art. His notable ventures include Founder/Partner, Ch’ienmen 23\Legation Quarter and Beijing Center for the Arts (2008); Co-Founder/Partner, Three on the Bund and Shanghai Gallery of Art (2004); Founder/Owner, The Courtyard Restaurant and Courtyard Gallery, Beijing (1996). He also served as Chief Advisor on the Urban Constellation museum cluster project of 4 interrelated museums and urban redevelopment in Hangzhou 2009-2015. These ventures helped redefine the contemporary cultural landscape in China during a time of rapid societal transformation.
Mr. Lee has held leadership roles across a range of cultural and philanthropic institutions, including: Vice Chair, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center; Board of Director, Jane Goodall Institute China, China Advisory Board of Christie’s and the Lincoln Center Global; and Board of Visitors, Georgetown University Law Center.
His contributions to law, arts, and public service have been widely recognized, including recipient of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award (2006), the Order of the Star of Italy Commendatore (2007), and Georgetown Law’s Paul R. Dean Award (2008).
A native of Washington, D.C., Mr. Lee holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from Georgetown Law. He serves on the Board and is DC Regional Chair of Committee of 100.
