Handel Lee
Encyclopedia
Handel Lee is a Shanghai
attorney
and luxury developer well known for transforming historic landmarks into upscale developments. He also currently is a senior partner at the law firm King & Wood
. Lee is well known for his high-end developments, including Beijing Legation Quarter
and The Bund
in Shanghai. Ron Gluckman recognized him as China's "Style Setter" for his support of the arts.
, where both of his parents were born, in 1981. His mother is a native of Beijing
, from a family with a long royal lineage. His father grew up in Shanghai, but was born in Nanjing
, where Lee’s grandfather was the president of the theological seminary. Between studies at the University of Virginia
and Georgetown University Law Center
, Lee made more visits to China and spent several months learning Mandarin in Beijing.
. After leaving Skadden, Lee practiced at the law firm of Vinson & Elkins as head of its China practice. Lee then joined King & Wood and served briefly as the firm's managing partner. Lee was among the first American lawyers to establish China practices for major U.S. firms.
Lee's business ventures typically combine his interests in Chinese art
, blues
and jazz
music, motorcycles, and fine cuisine. His projects include some of China's most acclaimed, according to Forbes
magazine, most notably the Beijing Legation Quarter. The Courtyard, and Three on the Bund.
The Courtyard is a restaurant and art gallery popular with celebrities such as Mick Jagger
and Arnold Schwarzenegger
. Shanghai's Three on the Bund, a ninety-year-old, seven-story stone tower redesigned by architect Michael Graves
, is host to galleries, shops, and upscale restaurants. Many credit Three on the Bund for establishing the city's historic riverfront as a center of tourism, dining, and nightlife when it opened in 2004.
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
attorney
Attorney at law
An attorney at law in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on the retainer of clients. Alternative terms include counselor and lawyer...
and luxury developer well known for transforming historic landmarks into upscale developments. He also currently is a senior partner at the law firm King & Wood
King & Wood
King & Wood PRC Lawyers is among the first law firms established when law firms were repermitted in the People’s Republic of China during the modern era...
. Lee is well known for his high-end developments, including Beijing Legation Quarter
Beijing Legation Quarter
The Peking Legation Quarter was the area in Peking where a number of foreign legations were located between 1861 and 1959. In Chinese, the area is known as Dōng jiāomín xiàng , which is the name of the hutong running through the area...
and The Bund
The Bund
The Bund is a waterfront area in central Shanghai, People's Republic of China. The area centres on a section of Zhongshan Road within the former Shanghai International Settlement, which runs along the western bank of the Huangpu River, facing Pudong, in the eastern part of Huangpu District...
in Shanghai. Ron Gluckman recognized him as China's "Style Setter" for his support of the arts.
Early Life and Education
Raised outside of Washington, DC, Lee first visited ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, where both of his parents were born, in 1981. His mother is a native of Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, from a family with a long royal lineage. His father grew up in Shanghai, but was born in Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, where Lee’s grandfather was the president of the theological seminary. Between studies at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
, Lee made more visits to China and spent several months learning Mandarin in Beijing.
Professional career
He returned to China in 1991 to open the law office of U.S. firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & FlomSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates , founded in 1948, is a prominent law firm based in New York City. With over 2,000 attorneys, it is one of the largest and highest-grossing law firms in the world. Forbes magazine calls Skadden "Wall Street's most powerful law firm"...
. After leaving Skadden, Lee practiced at the law firm of Vinson & Elkins as head of its China practice. Lee then joined King & Wood and served briefly as the firm's managing partner. Lee was among the first American lawyers to establish China practices for major U.S. firms.
Lee's business ventures typically combine his interests in Chinese art
Chinese art
Chinese art is visual art that, whether ancient or modern, originated in or is practiced in China or by Chinese artists or performers. Early so-called "stone age art" dates back to 10,000 BC, mostly consisting of simple pottery and sculptures. This early period was followed by a series of art...
, blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music, motorcycles, and fine cuisine. His projects include some of China's most acclaimed, according to Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine, most notably the Beijing Legation Quarter. The Courtyard, and Three on the Bund.
The Courtyard is a restaurant and art gallery popular with celebrities such as Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
. Shanghai's Three on the Bund, a ninety-year-old, seven-story stone tower redesigned by architect Michael Graves
Michael Graves
Michael Graves is an American architect. Identified as one of The New York Five, Graves has become a household name with his designs for domestic products sold at Target stores in the United States....
, is host to galleries, shops, and upscale restaurants. Many credit Three on the Bund for establishing the city's historic riverfront as a center of tourism, dining, and nightlife when it opened in 2004.