Our Team

Biography

Bakari G. Lee’s primary practice area is special counsel for affordable housing transactions involving low and moderate-income housing tax credits, the Rental Assistance Demonstration program and other federal, state and local financing programs, for public housing agencies and private developers alike. In recognition of this experience, Bakari was appointed to the Affordable Housing Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, where he currently serves as Chairman. Bakari has also served as bond counsel to multiple clients at the state, county and local level, as well as providing underwriter and trustee counsel services. In addition, Bakari provides general counsel services to public and private entities involving a wide array of issues. Bakari also serves as the firm’s Chief Diversity Officer and is a member of the Executive Committee.

Bakari Lee is an active advocate for education. In 2006, he was appointed to the Board of Trustees for Hudson County Community College. In 2024, he transitioned off the board and was designated as a Trustee Emeritus. Nationally, Bakari served on the Board of Directors for the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) from 2011-18, on its Executive Committee from 2013-2018 and as its Chair from 2016-2017. He also served as Chair of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) from 2011-2014 and served on its Executive Committee until 2018. Bakari was also awarded an honorary Associate of Arts degree by Atlantic Cape Community College for his work in the community college sector. Bakari has given commencement speeches at Warren County Community College, Bergen Community College and Atlantic Cape Community College. He was recently recognized by ACCT with the M. Dale Ensign Trustee Leadership Award, the most prestigious national recognition in the field, and by NJCCC with its Ronald D. Winthers Community College Trustee Leadership Award.

Prior to joining McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, in 2003, Bakari was a law clerk for the Honorable Darryl Dean Donohue of the Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands – St. Croix Division. Before joining the Territorial Court, he was a Senior Financial Analyst in the Animal Health Division of Pfizer, Inc. in positions of increasing responsibility, ultimately supporting the division’s business development and strategic planning initiatives.

Bakari is active in several social and civic organizations. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, and a Past Basileus (President) of the Jersey City Chapter. Bakari is also the Volunteer Program Administrator for the Morristown Neighborhood House Rites of Passage Program. He is also the proud recipient of the 2015 Boy Scouts of America Whitney M. Young Service Award and was recognized in 2018 by the New Jersey Chapter of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association as an “Alumni Making a Difference”.