Lydia Wong
Lydia Wong, the Deputy General Counsel at the Urban Resource Institute (URI), brings a wealth of legal expertise to the organization. As a key member of URI’s Senior Team, Wong reports directly to Heidi Hamilton, URI’s General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, and assumes a pivotal role in advising on governance, contracts, procurement, finance, policies, procedures, and employment.
Prior to joining URI, Wong served as an associate at a law firm exclusively serving New York non-profits and mission driven businesses. Her diverse professional journey includes serving as in-house counsel at esteemed organizations such as Nonprofit Finance Fund, The Rockefeller Foundation and the United States Golf Association (USGA). Wong began her career as a corporate associate at Davis, Polk & Wardwell. Wong’s professional journey includes serving as an Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice at Seton Hall Law School, showcasing her commitment to education and training.
Committed to building a robust legal infrastructure, Wong develops policies and procedures critical to URI’s mission. Wong collaborates with all departments to comprehend and incorporate legal and contractual obligations affecting URI’s programs, advocacy, facilities, information technology, fundraising, marketing and communications, and employees.
Wong’s dedication extends to providing regulatory and compliance training, supervising professional and administrative staff, and seamlessly stepping into the role of the General Counsel when needed. Her comprehensive legal direction and strategic advice contribute significantly to URI’s mission of empowering individuals and families in times of crisis.
A distinguished professional, Lydia Wong’s appointment as Deputy General Counsel underscores URI’s commitment to excellence in legal representation and advocacy for those in need. Wong holds a JD, cum laude, from Harvard Law School and a BA with honors from the University of California, Berkeley. Wong was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2000.
