Brian E. Lawlor has joined Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP as Of Counsel in the firm’s real-estate group, where his practice will focus on affordable housing and housing finance.

He has served as commissioner and chief executive officer of New York State’s housing agencies, as Governor Mario M. Cuomo’s assistant secretary, as general counsel for the New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation, and as the City of New Orleans’ director of Housing Policy and Community Development in the administration of Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu.

Lawlor represents private developers and not-for-profit corporations, and advises state and local governments across the county in affordable housing and neighborhood development, construction, operation and planning, and in formulating and implementing disaster recovery strategies

He has more than 30 years of successful senior-level experience in planning, designing and implementing revitalization and development programs in urban, rural, and suburban communities that have created new housing and businesses while preserving existing housing and businesses.

Lawlor earned a juris doctor degree from New York Law School and a bachelor of arts degree from Hofstra University. He has been an active member in national and state bar associations and was the co-founding chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Low Income and Affordable Housing.