Petro Kostiv

Born in Ukraine, Petro Richard Kostiv immigrated to the United States at the age of eighteen, marking the beginning of a lifelong journey shaped by resilience, adaptability, and purpose. Adjusting to a new country during his formative years taught him to embrace challenge and change with determination. This experience inspired his passion for helping others overcome uncertainty, laying the foundation for a career devoted to guiding individuals through legal, cultural, and professional transitions worldwide.

Petro’s linguistic and cultural versatility reflects his global perspective. He is fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Ukrainian, and also reads and speaks conversational Mandarin. He earned his B.A. in history with honors from the University of California, Berkeley, with a focus on Latin American development. He later completed an M.A. in political science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, where he specialized in international and comparative law.

His professional experience began early, with a summer internship at the Supreme Court of Argentina, where he observed constitutional and administrative law in practice. Beyond his legal education, Petro pursued aviation studies, earning a B.S. in Aviation and a certificate in U.S. Aviation Law from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. After gaining experience in cross-border legal research and practice, he founded Kostiv & Associates, which now operates offices across Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, Baltimore, and Miami, serving a diverse, global clientele.

Petro is both a legal expert and an accomplished aviator. Holding private and commercial pilot licenses with single and multiengine ratings, as well as FAA instructor certifications, he merges technical aviation understanding with strong legal acumen. His advanced training in aviation safety, compliance, and accident investigation enables him to provide clients with informed guidance in complex international matters involving regulation and risk.

As managing partner, Petro emphasizes precision, transparency, and collaboration in all aspects of his firm’s operations. He lectures internationally on comparative law, aviation regulation, and legal ethics, and developed a course on the U.S. Legal System for Kiev University of Law. Deeply dedicated to humanitarian work, he supports orphanages and disaster relief programs in Mexico, Tanzania, and El Salvador.

Today, as president of the Ukrainian American Bar Association, Petro Kostiv continues to champion legal reform, global dialogue, and mentorship. Guided by empathy and discipline, he remains devoted to advancing justice, education, and professional excellence across borders.