Biography and Professional Career of Petro Kostiv.pdf

Petro Richard Kostiv was born in Ukraine and immigrated to the United States at eighteen, an age when resilience and determination became essential to adapting to a new culture. This early journey shaped his empathy for those facing unfamiliar systems and inspired a career dedicated to guiding others through complex transitions. Having visited over 150 countries, Petro developed a global perspective that continues to influence his legal and humanitarian work today.

1. Petro Kostiv
Founder of Kostiv Cardinal

Petro Richard Kostiv was born in Ukraine and moved to the United States at the age of 18.
Learning to acclimate to a new country during such formative years taught him perseverance
and granted him his own lens into the immigrant experience.

This initial experience became the foundation for a career helping others navigate through
what can be overwhelming transitions. Having visited over 150 countries so far, Petro Kostiv
has developed firsthand knowledge of many legal systems, economic environments, and
cultures, which enables him to relate to clients from diverse backgrounds.

2. He speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Ukrainian fluently; Petro can also
read German and speak conversational Mandarin Chinese.
Academic and Professional Education
Petro's education is as global as his professional perspective. He graduated with honors
from the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a B.A. in history, with a focus on
Latin American political and economic development.

His interest in comparative politics led him to South Africa, where he obtained an MA in
political science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Petro later obtained a Juris Doctor
degree from the University of Michigan Law School, where he also received a certificate in
international law with a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean.
While in law school, he had spent a summer in Buenos Aires working at the Supreme Court
of Argentina and observing constitutional and administrative law in action. Beyond his legal
education, Petro holds a B.S. in Aviation and a certificate in U.S. Aviation Law from
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, as well as an IATA program on aviation safety and
compliance.
Early Career and Legal Practice
Petro's early professional experiences consisted of local internships and legal research for
international cases. Following law school, he pursued a career with firms specializing in
cross-border transactions. Still, he later established Kostiv & Associates, which is now a
multi-office firm with representation throughout Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Virginia,
Maryland, Baltimore, and Miami.

He maintains a broad-based practice that includes investor support, business strategies, and
aviation consulting. Petro has appeared before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
federal courts, and embassies worldwide, communicating with thousands of clients in
one-on-one settings. His work has also led him to Europe, Latin America, China, and the
Former Soviet Bloc to undertake on-site client matters, further strengthening his hands-on
approach to finding legal and regulatory solutions.
Aviation Expertise and Credentials
Few attorneys have both expert-level technical knowledge of aviation and strong legal skills
like Petro does. He holds a private and commercial pilot's license with single and multiengine
specifications. Additionally, he holds instrument ratings and is an FAA-certified flight
instructor, flight instrument instructor, advanced ground instructor, and ground instrument
instructor.

Petro Kostiv has received specialized instruction on aviation insurance, airline contracts, and
aircraft finance. He has also completed a professional seminar in aviation accident
investigation, which enables him to assist with cases that involve regulatory compliance and
risk management.

3. He is fluent in both the technical and legal language of aviation and has become a trusted
resource to operators, insurance companies, and aircraft owners.
Leadership and Firm Management
As managing partner of Kostiv & Associates, Petro oversees teams in multiple U.S. offices to
ensure cases are handled consistently and efficiently. At every stage, he emphasizes the
importance of planning, communication, and preparation with his clients.

Petro trains and expects his team to be disciplined in tracking issues with checklists,
meetings, and timelines so that clients know exactly what they can expect. This grounded,
transparent approach is one of the firm's strengths and part of why clients return for ongoing
advice.
Academic Contributions and Public Speaking
Petro is deeply invested in education and mentorship. For Kiev University of Law, he
developed an entire course on the U.S. Legal System, which aims to explain how American
courts function practically for students.

Outside Ukraine, he has given lectures at conferences and universities in Beijing, Rome,
San Salvador, and Kyiv. These encounters focus on themes of comparative law,
cross-border transactions, and aviation regulations.

His lectures combine rigorous legal analysis with practical application, using real-life
scenarios to enable students and practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of the law.
Humanitarian and Community Involvement
Petro is very dedicated to helping others using his expertise and resources. With his wife, he
sponsors an orphanage in Tanzania and has financed renovations of children's homes in
Central America, as well as Mexico.

Following the 2017 Mexico City earthquake, Petro collaborated with the Mexican Red Cross
to provide aid to over 500 families in some of the most severely affected neighborhoods. He
led efforts in 2020 to provide food, clothing, and financial support to families in El Salvador
who were most severely impacted by the pandemic and economic uncertainty. He believes
that true professional success must always be accompanied by social responsibility.
Professional Memberships and Leadership Roles
One of Petro’s most outstanding roles is serving as president of the Ukrainian American Bar
Association and leading efforts to reform Ukraine's legal system, while working to build a
bridge between the Ukrainian diaspora and professionals in Ukraine.

4. He is an active member of the Inter-American Bar Association and the Beverly Hills Bar
Association. In these capacities, he can participate in ongoing dialogue on legal trends and
mentor young lawyers interested in building a practice that has an international dimension.
Philosophy and Vision
Petro Richard is a man who believes in preparation, clarity, and action. He takes pride in
realizing that a client's legal concerns may be some of the most difficult times they will ever
encounter in their life or business.

His capacity to provide clear direction, develop sound roadmaps, and generate deliverables
is more than just legal experience; it's empathy and foresight.

Whether imparting to students the inner workings of the U.S. legal system, guiding a
business through regulatory hurdles, or piloting an airplane, Petro is driven by the philosophy
that his work should leave clients more knowledgeable and empowered than when they first
approached him for legal assistance.
Today, he continues to grow his law firm, gives lectures, provides mentor support through
different institutions, and invests in social projects that benefit many.