Meet Kosta
Kosta is the founder of Ligris, he now serves as a strategic advisor to the firm and a member of the Board of Directors. During his fifteen year tenure as Managing Partner, his practice concentrated on residential and commercial real estate transactions; he represented buyers, sellers, and developers in the acquisition, sale and development of residential and commercial real estate. Kosta also serves in a general counsel capacity for certain investors and developers by providing guidance on various legal matters and coordinating representation with other lawyers and law firms. Kosta has significant experience in condominium developments, representing developers in drafting condominium documents and marketing condominium projects.
Kosta has advised banks, lenders and real estate firms regarding regulatory compliance with state and federal laws and regulations involving residential transactions and lending, including the Truth in Lending and RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule (commonly known as TRID or "Know Before You Owe"), the American Land Title Association's Best Practices, cyber-security, and other relevant industry challenges and changes.
Kosta obtained his MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management, his interests and projects focus on innovation, strategy, and cyber-security especially as it relates to the real estate, title, mortgage and settlement/closing verticals. He has presented on panels and as a keynote speaker on technology and innovation in the legal, real estate and title industries. Kosta is an Entrepreneur in Residence at The Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship and is actively involved in the startup, FinTech and PropTech innovation ecosystems.
Kosta lives in Boston, Massachusetts and speaks fluent Greek and is proficient in French and Italian. He is frequently involved in charitable fundraising for local, regional and national causes. Kosta has served for over a decade on the Benefactor Committee for the annual TomorrowNite Gala benefiting the children of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Kosta serves on the Board of Overseers, Overseers Executive Council, Campaign Committee, and the Neuroscience Advisory Committee at the Beth Israel Lahey Medical Center, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and the official hospital for his beloved Boston Red Sox. Attorney Ligris also serves on the Dean's Cabinet at his alma mater Suffolk University Law School in Boston which advises the Dean of the Law School. He has also served on the Law School's alumni Board of Directors.
Outside the Office
I enjoy traveling both for work and pleasure. I’m a movie buff, news and politics junkie, football fan, art lover and foodie! Love reading books and recently have taken up photography. Follow me on Instagram as @esquirelens
Education
M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management
J.D., Suffolk University Law School cum laude
B.S. Human Physiology, Boston University
Bar & Court Admissions
Massachusetts
New York
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Background
Before founding Ligris, Kosta was an associate attorney at a transactional law firm in greater Boston, focusing on residential and commercial real estate matters. His real estate experience includes several years as a real estate broker with Coldwell-Banker Hunneman Real Estate (presently Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage). Prior to focusing on transactional matters, Kosta operated a general practice with specific experience in criminal defense, permitting, representation before administrative boards, and civil litigation. He has served as co-counsel on selected dispute related matters typically involving contract disputes, real estate matters or other transaction related litigation.
Professional Affiliations
Named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer - Rising Star (Top 2.5% of lawyers 40 and under), published in Boston Magazine, 2012
Named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer - Rising Star (Top 2.5% of lawyers 40 and under), published in Boston Magazine, 2013
Named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer - Rising Star (Top 2.5% of lawyers 40 and under), published in Boston Magazine, 2014
Named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer - Rising Star (Top 2.5% of lawyers 40 and under), published in Boston Magazine, 2015
Named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer - Rising Star (Top 2.5% of lawyers 40 and under), published in Boston Magazine, 2016
Named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer, Real Estate, published in Boston Magazine, 2017
Named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer, Real Estate, published in Boston Magazine, 2018
Named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer, Real Estate, published in Boston Magazine, 2019
Massachusetts Real Estate Bar Association, Member of the Condominium Law & Practice Committee
Massachusetts Real Estate Bar Association, Member
Massachusetts Real Estate Bar Association, Member of the Title Insurance & National Affairs Committee
American Land Title Association, Member
Stewart Title Insurance Company, National Agency Board of Advisors, New England District Board Member
Real Estate Broker, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure
Real Estate Instructor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure
Licensed Title Agent, State of New York, Department of Financial Services
Licensed Title Agent, State of New Hampshire, Insurance Department
Licensed Title Agent, State of Rhode Island, Department of Business Regulation
Massachusetts Bar Association, Member
Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, Special Hearing Officer 2017-present
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Leadership Center, Mentor
American Land Title Association (ALTA), Online Notary & Settlement Services Task Force, Member
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Justice of the Peace with Special Designation to Solemnize Marriages
Why Kosta?
Kosta is a lawyer's lawyer, having represented countless lawyers and real estate professionals in their own personal transactions. He takes great pride in being able to identify the substantive issues and set aside the noise. His background, experience and reputation give his clients an advantage, eliminating the need to re-invent the wheel. His educator qualities allow him to present complex issues clearly, outlining options and risks for his clients. Kosta was selected by Poets & Quants as one of the top executive MBA students in 2018, representing his alma mater, MIT's Sloan School of Management.
Rising Star 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Super Lawyer 2017, 2018
Learn from Kosta
Kosta is a licensed instructor by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and enjoys teaching licensing and continuing education courses to real estate professionals throughout the Commonwealth. He has also been a presenter at continuing education seminars for MCLE and is the co-author of “Practice Tips for Residential Real Estate Paralegals”.
Kosta receives frequent requests from real estate firms to lecture sales agents and brokers on current topics, and how to build their business and avoid getting into trouble in the field. Kosta has presented for the Real Estate Bar Association on topics including the purpose and use of ancillary closing instruments/documents and the effects of changes promulgated by the Truth in Lending and RESPA Integrated Discourse Rule (commonly known as “TRID” or “Know Before You Owe”).
Kosta frequently presents continuing education courses or seminars on other relevant real estate, transactional, lending and compliance topics for trade associations, like the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, the Greater Board Association of Realtors, Hammond Residential Real Estate, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, The Massachusetts Realty Guild, Keller Williams Real Estate, William Raveis Real Estate, the North Shore Association of Realtors, and many other local firms and associations.
Speaking Engagements
- Tech Talk for WFG Title, New York, Spring 2019
- SPARK for WFG Title, Orlando, FL, Spring 2019
- Cryptocurrency Seminar, Greater Boston Association of Realtors, May 2018
- TRID: Dialogue on Current TRID Compliance Issues, Massachusetts Real Estate Bar Association, May 2016
- “It’s a new TRID world. What does your purchase contract look like,” New England Land Title Association, March 2016
- CFPB: Predicting Challenges after One Month of TRID, Massachusetts Real Estate Bar Association, November 2015
- Conundrums Relating to Ancillary Closing Documents, Massachusetts Real Estate Bar Association, November 2014
Books & Publications
- Practice Tips for the Residential Real Estate Paralegal, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc., 2005