Biography: Roman Kostenko’s practice focuses primarily on commercial and construction litigation. He represents clients in Arizona and California in a broad range of matters, from contract disputes, nonpayment issues and construction defect claims to lease defaults and payment bonds and liens. Prior to joining the firm, he was a litigation associate at the law firm of Freeman Freeman & Smiley LLP in Los Angeles, CA, where he was involved in appellate advocacy and handled all aspects of trial work, including taking and defending depositions, appearing before state courts for various hearings, drafting motions and engaging in discovery. Mr. Kostenko also served as a judicial research attorney at the Civil Division of the Los Angeles Superior Court. He grew up in Russia and was formerly an English professor at Tyumen State University in Tyumen, Russia.

Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Construction Litigation; Real Estate Litigation

Admissions:
Bars: Ohio (2002); California (2003); Arizona (2006)
Courts: All state courts in Ohio; U.S. District Court for Central District of California; U.S. District Court for Southern District of California; All state courts in California; U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona; All state courts in Arizona.

Education:
Tyumen State University, Tyumen, Russia (B.A., 1996)
Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, OH (J.D., magna cum laude, 2002)

Publications: 
- Author, “Are ‘Contemporary Community Standards’ No Longer Contemporary?,” Cleveland State Law Review, Vol. 49, Number 1, 2001.

- Contributing Author, Chapter on Ohio law for the State-by-State Guide to Architect, Engineer and Contractor Licensing, Aspen Law & Business, 2004.

Languages: Russian (fluent)