Aris serves as Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Kourkoumelis & Fotopoulos PLLC.

 

Aris uses his substantial experience in Administrative Law and real-estate to assist clients in complex commercial and residential real estate and business transactions, commercial leasing, civil litigation and state and federal administrative law disputes. Aris helps clients navigate issues before city, state and federal administrative agencies including, amongst others, the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) as well as the United States Department of Commerce.

 

Prior to co-founding Kourkoumelis & Fotopoulos PLLC, Aris was appointed to the role of Senior Counsel at the United States Department of Commerce. While serving at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Aris focused on international trade policy and regulation. He led the Department’s litigation team, handling all litigation arising out of national security measures imposed under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962; helped lead the congressional oversight team where he managed congressional oversight communication and lead multiple internal agency investigations requested by the Secretary of Commerce. Aris also worked on policy prerogatives concerning national security trade measures and exclusions, and advised various agencies on the legal framework for effectuating policy changes.

 

Prior to accepting his appointment to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Aris was an Associate at an AM Law 100 firm. As an Associate,  Aris represented Institutional Lenders in the origination of financing secured by real estate in all asset classes intended for the securitization and sale in the secondary market (CMBS, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac).  Aris also worked on various international trade transactions and disputes, including representing manufacturer/importers on custom classification cases before the United States Court of International Trade.  

 

Aris began his legal career clerking for Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas at the United States Court of International Trade, and proceeded to accept a second clerkship with the Chief Judge of the Court of International Trade, Chief Judge Timothy C. Stanceu.

  

Aris Received his Master of Laws Degree from Columbia Law School where he was named a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and focused his study on international and administrative law. He received his Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, from New York Law School where he served as the Notes and Comments Editor of the New York Law School Law Review. Aris received his Batchelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, magna cum laude, form Adelphi University.