About Kostas Poulakidas

Kostas Poulakidas is a partner with Taft Stettinius & Hollister in Chicago and co-chair of the law firm’s public finance and economic development practice.

He specializes in project finance, public-private partnerships and economic development. His clients include real estate development firms, private equity funds, government entities, commercial banks and manufacturers. Poulakidas joined Taft Stettinius & Hollister in January 2016. Previously, he worked for Krieg DeVault for 10 years. Before that, he worked in the public sector with several Indiana state government offices for 11 years.

Poulakidas has served as a bond, bank, developer’s and underwriter's counsel in a variety of bond and project financings. He also advises clients on using federal, state and local incentives as part of project financing structures. Additionally, Poulakidas provides advice on strategies for combining economic development incentives. He advises on tax benefits related to Opportunity Zones, forming Qualified Opportunity Funds for private equity investment and EB-5 financing.

Some of Poulakidas’ notable projects include structuring $62 million in economic development tax and financing for a $240-million biodiesel facility; structuring 100 percent financing as bank counsel for a $30-million hotel project; and being an underwriter's counsel for a $95-million school building corporation’s refunding bonds.

Poulakidas is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Illinois Tax Increment Association and the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois.

Poulakidas earned a Juris Doctor from Indiana University Bloomington. He received a master’s degree from American University and a bachelor’s degree at Ball State University. He’s also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s executive education-private equity and venture capital program.