Before joining Backes & Hill in August 2008, Christopher Costa operated his own legal practice for over ten years. He has built his practice by treating each client as his business partner and providing individualized attention and care to each of their legal needs. He concentrates in the area of real estate law, including land development, zoning, commercial leases and evictions, condominium conversions and construction. He represents local lenders in their commercial loan reviews and developers in their residential and commercial construction projects.

Mr. Costa also focuses on small business and non-profit representation. He advises businesses on formation, confidentiality, financing, insurance coverage and employment issues. He serves as counsel to several churches and other non-profit organizations, including condominium associations. He has also been appointed as special counsel to the State of New Jersey.

Mr. Costa is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York. He has assumed a leadership role in a number of non-profit and charitable organizations. Currently, he serves as secretary of the board of trustees of the Family Guidance Center, a Mercer County charitable organization that provides mental health and family counseling to families and individuals in Mercer County. He is also the former secretary of the board of trustees of the Lawrenceville Main Street, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to revitalize Lawrenceville's downtown and enhance its land use and business development.

Mr. Costa devotes substantial time to educating other real estate and business professionals. He is a past vice-chair and trustee of the Mercer County Bar Association's Real Estate Section. He served as moderator and coordinator for that organization's 2004 annual seminar for real estate professionals and was part of the planning committee for its annual seminar for 4 years. He is a past member of the education committee of the New Jersey Chapter of the Community Association Institute and served as a speaker at its annual conference. He also frequently provides educational seminars to real estate offices and has been invited to lecture on real estate topics for Lorman Education Services.

Mr. Costa is a graduate of Cornell University and The Villanova University School of Law. At Villanova, he was a member of the Jessup International Law Moot Court Team that won the regional championship and was awarded third place brief in the final international round. He was a member of the Villanova Law Review and received the award for best student piece for "One Country, Two Foreign Policies" United States Relations with Hong Kong After July 1, 1997, 38 Vill.L.Rev. 825 (1993).

Mr. Costa is married to Shu Shu Costa and they have three children.