For more than three decades, KBA Lease Services has been recognized as the signature firm in lease auditing.  We have helped control the real estate costs of hundreds of companies nationwide in virtually every industry.

KBA was originally known as Kislak Lease Services, and was started in 1985.  Marc Betesh, a real estate leasing attorney, created and operated Kislak Lease Services as a division of The Kislak Organization, a New Jersey-based commercial brokerage company.  In 1995, Mr. Betesh acquired 100% of the company from Kislak and renamed it KBA Lease Services.

KBA consists of an experienced team of CPAs, engineers, architects, attorneys and property managers, all of whom have extensive experience in building operations, law, accounting, property management and lease administration.  We are dedicated to providing our clients with personalized service for every lease and every portfolio we review.

Management Team

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Marc E. Betesh, Esq., MCR.h
Marc E. Betesh, Esq., MCR.h

President and Founder

Marc Betesh is the founder and president of KBA Lease Services. He conceived the idea of lease auditing in 1985 and in the same year introduced it to the corporate real estate community. KBA has maintained its position as the largest privately owned firm concentrating in lease audits. Mr. Betesh also led the development of Visual Lease, a lease administration system used by many U.S. corporations.

Mr. Betesh is considered to be one of the country’s leading experts on lease language construction, lease expenses and effective lease negotiation strategies. Mr. Betesh has been consistently ranked among the “top-ranked faculty” at Corenet Global Learning and is a frequent lecturer on lease topics at New York University’s Real Estate Institute, American Bar Association, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, New York State Society of CPA’s, ICSC, and the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Prior to establishing KBA, Mr. Betesh practiced law in New York City where he negotiated commercial leases. He is a member of the New York and New Jersey Bars, is a member of the NYC Chapter of CoreNet, and is a member of AECRE, ICSC, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, New York State and American Bar Associations. He has his JD from Georgetown University and a BA from Temple University.

Jason Aster, Esq.
Jason Aster, Esq.

Vice President

Mr. Aster couples his legal background with experience in corporate communication to develop and implement strategies for KBA’s lease audit services.  Mr. Aster’s duties include business development and client relations, with a primary focus on the New York market.

Prior to joining KBA, Mr. Aster practiced general corporate law and litigation in New York, representing major international banks and private lenders with a focus on real estate and structured finance. 
In his current position, Mr. Aster relies on his experience relating to a broad range of corporate clientele in order to interpret and relay the nuances involved in KBA’s distinctive services.

Mr. Aster attended both the University of Virginia School of Law and University of Virginia School of Arts and Sciences, where he obtained a degree in History, Sociology and a Juris Doctor.

Louis J. Ferro, CPA
Louis J. Ferro, CPA

Senior Vice President, Audit Services

Lou has been with KBA since its inception, utilizing his experience in public accounting, internal audit and real estate to ensure that rent and additional rent liabilities are correctly calculated and invoiced. Lou’s in-depth knowledge of the nature, purpose and functionality of lease rent and rent escalation provisions allow him to quickly and effectively identify crucial areas where clients are being overbilled.

As one of the foremost lease audit specialists in the world, Lou has helped achieve substantial rental savings for KBA’s clients. He is widely recognized as one of the most knowledgeable experts in the area of operating expense escalations and has served as an expert witness in several matters.

Prior to joining KBA, Lou began his career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Bear Sterns. He is a licensed CPA in the State of New York, a member of AICPA and the New York Society of CPAs. He attended Baruch College (CUNY) where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accountancy, Summa Cum Laude.

Kevin Hurley, Esq.
Kevin Hurley, Esq.

Associate Counsel and Senior Auditor

Mr. Hurley is responsible for supporting KBA’s lease audit team in the review, interpretation and analysis of commercial leases and related financial information. He draws on his litigation experience to assist clients in construing various provisions of their leases and helping them make informed business decisions. Mr. Hurley also handles a variety of legal matters for KBA and assists in developing strategies for cases.

Prior to joining KBA, Mr. Hurley practiced law in New Jersey where he represented clients involved in complex and diverse contractual disputes. He received his BS in Finance from Rutgers College School of Business and subsequently attended Rutgers-Newark School of Law where he obtained his JD. He is a member of the New Jersey Bar.

Kathryn Eskandarian, CPA
Kathryn Eskandarian, CPA

Vice President of Finance

Katie is responsible for overseeing all financial operations, directing corporate financial planning, and managing internal and external audit and tax functions.

Prior to her roles at KBA, Katie was Controller at iCIMS, and Controller at Geller & Company, LLC. Kathryn has also held roles in audit and tax throughout the early part of her career.

Katie has a B.S. in Accounting from William Paterson University.