Townshend, VT

James A. Valente

James Valente is a native of Marlboro, Vermont, and read for the law under the tutelage of Thomas W. Costello. James is now the managing partner of Costello, Valente & Gentry, P.C.. He concentrates his practice on civil, criminal, and family litigation, with an emphasis on the trial of cases. James has also been involved in a number of significant decisions, including as the principal author of the Appellant’s Brief in Kennery v. State, 191 Vt. 44 (2011). James has been active in politics, both local and statewide. He co-managed Costello’s 2008 campaign for Lieutenant Governor, served as Vice Chair of the Vermont Democratic Party, and is the Chair of the Brattleboro Democrats. He also serves as the Chair of the Brattleboro Development Review Board, and chaired the planning commission when it drafted the town plan - which was awarded the Vermont Planner’s Association 2014 plan of the year. James is the treasurer of the Vermont Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the River Valley Credit Union. He has been named a Rising Star by SuperLawyers and Top 40 Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers. James is admitted in Vermont and New Hampshire, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Thomas W. Costello

Tom has practiced law in Vermont for over thirty-five years, representing clients in a wide variety of civil, criminal and family litigation. He brings a vast amount of experience and knowledge to every case. In addition to his legal work, Tom is active in the community and has served on the boards of the American Legion, Brattleboro Area Habitat for Humanity and the Morningside Emergency Shelter. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and served in the Vietnam conflict, earning a bronze star and a purple heart. Tom enjoys spending time with his two children and grandchild, following the RedSox, and reading.

Adam Waite

Adam Waite is a Vermont native admitted to the Vermont Bar in 2017, having practiced law in New York from 2011 to 2017. Adam’s work is focused on civil litigation, and includes personal injury, probate, and business law. He lives in Brattleboro.

Sharon Gentry

Sharon J. Gentry, Esq. was raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky. She received her undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Southern Indiana and her Juris Doctor from the Ohio State University College of Law, where she was a member of the ABA National Moot Court Team and a Public Interest Law Foundation fellowship recipient. After law school, Sharon clerked for the Honorable Charles H. Caldwell, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Sharon then practiced law privately in Ohio before moving to Vermont. Sharon practices in all litigation matters in the office, with a concentration in family and civil litigation. Sharon is President of The Gathering Place. She resides in Brattleboro with her partner and two sons and their three dogs. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, DIY projects around the house, and hiking.

Sarah Sanchez

Sarah Sanchez is a native of Brattleboro, Vermont. Sarah began working from the firm in 2005 as a legal assistant. She completed the Law Office Study program and was admitted to the bar in 2020. Sarah concentrates her practice on personal injury litigation, criminal and civil litigation. Sarah lives in Brattleboro with her two sons, her partner Chad and her dog Denver. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling and camping with her family.

Margaret Shugart

Margaret joined Costello, Valente & Gentry in fall of 2019. Before becoming an attorney, she was an anthropologist-focused on Indonesia and organic rice farming, then a sommelier, working in several aspect of the wine business including provisioning yachts in South Florida and as a wine writer. She has traveled all over the world, from backpacking and conducting research, to leading cycling tours in France. The first day she moved to Vermont, she knew she wanted to stay. She lives in Brattleboro with her delightful toddler daughter, sweet scaredy-cat Squeak and hyper hamster, Monster.

Sarah Vangel

Sarah is a Vermont native who grew up in Brookline. She has been practicing law in Vermont since 2009. She began her legal career at Fisher & Fisher as a paralegal before attending law school. After clerking in Bennington Superior Court for a year, she started her career as a real estate attorney. Before joining CVG, Sarah was a partner at Kramer & Vangel where she expanded her practice to include litigation, probate, and criminal defense matters. Sarah was appointed to the State of Vermont Ethics Commission in January 2018 by Vermont Supreme Court Chief Justice, the Honorable Paul Reiber.