President
Location: Brattleboro, Vermont
Phone: 802-257-5533
Fax: (802) 257-4289
Email: Email Me
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.
Areas of Practice
- 30% Criminal
- 30% Civil
- 30% Family Law
- 10% Land Use and Permitting
Litigation Percentage
- 90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- New Hampshire
- Vermont, 2011
- U.S. District Court District of Vermont, 2013
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 2013
Education
- Drew University, Madison , New Jersey
- B.A.
- Major: History
- Major: Political Science
Representative Cases
- State v. Tuma (2012-365), 2013 VT 70 (2013)
- State v. Galanes, WL 3634566 (2015)
- Kennery v. State, 191 Vt. 44 (2011)
- State v. Mottolese, WL 3634577 (2015)
Honors and Awards
- Top 40 under 40: National Trial Lawyers – 2015, 2016
- National College for DUI Defense, 2015
- Excellence in cross examining police officer in DUI cases: Your DUI Pro, 2014
- SuperLawyers Rising Star – 2015, 2016
- Vermont Business Magazine Rising Star – 2015
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Vermont Bar Association, 2011 – Present
- Vermont Association for Justice, 2011 – Present
- Brattleboro Development Review Board, Chair, 2014 – Present
- Brattleboro Planning Commission, Past Chair
- Vermont Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Treasurer
- Vermont Democratic Party, Past Vice-Chair
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Languages
- English