Thomas C. Costello
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Thomas C. Costello
Securities/Financial Malpractice
Admitted to practice in 1994, Mr. Costello, an AV rated litigator, began his legal career by representing securities broker-dealers in connection with their employment disputes, customer disputes and regulatory inquiries. Based upon that experience, Mr. Costello shifted the focus of his practice to the representation of customers in connection with their claims against investment professionals. He has successfully represented more than 150 individual investors across the United States to resolve their claims. Mr. Costello has represented individual investors against firms like Merrill Lynch, UBS, Wachovia/ Wells Fargo, Sun Trust, CIBC Oppenheimer, Charles Schwab, Linsco Private Ledger, Smith Barney/Citigroup, Prudential in addition to many other investment advisory firms, both large and small. He has also litigated claims against insurance, legal and tax professionals. Mr. Costello’s efforts have resulted in judgments, settlements and awards well in excess of $10 million.
Estate Planning
Mr. Costello earned a Legal Master’s Degree in Taxation (LLM) with a Certification in Estate Planning from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Mr. Costello has drafted and implemented tax efficient estate plans for high net worth individuals (assets in excess of $15 million) as well as for those individuals with more modest assets who simply want to make sure their family is provided for in the event of a tragedy. Mr. Costello is also experienced in representing estates, trusts (both trustees and trust beneficiaries) and heirs in the probate administration process as well as in estate disputes resolved through the court system.
Employment
Mr. Costello has represented hundreds of sales professionals in disputes with former employees regarding the application and effect of contractual provisions regarding post-employment activities such as covenants not to compete or solicit and agreements which relate to the use and removal of customer information. Mr. Costello has litigated employment disputes in state and federal courts throughout the Mid-Atlantic region as well in arbitration forums such as FINRA, NASD, NYSE, JAMS and AAA. Mr. Costello is also experienced in resolving numerous other types of employee disputes and employment severance issues.
Education
- University of Baltimore School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland, 2008, L.L.M
- University of Baltimore School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland, 1994, J.D.
Honors: Cum Laude - Washington & Lee University, 1991, B.A.
- Honors and Awards:
- University of Baltimore National Appellate Advocacy Team
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association
- Maryland State Bar Association (member)
- Baltimore County Bar Association (member)
Bar Admissions:
- Maryland
- District of Columbia,
- U.S. District Court District of Maryland
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia
- U.S. Supreme Court
- James McNamara Named Managing Executive of SEC’s Division of Trading and MarketsFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2012-98 Washington, D.C., May 18, 2012 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that James P. McNamara has been named to the newly-created position of Managing Executive of the SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets. Mr. McNamara is currently an Assistant Director in the SEC’s Office of Financial Management. In his new po […]
- Erica Williams Named SEC's Deputy Chief of StaffFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2012-97 Washington, D.C., May 17, 2012 – The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Erica Williams will become the agency’s Deputy Chief of Staff. Ms. Williams has been a member of Chairman Schapiro’s staff since February 2011, primarily focusing on enforcement and regulatory issues. Prior to that, Ms. Williams served a […]