Thomas C. Costello, Attorney

Thomas C. Costello

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. In 2010, Tom formed the Costello Law Group and shifted the focus of his practice to the representation of customers in connection with their claims against investment professionals. He has successfully represented hundreds of individual investors across the United States to resolve their claims. Tom has represented individual investors against firms like Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, UBS, Wachovia, Wells Fargo, Sun Trust, CIBC Oppenheimer, Metropolitan Life, John Hancock, Charles Schwab, Lincoln Financial Advisors, Ameriprise, Linsco Private Ledger, Smith Barney/Citigroup, BB&T and Prudential in addition to many other investment advisory firms, both large and small. He has also litigated claims against insurance, legal and tax professionals. Tom’s efforts have resulted in million dollar plus verdicts, awards and settlements for his clients.

In 2009, Tom earned a Legal Master’s Degree in Taxation (LLM) with a Certification in Estate Planning from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Tom has drafted and implemented tax efficient estate plans for high net worth individuals 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. Tom 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.

Finally, Tom has represented hundreds of individuals with claims for personal injury and nursing home abuse/ neglect. Tom’s work in these areas of litigation has resulted in tens of millions of dollars recovered for clients.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• Securities/Investor Rights Litigation
• Estate Planning and Administration
• Estate & Trust Dispute Litigation
• Legal, Accounting, and Insurance Malpractice Litigation
• Personal Injury/Nursing Home Neglect Litigation

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Maryland, 1994
• District of Columbia, 2000
• U.S. District Court District of Maryland, 1995
• U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 2001
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 2008
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2000

EDUCATION

• University of Baltimore School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland
  L.L.M. (Taxation) – 2009
• University of Baltimore School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland
  JD cum laude – 1994
• Washington & Lee University, Lexington, Virginia
  B.A. – 1991

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

• Mathews v. Cassidy Turley, et al., 435 Md. 584 (2013)
• Barbour v. International Union, 640 F.3d 599, (4th Cir. 2011)
• Commonwealth Equity v. Messick, 152 Md. App. 381, (2003)
• Bollman v. Splash & Dash, LLC, Md. CSA, Sept. Term 2013, No. 2238 (2015)
• Bollman v. Splash & Dash, LLC, Md. CSA, Sept. Term 2010, No. 1179 (2012)

CLASSES/SEMINARS

• Liability Issues for Financial Planners, Financial Planners Assoc. of Md.

HONORS AND AWARDS

• University of Baltimore National Appellate Advocacy Team

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

• Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association, Member, 2008 – Present
• Maryland Association for Justice – Member 2010 – Present
• Maryland State Bar Association, Member, 1994 – Present
• Baltimore County Bar Association, Member

PAST EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS

• West & Costello, Partner, 2003 – 2010
• West & Moore, LLC, Associate/Partner, 1999 – 2003
• Law Offices of John West, Associate, 1994 – 1999