Who We Are

The Vermont Bar Foundation is the leading private funding source for dozens of programs designed to increase access to justice for low-income Vermonters.

We got our start in 1982, when the Vermont Bar Association created a non-profit fund-raising organization to help fulfill the promise of equal access to justice. Since then, we have raised and distributed more than $15,000,000 to organizations ranging from legal aid providers to law school clinics and domestic violence prevention programs. It’s all part of our efforts to ensure that all Vermonters understand and have meaningful access to the justice system.

Board of Directors & Staff
Committees

Board of Directors & Staff

The Vermont Bar Foundation is governed by and conducted under the direction of a 13-member volunteer Board of Directors who are committed to promoting equal access to justice for all.

Officers

President

Lila Shapero, Esq.
email

President-Elect

James F. Carroll, Esq.
Carroll, Boe & Pell, P.C.
email

Treasurer

Christopher D’Elia
Vermont Bankers Association
email

Secretary

Hon. Karen R. Carroll
Vermont Supreme Court

Directors

Amber L. Barber, Esq.
Barber & Waxman
email

Gavin Boyles, Esq.
VT Dept of Financial Regulation
email

John L. Marchica, Jr., Esq.
Marchica Law Office, LLC
email

Trey Martin, Esq.
Downs Rachlin Martin, PLLC
email

Elizabeth Novotny, Esq.
Mosaic Learning Center
email

Harry C. Parker, Esq.
Bauer Gravel Farnham
email

Daniel P. Richardson, Esq.
Tarrant Gillies & Richardson
email

S. Mark Sciarrotta, Esq.
VELCO
email

Sarah E. Wilson, Esq.
Jason P. Morrissey, Atty at Law
email

Staff

Deborah Bailey, Executive Director
email

Committees

The Foundation extends special thanks to the following individuals who contribute their time to the Vermont Bar Foundation.

Finance

Christopher D’Elia, Chair
Vermont Bankers Association

Lila Shapero, Esq.
Burlington

James Carroll, Esq.
Carroll, Boe & Pell, P.C.

Governance & Personnel

Daniel P. Richardson, Esq., Chair
Tarrant Gillies & Richardson

Gavin Boyles, Esq.
VT Dept of Financial Regulation

James F. Carroll, Esq.
Carroll, Boe & Pell, P.C

Hon. Karen R. Carroll
Vermont Supreme Court

Grants

Amber L. Barber, Esq., Chair
Barber & Waxman

Matthew D. Anderson, Esq.
Pratt Vreeland Kennelly Martin & White, Ltd.

Nicholas AE Low, Esq.
Tarrant, Gilles & Richardson

Trey Martin, Esq.
Downs Rachlin Martin, PLLC

Harry C. Parker, Esq.
Bauer Gravel Farnham

Kane Smart, Esq.
VT Agency of Natural Resources

Karen Tyler, Esq.
Dunkiel Saunders Elliott Raubvogel & Hand, PLLC

IOLTA

Beth A. Danon, Esq., Chair
Kohn Rath Danon & Lynch, LLP

Afi Ahmadi, Esq.
Dinse Knapp & McAndrew, P.C.

Debra Bouffard, Esq.
Sheehey Furlong & Behm, P.C.

Chris D’Elia
Vermont Bankers Association

Jennifer Emens-Butler, Esq.
Vermont Bar Association

L. Raymond Massucco, Esq.
Massucco and Stern, P.C.

Harry C. Parker, Esq.
Bauer Gravel Farnham

Loan Repayment Assistance

Judith F. Dickson, Esq., Chair
Burlington

Lila Shapero, Esq.
Burlington

Karen L. Tyler, Esq.
Dunkiel Saunders Elliott Raubvogel & Hand, PLLC

Matthew F. Valerio, Esq.
Vermont Defender General’s Office

Nominating

Chittenden District

Leigh Keyser Phillips, Esq., Chair
Sheehey Furlong & Behm PC

Karen L. Tyler, Esq.
Dunkiel Saunders Elliott Raubvogel & Hand, PLLC

Eastern District

L. Raymond Massucco, Esq.
Massucco and Stern, P.C.

Northern District

Jesse Bugbee, Esq.
Kissane Associates

Washington District

Bernard D. Lambek, Esq.
Zalinger, Cameron & Lambek, P.C.

Western District

Mary C. Ashcroft, Esq.

Promotion

Lila Shapero, Esq., Chair
Burlington

Jesse D. Bugbee, Esq.
Kissane Associates

Therese Corsones, Esq.
Vermont Bar Association

Sarah E. Wilson, Esq.
Jason P. Morrissey, Attyat Law

Revenue Enhancement

S. Mark Sciarrotta, Esq., Chair
VELCO