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Christopher W. Vaughn-Martel

also known as Charles River Law Partners, LLC
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Avvo Rating8.4
  • Boston, MA
  • Licensed for 13 years
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About Christopher

Christopher is a managing partner at Charles River Law Partners LLC, a boutique firm specializing in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate law.

In addition to real estate conveyancing, title services, and development, Christopher's practice includes general civil litigation, adoption, surrogacy, and other fertility law. Christopher has successfully and zealously represented clients throughout Massachusetts for over ten years.

Our clients are individuals, families, small businesses, lending institutions, and developers of all sizes. In addition to offering legal services throughout Massachusetts, CRLP is a licensed title and escrow agency in New Hampshire and Maine. We understand that every legal transaction or case is different and we strive to deliver tailored representation with a focus on each client's unique needs and objectives.

Our attorneys are appointed by courts for their expertise, quoted in newspapers, give trainings and seminars in their respective practice areas, volunteer and support the local community, have been honored for their pro bono work and advocacy, and named "Rising Stars"​ in Boston Magazine's list of Super Lawyers for 2009, 2016, and 2017. We draw on our collective strengths and experience to offer sound advice, creative legal strategies, and zealous advocacy for our clients.

Our main office is located in the heart of Boston's South End neighborhood. In addition, we have locations on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard to better serve our clients.

Chris Vaughn-Martel received his B.A. from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, and his J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts.  Prior to founding Vaughn-Martel Law, Chris worked as a Clerk and First Year Associate for a small real estate firm on Boston's South Shore.

Chris lives in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston with his husband, Brian, and their son.

Practice areas

OtherLandlord or tenantAdoptionDebt settlementReal estate
  1. Real estate: 40%

    All aspects of real estate, including purchase and sale, condominium development and management, lender closings, refinance; Real estate litigation, including property owner disputes, condominium disputes and fee collection, partitions

    14 years

  2. Debt settlement: 15%

    Debt collection and debtor defense; Debt negotiation and settlement; Representation of debtors and collectors in court; Post-judgment collection, including garnishment, residential liens, etc.

    14 years

  3. Adoption: 15%

    Representation of individuals and families in adoption, donor agreements, surrogacy and pre-birth orders, and other family creation and protection

    14 years

  4. Landlord or tenant: 15%

    Tenant and landlord advice and representation; Termination of tenancies, including eviction trials; Lease negotiation

    14 years

  1. Car accident: 15%

    Representation of injured individuals; Zealous advocacy against insurance companies and careless individuals or companies in automobile accident, premises liability, and other personal injury cases

    14 years

Languages spoken

English

Photos and videos

1331416 1250282494

Contact

One State Street
address map

Charles River Law Partners, LLC

One State Street
4th Floor
Boston, MA, 02109

Blog - Charles River Law Partners, LLC.

Resume

License
StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
MAActive200602/28/2020
We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
Avvo Contributions
Legal answers3036
Legal guides3
Awards
Award nameGrantorDate granted
2011 Shining Star AwardVictim Rights Law Center2011
Rising StarBoston Magazine2009
Work Experience
TitleCompany nameDuration
Managing PartnerCharles River Law Partners, LLC2016 - Present
OwnerVAUGHN-MARTEL LAW2007 - Present
Associate AttorneyThe Hawthorne Law Office2005 - 2007
Associations
Association namePosition nameDuration
Victim Rights Law CenterPro Bono Attorney, Rape Survivors' Law Project2006 - Present
Boston Bar AssociationMember2006 - Present
Massachusetts Bar AssociationMember2006 - Present
Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar AssociationMember2006 - Present
Publications
Publication nameTitleDate
BrochureVaughn-Martel Law Firm Prospectus2012
BrochureCo-Parent Adoption: A Guide for Same-Sex Parents in Massachusetts2011
Education
School nameDegreeGraduated
Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MAJuris Doctor2006
Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NYBachelor of Arts2000
Scuola Lorenzo De' MediciFlorence, Italy1999
Simsbury High School, Simsbury, CTDiploma1996
Speaking Engagements
Conference nameTitleDate
Shining Start Awards GalaIntroduction of Shining Star Recipient for Representation of Sexual Assault Survivors2012
Tenant-Landlord WorkshopTenant's Rights & Strategies in the Wake of Sexual Assault/Rape2011
Shining Star Award ReceptionSexual Assault Advocacy2011
Hanging Your Shingle Panel DiscussionPanel Member2011
Annual Diversity Dinner ReceptionParticipant2009
Annual Diversity Dinner ReceptionParticipant2008
Career FairParticipant2008
Annual Diversity Dinner ReceptionParticipant2007
Legal cases
Case nameOutcome
Landlord v. TenantFollowing a bench trial on the parties' claims and counterclaims, damages were awarded to my clients, including triple damages and attorney's fees.
Same-Sex Surrogacy and Pre-Birth OrderSuccess
Same-Sex Divorce: Adam v. SteveFavorable divorce settlement for client.

Reviews

(2)
5 Star
50%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
50%
Review Christopher Vaughn-Martel

Best Divorce Lawyer

Posted by

I knew that Chris was the right lawyer for me right of the bat. Chris will give you as long as you need to express your situation and explain your case to him. Besides being a good lawyer, a unique quality that Chris has is that he is a good counselor as well. He understood what I was going through and he gave me the courage to fight. He listened to me everytime, he responded to my questions within minutes via email or phone call. I never felt that a stranger was representing me and, in the end, the case was decided in my favor

A lawyer who seemed to work more for the opposing side than his own client

Posted by

I hired Attorney Vaughn-Martel after a civil lawsuit was filed against me by an ex-girlfriend over ownership rights to a vehicle I had solely purchased during our 4+ year relationship. An injunction/ court order was filed against me stating that I was not allowed to sell the vehicle until the case was heard before a judge. I hired Vaughn-Martel in hopes that he'd be able to assist in getting the court order lifted as I was unable to afford payments on the vehicle and wanted to be able to sell it. After several months of negotiations between Vaughn-Martel and the plaintiff's attorney a Settlement Agreement was drafted by Vaughn-Martel's office and was forwarded to me for review and signature. I stated the Agreement was to my liking and was told that the Agreement would be sent out AS IS to the Plaintiff and then sent to me for signatures. Problems arose when I found out that after I had approved what I thought to be the FINAL draft of the Settlement Agreement that the Plaintiff's attorney asked that a few changes be made and Attorney Vaughn-Martel's office made these changes without my knowledge, consent or even a discussion of such. When I contacted Attorney Vaughn-Martel to indicate my disproval of such changes I was told that there was nothing they could do to change the Agreement back as the REVISED Agreement had already been mailed out to the Plaintiff for signature. I was beyond irate at this point. To make matters worse is the Plaintiff was never able to obtain financing in order to follow through on the terms of the Settlement Agreement by purchasing the vehicle to pay off my loan (which I couldn't afford to pay and faced repossession of) and to compensate me for monies she had stolen via check fraud / forgery. After the Plaintiff had breached the Agreement by not coming up with the funds within the allotted time frame as per Agreement terms, I was advised by Attorney Vaughn-Martel that selling the vehicle, paying off the loan and keeping the balance of the agreed upon sales amount for myself would be a "viable solution to complying with the agreement, getting rid of the car, and getting settlement funds, all in a way that protects my interests in the event I had to go in front of a judge." I followed my attorneys exact advice and I sold the vehicle 2 days prior to the date it was to be repossessed but only got what I owed. When I got in front of the judge though I was found in contempt of court for going against the imposed court order. Attorney Vaughn-Martel never once stated that he had advised me to do such nor did he defend me in any sense of the word. He never tried to state facts and in no way stood up for me. He seemed to have no idea what to say in court and came across as being completely unprepared, incompetent, unprofessional and unknowledgeable of how to defend a client. He let me hang out to dry and when I confronted him prior to the next hearing for my punishment in front of the judge he totally denied ever having advised me to go against the court order. I even showed him his own email to me stating his advice and he still insisted he never advised such. He then stated it would be in my best interest to allow the civil case against me along with my counterclaims against her for stolen monies be dismissed as per the Plaintiff's request or the judge could punish me by making me pay her money for selling the car. I felt as though I was being coerced into settling the case because my attorney didn't want to have to explain himself to the judge as to why he advised his client to go against a court order. Due to being in fear of what the judge might fine/punish me with and knowing I had no more money and no real counsel on my side to defend me I went against my rights and agreed to allow the case to be dismissed. I ended up with nothing more than destroyed credit & added debt due to racking up $7k in legal fees.....way more than Vaughn-Martel Law ever truly earned or deserved

Attorney endorsements

(29)
Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

Douglas Borthwick, Family Attorney on Nov 3, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

John O'Brien, Personal injury Attorney on Jul 19, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

An extremely talented and well respected attorney in the legal community, I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for a lawyer who knows the law and truly cares about protecting the rights of his clients and getting them the most favorable result possible.

Hovanes Margarian, Consumer protection Attorney on Jul 13, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Gina Famularo, Child custody Attorney on Jul 11, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Michael Waddington, Military law Attorney on May 27, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse Christopher. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community.

Robert Fortgang, Employment and labor Attorney on Apr 11, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. As evidenced by the number of questions Attorney Vaughn-Martel has so generously answered, it’s clear that he has a superior understanding of his fields of practice, and is exceptionally well thought of in the legal community.

John Phillips, Personal injury Attorney on Dec 16, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Lawyers who serve the avvo community as much as Mr. Vaughn-Martel are few and far between. It takes passion, concern and dedication to devote so much time. You have my endorsement and kudos.

Inna Rifman, Speeding and traffic ticket Attorney on Oct 30, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Christopher Leroi, Mediation Attorney on Aug 16, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Mr. Vaughn-Martel is an extremely talented attorney who provides great advice. Even though I have been practicing for 24 years and I am a former judge and magistrate, I learn from him every day. I would recommend him to anyone in his area.

Glenn Honda, Car accident Attorney on Feb 19, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. Thoughtful and well considered response to the forum. Well respected by his clients.

Howard Roitman, Car accident Attorney on Feb 14, 2013
Relationship: Other

I endorse this lawyer.

Judd Millman, Employment and labor Attorney on Nov 8, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

From his answers and time on Avvo, it is clear that Chris is dedicated to serving those in need of legal assistant, as well as his clients. It's rare that a lawyer spends so much valuable time assisting the community, and I applaud him for doing it at such a high level. Kudos.

Christian Lassen, Life insurance Attorney on Jul 3, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community.

Leanna Hamill, Estate planning Attorney on May 3, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I referred some friends to this attorney when they were having difficulties with a tenant. They had already used one attorney who was not able to resolve the issue. They reported to me that not only was Christopher knowledgeable about the law, he was also able to use his interpersonal skills to deal with a very difficult person and keep the situation from escalating. I will definitely recommend him to other folks in need of services, and was very glad to get such a positive report from my friends.

Jon Pettis, DUI and DWI Attorney on Apr 26, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Jennifer Deland, Estate planning Attorney on Jan 28, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. His answers on AVVO are succinct and clear.

Todd Davidson, Family Attorney on Jan 27, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I strongly endorse Attorney Vaughn-Martel for his tremendous advice to his clients and prospective clients, his great reputation in the legal community, and his extensive legal knowledge..

Adam Minsky, Consumer protection Attorney on Jan 18, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. Christopher is a respected attorney and is well-known for his work supporting the LGBT community. We have referred clients to each other and I have heard nothing but good things about his practice. I will continue to refer clients his way.

Steven Schwartz, Personal injury Attorney on Jan 9, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Attorney Vaughn-Martel has been contributing to AVVO for quite some time. His grasp of the law is excellent and his answers are very insightful. I highly recommend his legal services.

Michael St Louis, Criminal defense Attorney on Dec 17, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Cost

RATES
  • Hourly Rates$250-$350/hour
    RATES
    • Contingency A contingency fee is the percent of the final award a lawyer will receive as compensation. For some of these cases, lawyers will only be paid if there is a successful outcome.25%-40%
    • Pro-bono Many lawyers provide free legal help to low-income clients. The percent listed indicates how much of a lawyer's practice is pro bono work.5%
    PAYMENT METHODS

    Cash, Check, Credit Card