Free Consultation
$0 first 60 minutes
PRO
Charles J Keefe
also known as Chuck Keefe
Virtual Consultation Available
Free Consultation
About Charles
Biography
Charles “Chuck” Keefe is a partner at Wilson, Bush & Keefe, where he focuses exclusively on criminal defense and complex trial litigation in state and federal courts throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts. A veteran trial attorney and former homicide prosecutor, Chuck is widely recognized as one of New Hampshire’s leading criminal defense lawyers trying some of the most high-profile criminal cases across the state. Chuck has successfully defended other attorneys, members of law enforcement, and members of the court against serious criminal allegations.
Chuck formerly served two terms as President of the New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers after previously serving two terms as Vice President, and he remains actively involved in issues affecting criminal justice and constitutional rights throughout the state serving on both the New Hampshire Supreme Court Rules Committee and the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire Rules Committee. He is regularly consulted by fellow attorneys on complex criminal matters and is frequently relied upon by local and national media for legal analysis and commentary on high-profile criminal cases. He has obtained a multitude of not-guilty verdicts before judges and juries, in state and federal court, ranging from DUI/DWI to homicide and many others.
Chuck graduated with honors from the College of the Holy Cross, where he majored in history and played collegiate baseball. He then attended Boston University School of Law, graduating with honors while earning the Dean’s Award for outstanding academic performance. During law school, he represented indigent clients in Boston and served as an editor of one of the school’s law journals. While in law school, he worked for a leading Boston-area criminal defense attorney who engendered in him the passion for defending those facing criminal accusations and standing up for people in need of help in the worst moments of their lives.
Chuck began his legal career at a Manchester civil trial firm handling wrongful death and catastrophic injury litigation involving complex legal and factual issues. He later joined the Hillsborough County Attorney's Office, where he prosecuted serious felony offenses including drug crimes, assaults, theft offenses, and manslaughter cases. He subsequently joined the Homicide Unit of the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, prosecuting murder cases throughout the State of New Hampshire. While with the Attorney General’s Office, Chuck successfully argued multiple cases before the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
Since joining the firm in 2008, Chuck has devoted his practice exclusively to defending individuals charged with crimes ranging from DUI/DWI offenses to homicide, white-collar crimes, computer crimes, drug offenses, and serious violent felonies. He has secured acquittals and favorable outcomes in bench and jury trials in both state and federal court and has successfully litigated cases before the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
Drawing upon his background as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, Chuck is known for his courtroom presence, strategic litigation skills, and deep understanding of how criminal cases are investigated and prosecuted. His experience provides clients with an informed and aggressive defense at every stage of the criminal process.
In 2008, Chuck received the prestigious Robert E. Kirby Award, awarded annually to a New Hampshire attorney age 35 or younger who exemplifies exceptional advocacy, professionalism, civility, and integrity. He has also been recognized by Super Lawyers and holds a longstanding top rating on Avvo.
In addition to his trial practice, Chuck lectures and teaches on criminal defense topics for other attorneys and has authored legal education materials on criminal law and evidence.
Have you been arrested? I am here to aggressively defend you with recognized skill and results.
Practice Areas
6
Practice Areas
Criminal Defense
40%
DUI and DWI
20%
Drug Crime
10%
Federal Crime
10%
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Awards
2025 2024 2023
...
+
9
Licenses
Licensed in Massachusetts for 13 years
State: Massachusetts
Acquired: 2012
No misconduct found
Licensed in New Hampshire for 26 years
State: New Hampshire
Acquired: 1999
No misconduct found
Location
Wilson, Bush & Keefe
378 Main Street, Nashua, NH, 03060
wbdklaw.com/attorneys-staff/charles-j-keefe/Online Presence
Other places you can find Charles online.
Charles J Keefe's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
279 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (279)
Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Practice Areas
Criminal Defense (208)
DUI & DWI (38)
Lawsuits & Disputes (27)
Drug Crime (23)
Federal Crime (10)
Speeding & Traffic Ticket (10)
Litigation (8)
Violent Crime (8)
Civil Rights (6)
Administrative Law (3)
Child Custody (3)
Gun Law (3)
Car Accidents (2)
Divorce & Separation (2)
Domestic Violence (2)
Family (2)
Business (1)
Child Abuse (1)
Contracts & Agreements (1)
Expungement (1)
Immigration (1)
Insurance Fraud (1)
Probate (1)
Sex Crime (1)
State, Local And Municipal Law (1)
What Clients Mention
Case Results (237)
Advocacy (187)
Recommendation (138)
Professionalism (100)
Communication Style (74)
Practice Area Knowledge (71)
Responsiveness (66)
General Knowledge (57)
Character & Conduct (56)
Compassion (48)
Trustworthiness (31)
Cost of Services (30)
Staff & Support (18)
Punctuality (5)
Payment Plans (2)
Free Consultations (1)
Showing 11 - 15 of 38 reviews | DUI & DWI
Posted by Erica | March 26, 2020 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI
Dui case
Mr. Keefe and his office were wonderful throughout my DUI case. He was incredibly informative and put a lot of my fears at ease. His assistant Stacey was so helpful. He did a great job in my case. He won the dmv hearing and then was able to resolve my case so I didn’t lose my license or have a crime ...
Posted by anonymous | February 11, 2020 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI
Worked Magic
Chuck represented on a DWI third offense charge. I thought my life was over and that I would go to jail and never drive again. From the beginning Chuck and his office were great. They informed me of everything, stayed in regular contact, and gave me hope. Chuck was able to find a legal problem with ...
Posted by anonymous | December 16, 2019 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI
Dismissed DWI
During my incident, I was in a lot of distress, and I felt like I was unfairly charged with a DWI. I have never been in trouble with the law before, and I was afraid of this impacting my job and my life in general. I had a list of lawyers to contact, and Chuck was the only one I was able to contact r...
Posted by Jose | October 11, 2019 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI
Won my case
Chuck represented me in a dui case. He won the case and was clearly a great lawyer. The judge found me not guilty right away. we also won the other hearing for refusing the breath test. His office is great. Let me informed and always returned calls. Highly recommend.
Posted by Elizabeth | July 21, 2019 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI
Charles Keefe is the man you want in your corner.
Mr. Keefe was a lawyer suggested to me by a close friend when I was arrested for a DUI on new year's eve. Chuck was immediately engaging and clear when we met for the first time. These being very serious chargers I was extremely worried about how these circumstances would effect my future, I would've...
Charles J Keefe's Lawyer Endorsements
"I've done a number of tough cases with Attorney Keefe and he is always very hard working and effective for his clients."
"Attorney Keefe is a zealous advocate for his clients who gets results, which is evinced by his many client reviews. He is a consummate professional who is respected by his peers and judges alike. You cannot go wrong hiring Charles for you criminal defense needs."
"Chuck is one of the best trial attorneys in the area. He is extremely confident, professional, ethical, and has a brilliant legal mind."
"It is without reservation that I endorse Attorney Chuck Keefe. Chuck's reputation as a stellar trial attorney is well deserved. His instincts are impeccable, his presence in the courtroom inescapable, and his dedication to his clients unquestionable. Good lawyer get good results and Chuck is one of the best."
"Atty. Keefe is a well respected, highly competent criminal defense attorney. I often call Chuck when I need to discuss complex legal issues."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Chuck Keefe is an extraordinary attorney. He is extremely knowledgeable in the area of criminal defense and I seek his advice for complex and technical questions surrounding criminal defense matters. I have known Chuck for over ten years and he has an excellent reputation throughout the legal community. He is well thought of by prosecutors, peers and judges. He has earned this reputation through his diligence and the favorable results he achieves for his clients. I highly endorse Chuck Keefe as a Criminal Defense Attorney."
"If I was charged with a crime I would immediately pick up the phone and call Attorney Chuck Keefe. Attorney Keefe is a top notch criminal defense attorney. Chuck started out as a tough prosecutor, first working for the Hillsborough County Attorneys Office and later for the New Hampshire Attorney General. As a prosecutor Chuck litigated all types of cases, from violent crimes, such as homicide, to complex white collar crimes such as fraud. Chuck is dedicated to providing an unparalleled level of service and advocacy to his clients. You will not find a more dedicated or talented attorney than Chuck Keefe - He has my highest recommendation."
"I endorse this lawyer. Chuck Keefe is a talented and effective lawyer. He has successfully tried some of the most difficult cases as both a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. His experience is second to none and he is well qualifed to handle the defense of any criminal charges in the State or Federal Courts of New Hampshire."
"I worked with Chuck Keefe as a prosecutor at the NH Attorney General's Office and have since observed his work as a criminal defense lawyer. Chuck combines legal smarts with excellent communication skills and a great courtroom presence. He is well known and respected by the criminal law Bar and the judges before whom he appears. Most importantly, he attains the best possible results for his clients."
"I give Chuck Keefe my full endorsement. I worked with Chuck on a number of different cases including being on the opposite side of two murder cases where he was the prosecutor. I also worked with Chuck on a number of cases since he left the Attorney General's office that involved difficult legal issues. I found Chuck to be a very hard working, personable and knowledgeable attorney. He works tirelessly for his clients and always gets the best results possible. Chuck has an excellent work ethic and is a very talented criminal defense attorney that is well respected by other members of the bar, the courts' staff members, the police and most importantly the judges of New Hampshire. Chuck is among the best trial attorneys in the area and I would not hesitate to refer someone to him"
"It easy to write an enthusiastic endorsement for Chuck Keefe. I have had the honor of both working with Chuck as a prosecutor and observing him now as a defense attorney. His instincts are sharp, confidence is high and he has a great deal of traction with the police and prosecutors in the courts where he tends to appear. I routinely call Chuck to bounce ideas off of him and I always find that his responses are clear, concise and thoughtful. His work ethic is strong as he nimbly churns through written work and tends to a busy schedule of court and administrative hearings. He knows when to be forceful in his advocacy, but also has that critical sense of when to be diplomatic in his approach. Importantly, he tends to a robust case load with a sense of humor, which makes him well liked among his clients, the bar and even the bench."
John Newman
Criminal defense lawyer
David Tencza
Criminal defense lawyer
Nicole Fortune
Criminal defense lawyer
Daniel Conley
Personal injury lawyer
Robin Melone
Criminal defense lawyer
Raymond Mello
Criminal defense lawyer
Timothy Goulden
Criminal defense lawyer
Justin Shepherd
Criminal defense lawyer
Michael Bowser
Criminal defense lawyer
Donald Blaszka
Criminal defense lawyer
James Rosenberg
Criminal defense lawyer
Experience
Honors
2025
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2024
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2023
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2022
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2008
Robert E. Kirby Award, New Hampshire Bar Association
Work Experience
2008 - Present
Partner, Wilson, Bush, Durkin & Keefe, P.C.
2004 - 2008
Assistant Attorney General, New Hampshire Attorney General's Office
2001 - 2004
Assistant County Attorney, Hillsborough County Attorney's Office
1999 - 2001
Associate, Nelson, Kinder, Mosseau & Saturley, P.C.,
Associations
2009 - Present
Catholic Lawyers GuildMember
2008 - Present
New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense LawyersMember
2008 - Present
National Association of Criminal Defense LawyersMember
2014 - 2015
New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense LawyersVice President
2003 - 2009
Daniel Webster-Batchelder American Inn of CourtBarrister
Sample of Legal Cases
State of N.H. v. T.L.
Not Guilty
State of New Hampshire v. J.S.
Court found glient not guilty after trial.
State of New Hampshire v. J.C.
Not guilty after trial.
State of New Hampshire v. M.P.
Charges dismissed.
Education
1999
Boston University School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1996
College of the Holy Cross
B.A.
Speaking Engagements
2014
Trial Skills
Criminal Defense Trial Skill
Publications
2010
A Practical Guide to Evidence in New Hampshire
Documentary Evidence
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
I got a dui, blew a 1.6 and had a concussion from the accident. I don't remember anything from that night.
30 Jul 2012
Q&A
What would the charge be for theft of $2000 cash (ballpark)?
31 Jul 2012
Q&A
I was a school bus driver for 6 yrs and got arrested. got a cwof. dismissed in 6 mths can i go back to school bus driving.
25 Jul 2012