Overview
Charles Cheever leads the firm as its Managing Partner, after serving as the Co-Managing Partner from 2014-2024. Charles helps high net worth clients manage their estate planning, tax, and investment responsibilities so that they can achieve their financial goals. Charles has a particular focus on helping search fund investors and entrepreneurs with the estate planning and tax strategies unique to this industry. Charles works deliberately to get to know his clients and their families personally in order to provide advice that is independent and focused exclusively on what is best for each client. Charles serves as trustee for more than $1 billion in assets, utilizing the full range of Choate’s Family Office Services Group to deliver integrated counsel to his clients.
Charles is a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee.
- University of Virginia School of Law, JD (1995)
- Harvard University, BA (1990)
- Massachusetts
- Advised search fund CEOs and investors on QSBS reorganization.
- Executed estate planning strategy for venture capital client that transferred $66 million to children free of gift tax through grantor retained annuity trust.
- Created limited partnerships, limited liability companies and trusts for asset protection and wealth preservation purposes, including recent tax-free sale of multi-million dollar commercial real estate to long-term family trust.
- “You Don’t Have to be a Billionaire to Plan Like One,” quoted, Forbes
- “Practice Management: Trust Solves a $30 Million Problem,” featured, The Wall Street Journal
- Charles speaks regularly on estate planning and wealth management strategies throughout Massachusetts.
- Member of many charitable organizations, including the Massachusetts Charitable Society and Perkins School for the Blind
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Boston Bar Association
- Best Lawyers in America (2009-2025)
- Massachusetts Super Lawyer