Charlene CaldeiraCharlene Caldeira

Of Counsel

Charlene A. Caldeira has over 20 years of litigation experience in family law and appellate procedure handling matters across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Attorney Caldeira handles the most complex family law matters including high conflict custody cases and divorces involving estates in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

In addition to her litigation experience, Attorney Caldeira also focuses her practice on appellate law. In addition to having served as a Supreme Judicial Law Clerk for Associate Justice Neil Lynch from 1998-1999, Attorney Caldeira co-authored the 2nd edition of Appellate Procedure of the Massachusetts Practice Series. Attorney Caldeira has also taught Family Law as an adjunct professor at New England School of Law. She continues to lecture and chair numerous Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Seminars.

Attorney Caldeira has also been appointed as Guardian ad litem and a Special Master for Discovery by the Probate & Family Court.

Attorney Caldeira has been counsel on numerous notable Appellate cases, including the United States First Circuit Court of Appeals case Whallon v. Lynn, 230 F. 3d 450 (2000), and the Appeals Court of Massachusetts cases, Britton v. Britton, 69 Mass. App. Ct. 23, 865 N.E. 1174 (2007), Akinci-Unal v. Unal, 64 Mass. App. Ct. 212, 832 N.E. 2d 1 (2005), A.T. v. C.R., 88 Mass. App. Ct. 532 (2015) and Schulman v. Schulman, 51 N.E. 3d 509 (2016).

Attorney Caldeira has also served as a lecturer on the BBA's program entitled "How to Win Removal Cases in Probate & Family Court.” She has also chaired the MCLE seminars entitled "The Child's Voice," "Crafting an Effective Parenting Plan," and "Single Justice Practice." For numerous years, Charlene chaired the MCLE seminar entitled "Advocating and Drafting under Alimony Reform Legislation." She has served on the faculty at the MCLE's Family Law Trial Advocacy Program for numerous years.

Charlene earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, cum laude, and obtained her J.D., cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School in 1998.

Charlene was admitted in the Courts of the Commonwealth in Massachusetts in 1998, The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts in 2000, and The United States Court of Appeals for First Circuit in 2000.

Areas Of Practice

  • Family Law 90%
  • Appellate Practice 10%

Litigation

  • 100%

Bar Admissions

  • Massachusetts, 1998
  • U.S. District Court of Massachusetts
  • Appeals 1st Circuit, 2000

Education

Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts

  • J.D. -1998
  • Honors: cum laude

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, Massachusetts

  • B.S. - 1994
  • Honors: cum laude
  • Major: Psychology
  • Representative Cases

Representative Cases

  • Whallon v. Lynn 1st Circuit, 230 F.3d 450, 2000
  • Akinci v. Unal v. Unal, 64 Massachusetts Appeals Court 212, 2005
  • Britton v. Britton, 69 Mass. Appeals Court 23, 2007
  • Schulman v. Schulman, 51 N.E.3d 509, 2016
  • A.T. v. C.R., 88 Massachusetts Appeals Court 532, 2015

Honors

  • Super Lawyer Rising Star

Classes and Seminars

  • How to Win Removal Cases, Boston Bar Association
  • The Child's Voice/Crafting and Effective Parenting Plan, MCLE
  • Advocating and Drafting Under Alimony Reform Act, MCLE
  • Family Law Trial Advocacy, MCLE
  • Single Justice Trial Advocacy, MCLE

Specialties and Certifications

  • Guardian Ad Litem, MA Probate and Family Court
  • Special Master for Discovery, MA Probate and Family Court

Languages

  • English

Unbreakable Bonds Built with Previous Clients

Hear What They Have to Say
  • “His support and his ability to see my concerns as important to him made my experience beyond comfortable”

    Ashley

  • “Nick handled my case flawlessly and prepared me for a great victory”

    Tara

  • “I absolutely recommend Nick to anyone searching for a highly experienced and skilled family lawyer with an impressive success record who cares about his clients.”

    Mark

  • “I felt my concerns we’re listened to, treated like a person, and received the service I paid for.”

    John

  • “ Nick was very concise, decisive, strategic and professional in all aspects of his work.”

    Jeffery S.

  • “It was the hardest experience in my life but Attorney Halks was my savior from day one.”

    Jay

  • “ Takes pride in his work and is concerned to provide the best possible representation for his client. ”

    Doug

  • “Nick did an amazing job with my custody case. ”

    Zina G.

  • “Attorney Nicholas Halks has truly been a savior to my family and my daughter and for that, I will be eternally appreciative.”

    Eric

  • “Thank you Nick for your support and encouragement through such a difficult time in my life. My appreciation is beyond words.”

    T.J.

  • “He was effective, honest, direct, extremely knowledgeable of the law and most of all confident.”

    Ronna

  • “What I mostly enjoy about Attorney Halks is the fact that he has excellent work ethic.”

    Sara

  • “He was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and honest with me about my case and my chances for success. ”

    Stephanie

  • “Nick was able to understand my situation and to put my child’s best interests as the top priority.”

    Junru

  • “ I can finally move on with my life.”

    Andrew