Charles W. "Charlie" Rankin, Jr.

Charles W. "Charlie" Rankin, Jr.

Lexington, MA recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 1991
Rankin & Sultan

3 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Appellate Practice Bet-the-Company Litigation Criminal Defense: General Practice Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Biography

Attorney Charlie Rankin began practicing criminal law in 1980. He practices in both state and federal courts. Charlie’s practice focuses on representing clients in a diverse array of complex criminal matters, but he is best known for his work representing clients charged with white collar crimes, including health care fraud, Medicare and Medicaid fraud, computer or cybercrimes, financial fraud, telemarketing fraud, tax fraud, and public corruption. In recent years, he was successful in avoiding indictment for several clients who were the targets of criminal investigations. He recently won an acquittal for a client charged with fraud following a three-week long jury trial in federal court.

Charlie served as a member of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Council of the Boston Bar Association. He was Chairman of the Criminal Justice Act Board established by the United States District Court from 1996 to 2009. In 1997, the Boston Bar Association awarded Charlie the Thurgood Marshall Award for extraordinary efforts to deliver legal services to the poor. In 2010, Charlie was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Charlie has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America from 1991 to date, and in Massachusetts Super Lawyers from 2004 to date. In 2010, he was selected to Boston’s Best Lawyers. He has also achieved a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of AV, signifying “the highest level of professional excellence.”

Rankin & Sultan

3 Best Lawyers awards

Rankin & Sultan logo

Overview

  • Harvard University, J.D., graduated 1980
  • Harvard University, J.D., graduated 1980

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2010 - Criminal Defense: General Practice
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, Boston (2025)
  • Appellate Practice, Boston (2016)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Boston (2014)
  • Appellate Practice, Boston (2013)
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, Boston (2010)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Appellate Practice
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Special Focus:
  • Appellate
  • Criminal Appeals

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