Jim is a Partner at Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. and the Chair of its Criminal Defense Practice Group.
A native of Concord, New Hampshire, Jim brings substantial courtroom experience to Shaheen & Gordon’s litigation team, focusing his practice in the areas of criminal defense, white-collar defense and DWI / DUI defense. He defends clients in a range of criminal cases throughout state courts, often taking on difficult and well publicized criminal cases on behalf of prominent community members. Through his straightforward and aggressive approach to courtroom work, Jim regularly earns victories for clients in matters large and small. He assists clients to mitigate the stigmatizing impact of criminal charges through effective negotiation and, when those negotiations reach impasse, Jim tries his cases, often winning not guilty verdicts after trial. He has extensive trial experience in State and District Courts throughout New Hampshire. He defends major crimes and minor offenses, regularly representing clients in cases involving homicide, sexual assault, public integrity matters, drug possession and drug distribution, theft, pornography, impaired driving and DWI / DUI as well as a range of motor vehicle charges.
Jim has been repeatedly recognized for his outstanding work as a criminal defense lawyer. For the past two years, Best Lawyers in America and New Hampshire Magazine named Jim among the top attorneys in New Hampshire in the areas of General Criminal Defense, White-Collar Criminal Defense and DUI / DWI Defense. In fact, Jim was the only attorney in the State of New Hampshire listed as a best lawyer in 2017 in all three of these criminal defense categories. This unique distinction is in addition to his several industry honors for his work as a criminal defense and DWI attorney. He was named to the Super Lawyers Rising Star List in the area of Criminal Defense from 2008-2014, a list that includes only 2.5 percent of lawyers in New Hampshire. In 2015, he was promoted to the Super Lawyers List in the area of Criminal Defense. AVVO gave Jim its highest rating, a 10.0.
Jim has been honored for his commitment to New Hampshire’s legal community. In 2010, Governor Lynch appointed him to the Judicial Selection Commission, which is responsible for interviewing, investigating and recommending candidates to the Governor to fill state court judicial vacancies. In 2013, Governor Hassan promoted him to serve as the Co-Chair of the Judicial Selection Commission, making him responsible for managing the Commission, a position he occupied through 2016. In 2005, the Union Leader named him to its 40 Under 40 list – an annual collection of the State’s “young leaders” selected by the State’s only newspaper of statewide circulation.
Prior to joining the firm, Jim served for four years as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Justice Bureau of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. As a prosecutor, he appeared in every Superior Court in New Hampshire and routinely argued appellate cases before the New Hampshire Supreme Court. At the Attorney General’s Office, Jim was assigned to the Homicide Unit where he was one of five prosecutors responsible for the investigation and prosecution of all murder cases statewide.
Jim began his legal career with the law firm of Testa, Hurwitz, and Thibeault in Boston, Massachusetts where he served in the litigation department and represented corporate clients in white-collar criminal matters, intellectual property disputes, and employment cases.
Admissions
- New Hampshire State Bar
- Massachusetts State Bar
- U.S. District Court, District of New Hampshire
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
Career
- Partner, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., 2006 – present
- Director, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., 2005 – present
- Associate, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., 2004 – 2005
- Adjunct Professor, Franklin Pierce Law Center, Advanced Appellate Advocacy, 2006 - 2007
- Adjunct Professor, Massachusetts School of Law, White Collar Crime, 2002
- Assistant Attorney General, The State of New Hampshire Office of the Attorney General, 2000-2004
- Associate Attorney, Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, 1999 – 2000
Professional Associations
- New Hampshire Bar Association
- New Hampshire Bar Association, Former Member of Professionalism Committee
- New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- American Bar Association
Community Involvement
- Concord Chamber of Commerce, Former Board Member
- Concord National Youth Softball, Former President
- Concord National Youth Softball, Volunteer of the Year 2012
- Concord Family YMCA, Former Board Member
- Cap-Area Babe Ruth Softball, Former President
- New Hampshire Lightning ASA Softball Club, Former President
- NHTI Dancing with the Stars, People’s Choice Award 2015
Awards & Honors
- Named Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers for Criminal Defense, Concord 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2014 for work in Criminal Defense and DUI/DWI Defense
- Selected to Super Lawyers 2015-2018, 2020-2024
- Selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2008-2014
- 2013 Co-Chair, Judicial Selection Commission, Promoted by Governor Hassan to serve as the Co-Chair of the Judicial Selection Commission, managing the group of lay people and attorneys responsible for interviewing, investigating and recommending to the Governor candidates for New Hampshire's state court judicial vacancies.
- 2010 Judicial Selection Commission, Appointed by Governor Lynch to the Judicial Selection Commission, which is the group responsible for interviewing, investigating and recommending to the Governor candidates for New Hampshire's state court judicial vacancies.
- 40 Under Forty Union Leader Selection 2005, Jim was named to the Manchester Union Leader's "40 Under Forty" list in 2005 – a list of forty individuals under the age of forty that have made valuable contributions to their businesses, professions, and the communities in which they live. Jim was one of the youngest recipients of the award in 2005.
Education
- H.S., Concord High School, 1992
- B.A., American University, 1996
- J.D., Northeastern University, 1999
Publications & Presentations
- Plea Bargaining – "When Deal Making Turns To Deal Breaking" published in the New Hampshire Bar News, July 8, 2005.
Representative Cases
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is different and case results referred to in this website are not intended to be, nor should they be understood as, a representation that equivalent results will be achieved in any given case.
Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault (AFSA) and Witness Tampering Victory
Won not guilty verdicts following Jury Trial in Strafford County Superior Court on behalf of a UNH student wrongly charged with raping a 15 year old in his dorm.
DWI Victory – Concord District Court
Earned not guilty verdict after trial against the New Hampshire State Police where client was lost and out of gas on the side of I-93, Trooper alleged odor of alcohol, client admitted to consumption of alcohol and allegedly failed field sobriety cases.
Indecent Exposure – Rockingham County Superior Court
Won Not Guilty Verdict following Jury Trial on behalf of former Town Manager.
Charges Dropped in Felony Sexual Assault – Merrimack County
Following aggressive litigation of discovery issues, reached agreement whereby the State dropped Felony Sexual Assault charges in favor of non-sexual offenses avoiding stigmatizing registry obligations and exposure to the State Prison sentence.
DWI Second Offense Victory – Manchester District Court
Secured outright dismissal of second offense DWI charge by successfully arguing that officer lacked reasonable suspicion to initiate a motor vehicle stop, avoiding mandatory minimum jail sentence, long term license loss, ignition interlock requirement and fines.
DWI Victory – Laconia District Court
Secured victory in the middle of trial despite State blood result which alleged a BAC well in excess of the legal limit by calling into question the propriety of the State's blood testing and the State's disclosures of evidence and witnesses to the Defense prior to trial.
Charges Dropped in Felony Sexual Assault – Rockingham County
Felony sexual assault charges dropped following pointed defense investigation which uncovered innocent explanation for alleged sexual contact.
ALS and DWI Victory – Keene District Court
Won contested Administrative License Suspension Hearing by relying on client's medical condition to explain poor performance on Field Sobriety Testing followed by outright dismissal of the DWI charge in Court.
Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault Charges Dropped – Grafton County Superior Court
Aggressively litigated pretrial discovery issues, collecting mental health information regarding alleged victim’s history of lying. Reached agreement whereby all sexual offenses were dropped in favor of non-sexual convictions, avoiding any jail or prison time as well as stigmatizing registration obligations.
DWI Victory – Hooksett District Court
Secured dismissal of DWI case on behalf of Massachusetts driver by successfully litigating motion to dismiss due to unconstitutional speedy trial violation.
Not Guilty - Domestic Violence / Simple Assault Victory – Dover District Court
Won Not Guilty on all charges following trial in which alleged victim claimed that live in boy friend twice physically assaulted her, but delayed in making any report to law enforcement and made inconsistent statements regarding the event.
Not Guilty - DWI – Claremont District Court
Secured Not Guilty verdict following trial despite Trooper testimony that client made unsafe high speed pass, failed the HGN test and failed the 9 step walk and turn test.
Not Guilty - Underage Possession of Alcohol Victory – Concord District Court
Secured Not Guilty Verdict following trial despite officer testimony that client was stopped for hitchhiking and failed the HGN test.
Appeal Victory – New Hampshire Supreme Court
Successfully defended a client in an appeal where the client was sued for money damages arising out of a property transaction.
Felonious Sexual Assault Victory – Merrimack County Superior Court
Secured Not Guilty verdicts after jury trial on behalf of a client charged with Felonious Sexual Assault and Simple Assault.
DWI Victory – Concord District Court
Won DWI trial despite Concord Police Department claim that client ran over the center of a roundabout and failed Field Sobriety Testing.
Criminal Contempt Victory – Franklin District Court
Obtained a Not Guilty verdict following a bench trial for client charged with Criminal Contempt.
DWI Victory – Concord District Court
Won a Not Guilty verdict in DWI case after bench trial.
DWI Victory – Laconia District Court
Motion to Dismiss DWI case granted by the court following a victory in the administrative hearing.
ALS Hearings
Achieved reversal before an en banc panel of prior First Circuit decision granting a convicted rapist's request for habeas corpus relief arising out of a pre-trial discovery dispute in a criminal case.
Possession of Alcohol - Plymouth District Court
Won multiple trials where clients are accused of underage possession, charges brought by both local police and following stings by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission.
International Arbitration – MARKS v. Presstek, 455 F.3d 7
Secured significant victory for publicly traded company after briefing and oral argument before the First Circuit, when the court affirmed the dismissal of the Plaintiff's demand for arbitration of an international contract dispute.
Felony Second Degree Assault – Coos County
Secured no time agreement whereby State dropped Felony offense in favor of Simple Assault Misdemeanor despite allegations of serious bodily injury.
Not Guilty - DWI Victory – Concord District Court
Secured not guilty verdict after trial for client charged with DWI despite the fact that the client was pulled over for traveling 84 miles per hour on I-89, Officer detected an odor of alcohol and the Officer testified that the client failed the HGN, 9 Step Walk and Turn and the 1 Leg Stand tests.
Case Dismissed in Felony Sexual Assault Case – Hillsborough County
Aggressive litigation of discovery issues lead to outright dismissal of Felony Sexual Assault charges, avoiding exposure to State Prison and stigmatizing registration obligations.
Case Dismissed - Business Crime Victory – Laconia District Court
Successfully defended individual defendant charged with violations of boating laws relating to administration of local business by securing dismissal of case during trial.
Simple Assault Victory – Merrimack District Court
Won case in the middle of trial based on Motion To Dismiss for failure of State to meet its burden following defense cross examination of State witness.
Not Guilty - DWI Victory – Plymouth District Court
Obtained Not Guilty verdict during trial based on successful Motion To Suppress Preliminary Breath Test evidence on Constitutional grounds.
Employment Victory – Jeffrey Gahm v. Bailey Distributors v. Ocean State Oil
Successfully defended closely held company against request for a preliminary injunction brought by a competitor, arising out of an employee non-compete agreement.
Possession of Drugs and DWI Second Offense Victory – Laconia District Court
Won Motion To Suppress drugs followed by verdict of Not Guilty after a bench trial for client charged with both DWI Second Offense and Possession of Marijuana.
Criminal Contempt Victory – Concord District Court
Won Motion to Dismiss charges of Criminal Contempt for possessing firearms.
Ellsworth v. Warden, 333 F.3d 1
Achieved reversal before an en banc panel of prior First Circuit decision granting a convicted rapist's request for habeas corpus relief arising out of a pre-trial discovery dispute in a criminal case.
Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault (AFSA) and Witness Tampering Victory
Won not guilty verdicts following Jury Trial in Strafford County Superior Court on behalf of a UNH student wrongly charged with raping a 15 year old in his dorm.
