Hugh F. Keefe

Hugh F. Keefe is the founder and principal attorney of the New Haven, Connecticut, law office of Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante. His practice encompasses a broad spectrum of matters involving criminal defense, civil affairs, business and commercial disputes, and divorce. He is the first lawyer in the United States to receive dual certification in civil and criminal trial advocacy from the National Board of Trial Advocacy in 1980 and one of the six in the U.S. to hold accreditation in three specialties, including Civil Pre-trial Practice Advocacy (2012).

A seasoned attorney with five decades of experience, Mr. Keefe has handled several high-profile cases and is skilled at defending his clients’ rights. Adored by his clients and respected in the legal community, he makes sure his clients understand the merits and challenges of every available legal option before committing to a legal approach. He enjoys strategizing with clients and analyzes every legal element before representing them in the courtroom. 

A 1964 accounting graduate of Quinnipiac College, Mr. Keefe was involved in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He received his doctorate in law from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he received the George J. Sherman Scholarship. Apart from teaching trial advocacy at Yale Law School for more than 30 years, he has lectured, participated in panels, and moderated numerous seminars and conferences organized by various bar associations, law schools, television and radio programs, colleges, judicial departments and other groups.

Mr. Keefe has been licensed to practice in all state courts of Connecticut, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, the Supreme Court of the United States and the U.S. Tax Court. He has held key leadership positions in various sections and committees of the Connecticut Bar Association throughout his career. With experience participating in the screening, selection and grievance procedures related to judges, he served as the chairman of the state’s Judicial Selection Commission and Judicial Review Council.

Highly engaged in the legal circle, Mr. Keefe plays an active part in several professional organizations such as the American Bar Association, the New Haven County Bar Association and the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. The legal community has garnered him much recognition from many sources:

• AV Preeminent* rating from Martindale-Hubbell
• “Superb” rating from Avvo
• Fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation and the American Board of Criminal Lawyers
• Honorary Doctor of Laws from the Quinnipiac University Law School
• Listed among the five Best Lawyers in Connecticut in civil litigation and defense by the Connecticut Magazine; the New York Area’s Best Lawyers by the New York Magazine; The Best Lawyers in America in civil litigation and defense; the 100 Irish American Lawyers by Irish Legal 100
• Featured in the Irish America magazine and the Irish Voice newspaper

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.