A Big Sky State native, Charlie grew up in Missoula, Montana.  After graduating from Hellgate High School, Charlie attended Harvard University.  While in college, Charlie was an ROTC cadet and Division I varsity athlete in swimming and water polo.  After graduating cum laude in American History, Charlie received his commission in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant.  His 4-year, active duty service included a 13-month combat tour in Iraq.  While in the field, Charlie was put in numerous positions that required strong leadership, quick-thinking, and sound judgment.  These positions ranged from leading his armored platoon during combat, to managing his base’s perimeter security and quick reaction force, to negotiating multi-million dollar contracts with international firms and Iraqi businessmen on behalf of the U.S. Army.  Upon completion of his active duty service, Charlie transferred into the Army Reserves and returned to his hometown to pursue simultaneous degrees in Law and Public Administration from the University of Montana.

While in law school, Charlie was a regional finalist on the Negotiations Competition Team, drafted and helped enact affordable prescription drug legislation with the Montana legislature, and worked as a legal intern at Boone Karlberg, P.C.

After graduating from law school in 2009, Charlie worked as a legislative fellow in the U.S. Senate where he focused on veteran and defense policy.  His time in D.C. included helping draft and pass legislation mandating face-to-face PTSD and TBI screenings before and after deployments and legislation involving veteran unemployment.  In 2010, he co-founded a Montana startup technology company, and has since advised companies and partnerships as both contract in-house and outside counsel.  He is a U.S. Army (Reserves) JAG Corps Officer and has argued before the military’s highest criminal court of appeals as amicus curiae.  Charlie practices in the areas of business law and entity formation, copyright and trademark, estate planning, administrative law, consumer protection, landlord-tenant, and veterans’ law.

Charlie is a firm believer in service, both personally for his country and professionally for his fellow Montanans.  Whether he is helping veterans receive the benefits they are entitled to or helping bootstrapped entrepreneurs start their dream businesses, he continues to bring his passion and dedication to work with him every day.

Charlie is married to Audrey Cromwell, a practicing attorney and the founder of Cromwell Law, PLLC.  Charlie and Audrey also enjoy providing legal services to MSU’s student population through the ASMSU legal services program.  In his free time, Charlie enjoys swimming, living in Montana, and spending time with Audrey and his son Thomas.

Admitted:  Montana State Bar, U.S. District Courts (District of Montana), Judge Advocate General Corps (U.S. Army Reserves), Veterans Administration

Member:  Montana Bar Association, American Bar Association

Education:  Hellgate High School (Missoula, Montana), high honors, 1998; Harvard University, B.A. in American History (Cambridge, Massachusetts), cum laude, 2002; University of Montana (Missoula, Montana), J.D., 2009; University of Montana (Missoula, Montana), M.P.A., high honors, 2009; U.S. Army Judge Advocate Generals School (Charlottesville, Virginia), commandant’s list, 2012