MacElree Harvey originated with the MacElree family line of lawyers over 125 years ago. The firm began in 1880 when Wilmer W. MacElree (1859–1960) was admitted to practice in Chester County and opened his doors.

In 1908, J. Paul MacElree (1887–1972) was admitted to practice and in 1949, Wilmer's grandson, Lawrence E. MacElree, was admitted. Wilmer continued to maintain his own office, where Lawrence practiced with him until 1960. Lawrence also worked with J. Paul under the firm name, MacElree & MacElree until 1953 when he went onto the bench as President Judge of the newly formed separate Orphans' Court of Chester County. From 1953 until 1954, Lawrence practiced individually. In 1954, John O. Platt joined Lawrence under the name of MacElree & Platt. In 1955, D.T. Marrone joined the firm and the name was changed two years later to MacElree, Platt and Marrone.

In 1962, the Honorable Joseph F. Harvey joined the firm under the new name MacElree, Platt, Marrone & Harvey. When D.T. Marrone went onto the bench in 1968, the firm continued as MacElree, Platt and Harvey. In 1973, two Chester County firms merged to become MacElree, Harvey, Gallagher, and Kean. Eventually the firm became MacElree, Harvey, Gallagher, Featherman and Sebastian, Ltd., more commonly known as MacElree Harvey. In 2000, the firm made the decision to officially shorten its designation to MacElree Harvey, Ltd. The firm currently has more than 25 attorneys, a support staff of over 30 skilled employees and offices in West Chester and Kennett Square, Pennsylvania and Centreville, Delaware.