Initiative in Practice.®
For every client. Every day.
Founded in 1880, we serve individuals and businesses.
We’ve transformed the way we practice law to meet the technological and social requirements of the day.
ABOUT US

MacElree Harvey 145 Years Of Experience
With roots that reach back to 1880, MacElree Harvey uses the traditional values of professionalism and excellence as the foundation for the firm’s identity. Our attorneys are encouraged to build on these traditional values through Initiative – creative problem-solving, proactive planning, and strategic positioning.

Initiative in Practice® . For Every Client. Every Day.
Our 45+ attorneys and their staff are dedicated to providing clients with superior representation and are committed to achieving the best outcomes. We serve individuals and businesses in the Pennsylvania and Delaware area with our expertise in various areas of the law.

Client Focused Law Firm
We believe that we’re only as good as the reputation of our clients—which is why we work diligently to ensure our clients come first. We never hesitate to put our reputation on the line to ensure they get as much out of the relationship as we do.
NEWS & INSIGHTS
Employment Law Update February 2026
MacElree Harvey CEO Michelle Foster Appointed to Board of the Chester County Bar Foundation
Application of Privilege in the Era of Generative AI
One Reason Homeowners Miss Tax Sale Notices
Overturning a Tax Sale: Why Acting Quickly Matters
MacElree Harvey Elects Andrew R. Silverman as Shareholder
Employment Law Update January 2026
When Safety Meets the Law: The Power and Consequences of Protection From Abuse Orders in Pennsylvania

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
Mary has been an absolute blessing. Due to a custody dispute, I ended up needing a criminal attorney. Not all attorneys are created equally, and Mary truly devoted her soul to my case. After two poor experiences, I started to believe all attorneys were the same until I hired Mary. She is communicative, extremely knowledgeable, forward thinking, and most of all, she always took the time to help me understand every part of the process. There was always full transparency. Despite being a fairly new attorney, she is wise beyond her years. She was persistent yet tactful with the police and the district attorney’s office, and she let them know she was going to fight for me. I am beyond grateful. I don’t know where I would be if not for her.
Patrick was great! We hired him after consulting two other attorneys. We had a situation complicated by Delaware law requiring us to post ads in South Korean newspapers regarding custody and offer proof to the court. The law was unclear about how to go about this, but Patrick guided us through the process and the court ruled in our favor. The adoption went through with no hassle on January 25th and our family is thrilled to now be legal under the same family name. We originally attempted to do this ourselves which turned out not to be a very good idea, way more complicated than we thought. Patrick was able to undo our mistakes and get us on the right path. Thanks, Patrick for your hard work and getting results. We highly recommend Patrick for anyone needing counsel for adoption!
Several years after a divorce, new issues prompted me to seek counsel about child custody concerns. No longer confident in the divorce lawyer’s practice, a recommendation led me to Lance Nelson. I truly cannot say enough good things about Lance. He is patient, pragmatic, professional, accessible. Exceptional communication and clear integrity. He laid out the options at every stage, with practical advice regarding the most logical next steps. It never needed to go to court — we were able to manage the situation well enough long enough, the kids aged out before needing more serious legal intervention. In addition to Lance, everyone I have interacted with in the office is equally competent and caring. I would not hesitate to recommend Lance specifically or the practice as a whole.
Along with being a great lawyer, Caroline is a great person to have on your side. She is a very strong and smart woman. She was very vocal and easy to get in touch with at any time. I appreciate everything Caroline has done for me. I will always appreciate everything she has done for me for the rest of my life. I highly recommend her for any problems you may have.
From the start, Lance was warming and responsive to my situation. He worked diligently (both during office hours and outside of work) to quickly resolve many unusual divorce issues presented in my case. His demeanor and professional conduct was of the highest regard. Lance has the knowledge and expertise of the process of divorce to quickly close this chapter. His highly regarded in my book.
I was searching for an attorney in a sensitive matter and Caroline came highly recommended by someone who worked for an entirely different law firm (despite them having attorneys for this as well). I have to say, I don’t often write reviews but it would be unjust to let this go. Caroline was absolutely amazing. Not only was she always on top of issues, she handled each step of the way in the best interest of me. I knew I made the correct decision when each time we had to go to court in two different counties, everyone came up to talk with her. The judges knew her. The other attorneys. Even the members of the court room. It was easy to see how people respected her, and that was almost as important to me as it was her skills. She’s a fighter in the court room and doesn’t get rattled. Her questioning was spot on and she knew what to ask and what not to. Even when I disagreed with a particular question, it was quickly apparent she knew better. Her knowledge of the law was incredible, and her ability to read the room made a huge impact in my cases. The results I had were more than even I expected. If I had to pick something she didn’t do well, I would not be able to. Honestly she was an absolute rockstar at her profession and faced with terrible consequences, she kept me calm and promised to ensure she did all she could. That is exactly what she did. There are important factors when searching for the right attorney. Experience. Knowledge of the law. The ability to read the room. Working well with others but also knowing when to push and when to sit back and listen. And one that fights for her clients and not her ego. Caroline was five stars in all areas. If you find the need for a criminal attorney, I can promise you this; there is no better person to hire. It’s not even close.














































