Caroline G. Donato
Partner – Criminal Defense
“In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.” – Albert Einstein
Caroline G. Donato is a Partner in MacElree Harvey’s Criminal Defense Practice Group. She focuses her practice on federal and state criminal defense and related civil and administrative matters at both the trial and appellate levels. As part of the Corporate Compliance, Investigations, and Criminal Defense team, her experience includes federal and state business compliance matters, collegiate investigations, county and state grand jury investigations, and complex criminal allegations, including sex crimes, violent crimes, drug charges, and crimes involving fraud and dishonesty. Caroline hosts Subject to Cross with Peter E. Kratsa, a podcast about criminal defense and related topics under the law, available on iTunes, Google, Spotify, and SoundCloud.
Before joining MacElree Harvey, Caroline clerked for a criminal defense practice in Wilmington, Delaware. She was also a law clerk for the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Delaware, a certified legal intern for the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, a News Department Intern for CBS Philadelphia, a law clerk to several criminal defense attorneys throughout Pennsylvania, and a Public Policy Intern at the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics.
During law school, Caroline served as the President of the Women’s Law Caucus, the Treasurer of the Student Bar Association, and was a member and competed nationally on behalf of the Trial Advocacy, Moot Court, and International Moot Court Honor Societies, as well as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society. Caroline was also a member of and competed locally in the American Association of Justice Society. Caroline participated in and completed Widener Law’s Intensive Trial Advocacy Program.
Throughout her legal education, Caroline was the recipient of the 2014 Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association James J. Manderino Award for Trial Advocacy, the 2013-2014 Outstanding Service Award, and the 2013 Certificate of Achievement in White Collar Crime. She received Best Oral Advocate awards in local and national Moot Court Competitions, was part of the First Place Defense Team as a finalist in the 51st Annual Academy Interscholastic Mock Trial Competition, and won Best Overall Team in an American Association of Justice Competition.
Prior to law school, Caroline studied Politics and Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh. She was a member of the University of Pittsburgh Women’s Lacrosse Team and captain during the 2010-2011 season. As a Public Policy Intern for the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics, Caroline focused her research on Marcellus Shale and was published in the Institute of Politics Report, Issue 45.
To learn more about Caroline’s practice and recent cases, please visit www.kratsadonatocriminaldefense.com.
Testimonials
Best Criminal Attorney
Caroline Donato was my criminal attorney. She was by far the smartest and most insightful person in the court room. She was also a delightful person and a pleasure to work with. Caroline handled everything that came her way in a complex case with an exceptional level of confidence and discernment. Her attention to detail, academic excellence, and commitment to her clients shined brightly from the beginning, and she sustained that level of promise to the end. Caroline delivered on all of her promises, was responsive in all of our communications, and came more than prepared to every meeting. She maintained utmost professionalism and poise in the courtroom and was always ten steps ahead of the opposing counsel. Whenever the situation called for it, she was as fierce as a lion on my behalf. Her closing arguments were on point; they deserved a standing ovation if not for the serious context of the case at hand. Any claims from opposing counsel were addressed and put to rest thanks to Caroline’s preparedness and noteworthy eloquence in speaking. As a result of her efforts, justice was served. Caroline is who you want by your side in a crises. I highly recommend her services to anyone who needs a criminal attorney.
I respect and appreciate her.
Caroline was referred to me by a well respected fellow attorney. Her level of professionalism, timeliness, organization, responsiveness, knowledge and ability to navigate the legal system was excellent. She made a challenging situation navigable. I respect and appreciate her. Highly recommend.
Incomparable and Priceless Representation
Caroline and her team represented me for a DUI I was charged with back in 2021 where the state trooper lied about everything from why he charged me with a DUI, because I was not intoxicated, to the reason why he even pulled me over to begin with which was unlawful. Caroline, Mary, Donna, and everyone who was on my case actually listened to me, believed me that I was telling the truth and proved it with video and by catching the trooper on the stand lying. This past over three years have been probably the toughest of my life, because of this stopping me from moving to Phoenix, and the care and compassion that Caroline showed toward me and what was right is incomparable and priceless to what I’ve seen from any other attorney that I’ve worked with. She didn’t sugarcoat or bs anything and that was very much appreciated as well. Caroline and her whole team are amazing and I definitely recommend her if you want things done right.
Second Chance at Life
I brought on Caroline to help me battle a felony along with two misdemeanors extending from several mistakes that I made. She is extremely knowledgeable and was beyond helpful throughout the entire mitigation process and in a little under 9 months was able to negotiate me a deal to keep me out of jail and give me a second chance at life. Words don’t express the gratitude I have for Caroline and the rest of her team. Hands down the best lawyer out there.
Notable Representations
- Successful resolutions of first degree murder charges
- Multiple successful jury trial acquittals of rape, sexual assault, strangulation, and assault allegations
- Success in suppressing illegally obtained evidence in various allegations, including murder, drug possession, and DUI
- Successful resolutions of felony allegations of aggravated assault and strangulation
- Successful resolutions and dismissals of PWID felony charges
- Multiple successful challenges to Indicated status by CYF
- Successful appeals before the Commonwealth Court for CYF Indicated and Founded Reports of child abuse
- Success in Sexually Violent Predator sentencing
- Success in PennDOT license suspension appeals
- Success in defending Driving Under Suspension allegations
- PFA defense and successful resolutions of related Indirect Criminal Contempt allegations
- Successful resolution of terroristic threat allegations
- Dismissal of theft allegations
- Successful resolution of DUI charges and related unlawful searches
- Favorable dispositions for clients accused of sex offenses and/or violent offenses
- Favorable dispositions for clients charged with summary criminal and traffic offenses
- Representation of state and federal grand jury witnesses
- Successful negotiation of withdrawal of PFA petitions and ICC allegations
- Successful suppression motions and related prosecution declinations
- Successful withdrawals of non-traffic offenses
- Successful placement into ARD on serious allegations
- Successful mitigated sentences on serious allegations
- Obtained pre-trial federal and state release when opposed
- Prosecution declination of felony theft allegations
- Successful federal representations of targets, subjects, and witnesses
- Favorable federal sentences obtained in serious allegations involving white collar and internet crimes
- Proper and timely responses to various federal civil and administrative subpoenas for document production leading to case closures
Memberships
- Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL)
- Member (2014-present)
- Next Generation Committee (2016-present), Chair (2018-2021)
- CLE Committee (2017-2019)
- Board of Directors Member (2020-present)
- Advocacy Committee (2020-present)
- Executive Committee, Secretary (2024 – present)
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2014-present)
- Chester County Bar Association (2014-present)
- Pennsylvania Bar Association (2014-present)
- American Bar Association (2014-present)
PRACTICE AREAS
OFFICES
ADMISSIONS
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Supreme Court of the United States
EDUCATION
- Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, Master of Laws – LLM, Trial Advocacy (2019-2020) with Honors
- Widener University School of Law (2011-2014)
- University of Pittsburgh, Politics & Philosophy (2007-2011)
IN THE NEWS
AWARDS
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2018-2024)
- Best Lawyers (2024-2025)
- Main Line Today, Top Lawyer (2015–2024)
- Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry, 2019 Rising Star of the Year
- Master of Laws – LLM, Trial Advocacy with Honors (2019-2020)
