News

West Chester, PA, August 15, 2024 — MacElree Harvey, Ltd. is pleased to announce that 18 lawyers have been included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. 

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

“For more than 40 years, the rigorous methodology of Best Lawyers has ensured the integrity and esteem of our legal recognitions,” said Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer. “It is with great pleasure that we continue to provide potential clients with the pinnacle measurement of credibility through our Best Lawyers awards as they search for counsel.”

Best Lawyers has earned the respect of the profession, the media and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in more than 75 countries.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

MacElree Harvey, Ltd. would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to 2025 The Best Lawyers in America list:

• Robert A. Burke – Litigation – Trusts and Estates
• Daniel Crossland – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Trusts and Estates
• Marie I. Crossley – Family Law, Family Law Arbitration, and Family Law Mediation
• Harry J. DiDonato – Real Estate Law
• Caroline G. Donato – Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Mary Kay Gaver – Real Estate Law
• J. Charles Gerbron, Jr. – Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law
• Peter E. Kratsa – Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, and Family Law
• Michael G. Louis – Real Estate Law
• John F. McKenna – Litigation – Trusts and Estates and Tax Law
• Matthew M. McKeon – Land Use and Zoning Law
• Brian L. Nagle – Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, and Real Estate Law
• Lance J. Nelson – Family Law
• Timothy F. Rayne – Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
• Michael C. Rovito – Family Law
• Tiffany Marie Shrenk – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Ashley B. Stitzer – Family Law
• Louis N. Teti – Trusts and Estates

Additionally, MacElree Harvey, Ltd. would like to congratulate the following lawyers recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America:

• Matthew C. Cooper – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law

About MacElree Harvey, Ltd.

MacElree Harvey, Ltd. is a full-service law firm dedicated to providing exceptional legal services to Pennsylvania and Delaware. Their team of experienced attorneys specializes in a wide range of practice areas, including commercial litigation, criminal defense law, family law, litigation law, mediation and arbitration, estates, and more. MacElree Harvey has committed to serving clients with integrity, professionalism, and a deep understanding of their legal needs for over 140 years.

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional and national publications across the globe.

Lawyers who are nominated for consideration are voted on by currently recognized Best Lawyers working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region. Our awards and recognitions are based purely on the feedback we receive from these top lawyers. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo a thorough verification process to make sure they are currently still in private practice. Only then can these top lawyers be recognized by Best Lawyers.

Bill Gallagher, the last founding partner of MacElree Harvey, marks an extraordinary 50+ years with the firm.

The journey of Mr. Gallagher at MacElree Harvey began in the early 1970’s when he merged his small practice with MacElree, Platt and Harvey, forming what would become MacElree, Harvey, Gallagher, and Kean, eventually shortened to MacElree Harvey. His career, however, began even earlier, with his initial foray into law practice in the early 1960’s.

Gallagher made a name for himself as the Public Defender of Chester County, achieving back-to-back acquittals in two high-profile murder trials in the late 1960’s. “The two acquittals established my reputation,” he says. This success set the foundation for his long-standing career and his reputation for excellence.

Gallagher’s contributions extend far beyond the courtroom. As the former Public Defender of Chester County, he has always placed a high value on public service, a tradition that remains integral to MacElree Harvey’s ethos. “Public service has always been important to me, and it continues to be important to the firm,” Gallagher notes. Mr. Gallagher currently serves on the Board of Directors of Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania and is a past president of the organization. He is also a member of the Chester County Bar Association’s Pro Bono Committee and Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Legal Services to the Public Committee.

Mr. Gallagher is a staple of the Chester County area, even riding on a float in the Kennett Square Memorial Day parade in 2023 in honor of his time in the Marines.

Unlike many professionals contemplating retirement, Gallagher remains a staple of the growing MacElree Harvey firm. He continues to take on cases that resonate with him while also making time for personal pursuits outside the office. Despite his decades-long career, Gallagher’s enthusiasm for law remains undiminished, driven by his excitement for the firm’s future and the young talent that upholds its traditions.

Gallagher’s optimism extends to the future of Chester County, which he sees as an area of growth and opportunity. MacElree Harvey is well-positioned to address a wide array of legal needs, encompassing business law, criminal defense, estates and trusts, probate, family law, land use, litigation, and personal injury. Gallagher estimates that the firm can handle 95 percent of all legal areas, thanks to its diverse departments and expert attorneys.

As Gallagher reflects on his remarkable journey and looks ahead, he is confident in the firm’s continued success. “I am excited about the young people we have keeping up the traditions. I am also excited to see the firm’s culture and the firm’s philosophy being continued,” he says.

A Legacy of Excellence

William “Bill” Gallagher’s 50+ years at MacElree Harvey stand as a testament to his dedication to the legal profession and his community. His legacy is one of excellence, service, and an enduring passion for the law—a legacy that will undoubtedly inspire future generations at MacElree Harvey for years to come.

Main Line Today, a regional lifestyle magazine that serves Philadelphia’s western suburbs, has named 20 MacElree Harvey attorneys as ‘Top Lawyers’ for 2024, marking 17 consecutive years of inclusion on the local list.

Each year, attorneys are nominated via peer balloting, then vetted through the publication’s editorial process. Only lawyers practicing in Pennsylvania can nominate, and self-nomination is not permitted, ensuring the integrity and credibility of the list.

MacElree Harvey is once again ranked across multiple practice areas including business law, criminal law, personal injury, family law, estates, and more.

MacElree Harvey’s 2024 Main Line Today Top Lawyers:

• Joseph Bellinghieri – Tax Law, Estate, Probate and Tax
• Jeffrey Burke – Employment Law
• Robert Burke – Civil Litigation
• Matthew Cooper – Business Law
• Harry DiDonato – Business Law
• Caroline Donato – Criminal Law
• Patrick Gallo – Civil Litigation
• Mary Kay Gaver – Business
• Charles Gerbron, Jr. – Municipal Law
• Peter Kratsa – Criminal Law
• Mary Lawrence – Criminal Law
• John McKenna – Alternate Dispute Resolution
• Matthew McKeon – Real Estate
• Brian Nagle – Real Estate
• Lance Nelson – Divorce + Family Law
• Timothy Rayne – Personal Injury
• Michael Rovito – Divorce + Family Law
• Andrew Silverman – Business
• Ashley Stitzer – Divorce + Family Law
• Louis Teti – Estate, Probate and Tax

MacElree Harvey is pleased to announce that nine attorneys have been recognized as 2024 Top Lawyers of Chester County as announced in The Daily Local News’ Top Lawyers section.

– Leo Gibbons – Landlord & Tenant

– Lou Mincarelli – Mediation, Trial, and Municipal Court

– Robert Burke – Litigation

– Ashley Stitzer – Divorce & Family

– Duke Schneider – Wills, Estates & Trusts

– Mary Lawrence – Criminal Defense

– Michael Rovito – Divorce & Family

– Peter Kratsa – Criminal, and DUI

– Timothy Rayne – Personal Injury

Each of these individuals has demonstrated exemplary skill and commitment to their clients, setting the standard for legal excellence in Chester County. MacElree Harvey is proud to have such a talented team, dedicated to providing top-notch legal services and achieving favorable outcomes for our clients.

For more information about MacElree Harvey’s award-winning attorneys and the services we offer, please visit our website, www.macelree.com.

MacElree Harvey is a full-service law firm with a history of providing high-quality legal services to clients in Chester County and beyond. Our team of experienced attorneys is dedicated to excellence in a wide range of practice areas.

West Chester, PA | May 23, 2024 – MacElree Harvey announces the addition of attorney J. Kurtis Kline to the firm’s business law department.

Kurt brings a wealth of experience in advising business entities and individuals on a wide range of matters.  Prior to joining MacElree Harvey, Kurt spent a decade practicing corporate law at large regional and national law firms in and around Chester County.  He then served as General Counsel to an international consulting firm in the financial services industry based in Chadds Ford.

Kurt has a passion for complex agreements, such as software license, banking infrastructure, payment systems, and technology agreements, as well as manufacturing-related contracts such as supply, joint venture, and distribution agreements.

Having assisted with the launching of a software company and then serving as its General Counsel, Kurt has a keen insight into not only the technology but also how a contract impacts the underlying economics of the business.  

Kurt also enjoys serving as outside general counsel to several small to mid-size companies, where he routinely assists with a variety of matters such as organizational documents, leases, mergers and acquisitions, shareholder disputes, and corporate financing. 

Kurt holds an LL.M. in Taxation from Villanova University School of Law, and graduated cum laude from Delaware Law School. He earned his MBA with a concentration in Finance, as well as his undergraduate degree, from the University of Delaware.

Kurt is a member of the Pennsylvania and Maryland Bars, and is fluent in Spanish.  He counsels Spanish speaking business owners on a variety of legal issues.

Kurt’s addition underscores MacElree Harvey’s commitment to delivering top-tier legal representation to clients across the business industry.

For more information about Kurt, visit his bio on our website: macelree.com/attorney/j-kurtis-kline.

**About MacElree Harvey:**

MacElree Harvey is a full-service law firm serving the legal needs of clients in Pennsylvania and Delaware. With a team of experienced attorneys across various practice areas, including business law, litigation, family law, real estate, and estate planning, and more, MacElree Harvey is dedicated to providing personalized and effective legal solutions to individuals and businesses since 1880.