Attorneys W. Patrick Scott and Duke Schneider have been elected directors of the MacElree Harvey law firm. They officially assumed their new roles on January 1, 2006.

"Pat and Duke are excellent attorneys and have worked hard for their clients during their tenure at MacElree Harvey," says Lance J. Nelson, the firm's managing partner. "They deserve to be directors."

Pat concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate, finance, and corporate law. He represents both lenders and borrowers in loan and complex financing transactions, including acting as general counsel to two affiliates of state universities engaged in the development and construction of student housing. He also provides general legal counsel to non-profit and business corporations and limited liability companies, providing advice on business structure, transactions, and day-to-day operations and management. Pat has also counseled numerous clients pursuing exchanges under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code.

A member of the Pennsylvania and Chester County Bar Associations, Pat also serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the West Chester Area YMCA, and is a co-chair of the Business Gifts Division of YMCA's "Next 100 Years" Capital Campaign. He is the Past President of the Board of the West Chester Downtown Foundation, and also served on the Board of Directors and acted as legal counsel to the West Chester Cycling Classic, an entity owned by the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce that organized the city's first Iron Hill Twilight Criterium, a professional bicycle race.

Pat graduated with honors from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1992 and was a managing editor of the law school's Journal of Law and Commerce. He received his undergraduate degree from the Pennsylvania State University.

Duke is a tax, business, and estate planning attorney. He primarily works with family-owned and closely held businesses on succession planning, family wealth transfer planning, and business structure. He also works with individuals on a wide variety of estate and wealth transfer planning matters.

Duke graduated cum laude from the Widener University School of Law in 1990. He is also a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, receiving his B.A., with distinction, and his M.B.A. Schneider is a member of the Pennsylvania, Chester County, and Pike County Bar Associations.

Duke is also a frequent lecturer to professional organizations, advisors, and individuals on estate, tax, and business planning matters. In addition, he is a contributing author to two estate planning books: Legacy: Plan, Protect and Preserve Your Estate and Generations: Preserving Your Legacy.