Hyde previously worked with a Washington, D.C., firm

MacElree Harvey, a leading Chester County law firm, has named Karen J. Hyde as its Executive Director.

"Karen is an experienced legal professional with years of experience managing major firms," said Lance J. Nelson, MacElree Harvey Managing Partner. "She is a great addition to our staff."

For the past two years Hyde was the Director of Administration for a 20-member law firm in Washington, D.C. The firm specialized in insurance defense, product liability and litigation. Prior to working for the Washington firm, she was the administrator for a 16-member firm in Fairfax, Virginia, specializing in community association law.

"The firms I worked for in the DC area practiced a different type of law; it's nice to be part of a firm that is so visible and active in the community," Hyde said. "The staff has been welcoming and I'm enjoying getting to know everyone. The firm keeps up with technology and takes care of its employees with benefits and activities that you would normally only see in a much larger firm."

She has 15 years of experience in office management and administration, including recruiting, training and supervision of staff, payroll and bookkeeping functions, budget preparation, benefits administration, purchasing of equipment and supplies, and facilities management.

Hyde is a member of the Association of Legal Administrators and the Society for Human Resource Management. She has a B.A. in psychology from the University of Virginia.

"I'm also enjoying exploring West Chester and the surrounding area; it's a wonderful community," Hyde said.