Practice Areas

• Commercial Litigation
• Creditors Rights
• Real Estate
• Business

Leo represents businesses and individuals in complex transactions, business disputes and insolvency proceedings.

Prior to joining MacElree Harvey, Leo served as a judicial clerk for two judges:  the first a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Charles R. Alexander of the Court of Common Pleas of Clarion County, Pennsylvania and the second as chief judicial clerk for the Honorable James R. Cavanaugh of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. These responsibilities provided Leo with experience and insight into the judicial decision-making process, which has helped him to better serve his clients.

Recent Representations

• Represented landlord in a case where the tenant defaulted on a commercial lease. Recovered possession of the leased property for the landlord and a substantial portion of the unpaid back rent.       
• Defended client sued as a guarantor of a business loan by filing a petition to strike and/or open the judgment. Matter resolved after commencement of litigation at a substantial discount of the amount owed on the guaranty.
• Debt workout/restructuring for a client in the construction industry who defaulted on obligations to lenders and suppliers due to the slumping real estate market. Assisted the client in re-working certain loans and obligations and delaying others so that he could remain in business. 
• Defaulting borrower filed bankruptcy on the eve of the execution on borrower's real estate by the client. Obtained retroactive relief from the automatic stay on client's behalf to allow the execution to proceed.
• Represented a client in an investigation and litigation proceeding involving embezzlement and fraud by company employees. Successfully pursued former employees and obtained substantial recovery of stolen funds.
• Client was sued by a bankruptcy trustee for payments made to it on the eve of the debtor's bankruptcy. Resolved the matter with no payment to the bankruptcy trustee based on value given by client and the monies received by client were in the ordinary course of business.

Memberships

• Chester County Bar Association
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Business Networking International

Previous Memberships

• Chester County Bar Association, Bankruptcy Insolvency Section Chair

Community Involvement

• Westtown-Goshen Rotary Club, President 2010-2011

Previous Community Involvement

• West Chester Area Day Care Center, Past President
• Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates, Board Member

Articles

• Require Foreclosing Lenders to Follow Legal Requirements in Pursuing Foreclosures
• Commercial Real Estate Leases: Let the Tenant Beware