Initiative in Practice.®
For every client. Every day.
Founded in 1880, we serve individuals and businesses.
We’ve transformed the way we practice law to meet the technological and social requirements of the day.
ABOUT US

MacElree Harvey 145 Years Of Experience
With roots that reach back to 1880, MacElree Harvey uses the traditional values of professionalism and excellence as the foundation for the firm’s identity. Our attorneys are encouraged to build on these traditional values through Initiative – creative problem-solving, proactive planning, and strategic positioning.

Initiative in Practice® . For Every Client. Every Day.
Our 45+ attorneys and their staff are dedicated to providing clients with superior representation and are committed to achieving the best outcomes. We serve individuals and businesses in the Pennsylvania and Delaware area with our expertise in various areas of the law.

Client Focused Law Firm
We believe that we’re only as good as the reputation of our clients—which is why we work diligently to ensure our clients come first. We never hesitate to put our reputation on the line to ensure they get as much out of the relationship as we do.
NEWS & INSIGHTS
Why I Work at MacElree Harvey Employee Spotlight – Matthew Cooper
Employment Law Update April 2025
Pre-Nuptial Agreements 101
Championing Women in Business: Interview with Angie Plocinik, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Creative Benefits
Family Court from Start to Finish
Women’s History Month Interview with MacElree Harvey’s Caroline G. Donato
Domino’s On the Hook for $2.3 Million Motorcycle Crash Jury Verdict – Lessons on Vicarious Liability and How to Sue a Franchisor
Leading with Purpose: Recognizing CEO Michelle Foster’s Leadership

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
I was a client of Tim Rayne in the Kennett office for over 3 years. He and his staff were incredibly patient and understanding, despite a brain injury that left me unstable, confused, anxious, depressed, and in pain. Not being able to comprehend the what’s and why’s of the circumstances surrounding you is a scary place to be. Tim’s group was always on the same page and I will always be grateful they were there to “hold my hand”.
When my tiny company was sued by a massive global corporation as I was trying to protect my rights under their contract, I have to admit that I was horrified. Although I knew that I had a real case and solid claim against this vendor to my company, I was dwarfed by their juggernaut legal team and seemingly bottomless legal budget. Mr. Louis was referred to me by my local attorney (the suit was in Pennsylvania and I’m in a very small town in Iowa) and within ten minutes of our initial phone conversation, my anxiety of the enormity of this situation began to fade. He carefully listened to my story and asked me very relevant questions and by the end of the conversation was able to show me that not only did I have a solid defense against their claim, but that I also wielded a substantial counterclaim. We immediately began to build our case to defend and counter and after a few months of carefully executing his recommended process, we settled outside of court for a very reasonable amount. Had my company lost the case, we would have been bankrupted. Instead, he and his expert teammates focused on keeping the opposition on their heels. For round after round, my attorney fought an amazing fight, and I was so pleased to see this corporate giant so often on the ropes. His letters were so carefully composed and structured, my confidence increased each time I read them. I shuddered at the prospect of being on the receiving end of them, as a matter of fact! And, the way he asserted our legal dominance kept the diligent pressure on the other team – ultimately bringing forth a very reasonable settlement. Pure professionalism, legal expertise, and brilliant battleground strategy were my allies every step of the way. When I sat in the room with Michael Louis, I was the 800-pound gorilla. The other guys didn’t stand a chance, and I know that they now wish they had never brought the suit against me. I never want to be sued again. But, if I am, I would be lucky to have Mr. Louis or an attorney like him on my side.
Along with being a great lawyer, Caroline is a great person to have on your side. She is a very strong and smart woman. She was very vocal and easy to get in touch with at any time. I appreciate everything Caroline has done for me. I will always appreciate everything she has done for me for the rest of my life. I highly recommend her for any problems you may have.
I was faced with a challenging divorce with complex estate implications. Lance provided clear practical advice ultimately allowing me to reach an agreement through mediation. He was accessible to answer questions – even during weekends – helping me map out strategic approaches to complex dispute areas. Despite the emotions being felt, Lance maintained focus on the “big picture” – advising where it made sense to fight and where it made sense to compromise. His team was also very professional and continue to guide me post-divorce on things like estate planning to help put this event behind me.
I wish I’d found Matt sooner. We hired an attorney from Philadelphia for a border dispute that was heading to arbitration. This initial lawyer was overconfident, dismissive of our questions and slow to respond. We did extensive research and then reached out to MacElree Harvey for a 2nd opinion consultation. From our very first interaction with this firm, we were impressed. Our phone call was answered by a live person, Executive Assistant Cheryl McVicker, who was fantastic. She listened to our story, gathered all of our information, promised to get back to us promptly and kept her word. Within a short time, we got a call from Matt McKeon. During the first 30-minute phone call with Matt, he provided an extensive amount of helpful information. In response to additional questions, he did prompt and thorough research and answered right away via email. For the first time in almost 2 years, we felt that we fully understood our case. Matt then brought in a colleague, Brian Forgue, to address certain aspects of the case. His expertise and attentiveness to our case was similarly impressive. Just a great experience. We highly recommend Matt, Brian and the entire MacElree Harvey staff!