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
The Necessity of Special Needs Trusts
Employment Law Update June 2025
MacElree Harvey Marks 10 Years of Leadership by CEO Michelle Foster
Can You Get Divorced If Your Spouse Refuses to Sign?
When Can You Modify a Custody Order?
Supreme Court Ends Extra Burden for Majority-Group Discrimination Claims
MacElree Harvey Welcomes Attorney Elias A. Kohn to Business Department
Attorney Spotlight: Brian L. Nagle | Chair of Land Use & Zoning Department at MacElree Harvey

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
Caroline Donato was my criminal attorney. She was by far the smartest and most insightful person in the court room. She was also a delightful person and a pleasure to work with. Caroline handled everything that came her way in a complex case with an exceptional level of confidence and discernment. Her attention to detail, academic excellence, and commitment to her clients shined brightly from the beginning, and she sustained that level of promise to the end. Caroline delivered on all of her promises, was responsive in all of our communications, and came more than prepared to every meeting. She maintained utmost professionalism and poise in the courtroom and was always ten steps ahead of the opposing counsel. Whenever the situation called for it, she was as fierce as a lion on my behalf. Her closing arguments were on point; they deserved a standing ovation if not for the serious context of the case at hand. Any claims from opposing counsel were addressed and put to rest thanks to Caroline’s preparedness and noteworthy eloquence in speaking. As a result of her efforts, justice was served. Caroline is who you want by your side in a crises. I highly recommend her services to anyone who needs a criminal attorney.
Lance Nelson is an exceptional family practice attorney. He has been my attorney for twenty years and during that time has successfully resolved numerous complex family issues. I recommend him without question and if you are fortunate enough to hire him you will certainly be glad you did.
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.
Brian assisted me and resolved an ongoing tenant issue I was having trying to evict my tenant. Brian kept me in the loop with all what was going on and worked diligently to resolve the issue and stayed on top of the situation. We, unfortunately, had to go to court to resolve the issue and the judgment was in my favor. I would recommend Brian for any legal issues you might be going through and need them resolved.
I hired Lance to represent me in my divorce after a bad experience with another lawyer. Lance was not only extremely professional but more importantly, he is very familiar with the law, sets reasonable expectations which ended up saving time, effort and money for me. I didn’t waste time and money disputing issues with my ex-husband that I wouldn’t have won. His preparation was second to none, which was critical when arguing in court. I would highly recommend Lance to anyone who is navigating through a divorce as his knowledge and preparation are critical for getting his clients a fair settlement.