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
MacElree Harvey Attorneys Recognized Among Chester County’s Top Lawyers 2026
Join Our Team at MacElree Harvey, Ltd.
Employment Law Update June 2026 – Managing Remote Employees
MacElree Harvey Named a 2026 Top Workplace by The Philadelphia Inquirer
How Your Neighbors Factor into Your Zoning Application
What Does Equitable Distribution Mean in Plain English?
MacElree Harvey Featured in Philadelphia Business Journal Table of Experts
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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
Lance Nelson helped me with many issues over several years. I would and do highly recommend him for all legal issues, especially child custody.
My situation was horrible and spiraling all in a negative direction. In a big moment for myself, I decided to switch attorney & law firms. Lance rationally moved things in a direction that fairly got things done. He is calm, professional & spot on. If he is being baited towards confrontation he dilutes the scenario from escalating rationally & respectfully. All very important elements towards helping the topic or issue staying on point and reasonably litigated. Lance is the professionals of professionals. His sincerity to reaching fair results for the children’s behalf is exemplary. We as a family are still a family cause of Lance Nelson.
Mr. Nelson’s calm approach to negotiating the tumultuous process of a hostile divorce and custody battle can be contagious. No matter how heated or volatile the process becomes, he never seems to lose his cool and keeps his composure at all times. He knows the system and the process and conducts himself as a true professional.
My process with the most painful experience of my life, but he was there for me every step of the way, and in the end, I got everything I wanted and more. He knows when to show his hand, and when to stick to the plan. He is organized, and no matter how busy he seems to be, he always knew the details of my case off the top of his head without having to review the mountains of paper in my files.
As far as I’m concerned, he’s the best that West Chester has to offer in the excruciating process of family law, especially when children are involved.
I’m a younger guy who had some fairly serious charges hanging over my head about 10 months ago, and my first lawyer did not make me feel like I was going to get through the legal proceedings without facing serious consequences. This individual was too busy with his many other cases to know details about my case without looking over notes. They were also late to appointments and even showed up to a preliminary hearing 90 minutes late.
On the other hand, Caroline demonstrated an acute understanding of my situation as it relates to the law, and as we worked through my case over the last 8 months, I felt like she genuinely valued my time and that she was really passionate about being as prepared for trial as humanly possible. Caroline was extremely creative about preparing a defense for my case, utilizing a variety of resources that her firm has at their disposal.
Fortunately, we didn’t have to go to trial and were able to work out a reasonable deal with the Commonwealth. However, had we gone to trial, I would have had the utmost confidence in Caroline’s ability to adequately represent me, present my defense, and corroborate that defense with the facts of the case in an extremely compelling manner.
While I do hope that I am never in need of Caroline’s services again, I would not hesitate to hire her again or refer her to anybody in need of a good lawyer.
Our company was dealing with a very difficult client and we needed expert legal assistance to navigate the challenges we faced. Brian was referred to us after we were underwhelmed by our initial attorney. Brian and his firm were professional, fair and provided exceptional service. He helped us navigate through a difficult case and we were pleased with the result. From learning/conveying the specifics of the case to timely followups and helping us understand what to expect, Brian exceeded our expectations. I can recommend Brian Forgue most highly and without reservation. We will be using him again for future needs.










































