MacElree Harvey, Ltd.

Initiative in Practice

Commercial Litigation

Brian L. Nagle

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Brian L. Nagle

Partner – Land Use

Brian heads the firm’s Land Use and Zoning group. He represents developers, entrepreneurs, institutions, and individuals in land use and zoning matters, as well as tax assessment appeals and related litigation.

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Brian heads the firm’s Land Use and Zoning group. He represents developers, entrepreneurs, institutions, and individuals in land use and zoning matters, as well as tax assessment appeals and related litigation.

Previously, he worked in the solicitor role for a number of municipalities. As a result, he has extensive knowledge and experience in managing matters at the municipal and state government levels.

Since 2013, Brian has been consistently selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list published bySuper Lawyers Magazine. Only five percent of lawyers in Pennsylvania are recognized on this annual list, which is based upon a multi-phase rating process of peer nominations and evaluations, combined with third-party research. In addition, Main Line Today magazine recognized Brian as a Top Lawyer and he was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Land Use and Zoning Law.

Notable Representations

  • Successfully represented a commercial developer in all phases of the development of a multi-unit office building including: 1) property acquisition/agreement of sale negotiation, due diligence, financing and settlement; 2) obtained conditional use and land development approvals for the office building; 3) worked through environmental issues with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the local conservation district; 4) represented the same client in the creation of an office condominium for the project.
  • Successfully represented a client in obtaining numerous variances followed by conditional use and land development approvals for the construction of a bank.
  • Successfully represented non-profit corporations in seeking and obtaining real estate tax exemptions.
  • Successfully represented commercial and residential clients in real estate tax assessment appeals.
  • Successfully represented clients in a real estate seller’s disclosure law case.
  • Successfully represented clients in seeking and achieving the striking of mechanic’s liens.
  • Successfully represented clients in addressing complex zoning and other municipal issues.
  • Successfully represented many individuals in buying and selling commercial or residential real estate.

Memberships

  • Chester County Bar Association, Member, Board of Directors; Public Outreach Committee Chair
  • Chester County Bar Foundation, Vice President; Chair of the Golf Fundraising Committee
  • Chester County 20/20, Board Member
  • Transportation Management Association of Chester County

Community Involvement

Speaking Engagements

  • Lecturer and panelist at Widener University School of Law and the Polley Associates Real Estate School
  • Guest lecturer at West Chester University Commercial Real Estate class

PRACTICE AREAS

OFFICES

ADMISSIONS

  • Pennsylvania
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

EDUCATION

  • Widener University School of Law
  • The Catholic University of America
    Anthropology

ARTICLES

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IN THE NEWS

AWARDS

John F. McKenna

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John F. McKenna

Partner – Trust and Estate Administration and Litigation and Mediation

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John practices in the areas of Estate Planning and Administration and also co-chairs the firm’s Pennsylvania Mediation and Arbitration Group, along with past Chester County Court of Common Pleas Judge Louis Mincarelli. John has mediated and arbitrated over one hundred matters in his thirty-seven-year career. These matters include estate and trust matters, complex guardianships, real estate disputes, consumer protection, will contests, trust termination and modifications, corporate disputes, contract interpretation and broker liability litigation.

John has also been appointed a Special Master by the Court to hear discovery issues and partition matters. John has also been appointed by the Court to be a receiver for some corporations, as well as an Administrator of Estates involved in litigation. John has a AV Preeminent Rating in Martindale – Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, the highest legal ability, and ethical standards rating. John has been constantly selected to the Main Line Today Top Lawyers lists. John was also selected by his peers for inclusion of The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Trusts and Estate Litigation.

Notable Representations

  • Successfully mediated a dispute between the litigants in an estate matter involving several million dollars in property and assets.
  • Successful in obtaining a guardian for a retired gentleman who had over $4,000,000 in assets.
  • Successfully replaced a corporate trustee for a church whose Elders were seeking substation due to questionable financial dealings by the initial corporate trustee.
  • Obtained a judgement for reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and treble damages for a victim of broker fraud, unfair trade practices and unsuitable investments.

Memberships

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, Probate Section
  • Chester County Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Civil Litigation Section, Business Law Section, Probate and Estates Section, Elder Law Section
  • Chester County Estate Planning Council, Past President
  • John E. Stively American Inn of Court, Charter Member and Master Level Member

Notable Business Community Service

  • Chester County Bar Foundation – Past President 2000
  • Chester County Bar Association – Past President 2004
  • Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, Past Board President 2009 – 2010
  • Chester County Community Foundation, Board Member, 2018 – 2024
  • Chester County Art Association, Past President 2007 – 2009
  • DNB First Bank Wealth Management, Advisory Board
  • West Goshen Lions Club, Past President, 1997 – 1998
  • American Cancer Society, Chester County Chapter

PRACTICE AREAS

OFFICES

ADMISSIONS

  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey

EDUCATION

  • Temple University School of Law
  • Farleigh Dickinson University
    Psychology

ARTICLES

IN THE NEWS

AWARDS

  • Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, Louis J. Goffman Award, 2018

Michael G. Louis

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Michael G. Louis

Partner – Commercial Litigation and Real Estate Litigation

Michael Louis is Chair of MacElree Harvey’s Banking and Finance Litigation Practice.

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Michael Louis is Chair of MacElree Harvey’s Banking and Finance Litigation Practice.

Michael’s personal practice supports the needs of businesses and homeowners in a changing economic environment. He has extensive experience defending clients in mortgage foreclosures, collections and loan workouts, general counsel work and real estate litigation, including landlord-tenant litigation. In addition to practicing civil litigation as referenced above, Michael does bankruptcy for creditors.

Michael has been with MacElree Harvey, Ltd. since 1980. He has received an “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest level of professional excellence and ethical standards an attorney can receive from the national attorney peer review rating service. Michael has also been consistently named as one of Main Line Today’s “Top Lawyers” since 2009 and selected to Suburban Life’s “Awesome Attorneys” from 2012 through 2015. He has the highest rating possible on Avvo, which is derived from client reviews.

Actively involved in the community, Michael has been on the Board of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce for many years and previously chaired the Professional Development Committee which runs the programs presented by the Chamber. He served as president of the Interfaith Housing Assistance Corporation of Chester County from 1993 through 2016 and holds the title Director Emeritus. Interfaith Housing is a non-profit corporation that has as its purpose the prevention and/or the end of homelessness among working single parents with dependent children in Chester County. It provides financial assistance, social service and mentoring support, enabling families to remain in clean, safe, affordable housing while they work towards independence. He is also part of the West Chester Lions Club as Past President and current Board Member.

Michael has received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award, the highest recognition from the Lions Clubs International Foundation being given to members who have rendered outstanding community services. Michael’s Fellowship highlights his contributions to the Chester County community. Michael recently joined the West Chester Rotary Club and is enjoying being involved in all of their service activities.

Today both Michael and his wife live in East Bradford Township.

Testimonials

Highly Professional and Efficient

Our case with a giant company was quite unique and most lawyers did not have the confidence to take our case. The added problem was because we were Canadians and we needed a US lawyer who should represent us in our absence in the US. Michael was courageous and undaunted to extend his professional help. The Company who disregarded our consumers’ rights, and disrespected the law, was shrunk by the first letter of Michael who represented us. Our legal battle was smooth sailing with the professionalism of Michael and his staff. Michael knows his stuff, and were assured by his experiences and expertise in dealing with real estate legal matters. Our battle ended in just over a month-long with a positive result. He represented us and work for what we were fighting for in our absence. We did not have to be in the US to fight for our rights. We highly recommend Michael and MacElree Harvey, Ltd for your legal cases.

Notable Representations

  • Provided local counsel for a bank in litigation with a borrower in which the bank sued the borrower for $60 million and the borrower filed a separate action against the bank, alleging damages in excess of $60 million.
  • Represented a landlord whose tenant defaulted on a commercial lease. Recovered possession of the leased property for the landlord and all of the unpaid back rent plus the landlord’s attorneys’ fees.
  • Defended a client sued as a guarantor of a business loan by filing a petition to strike and/or open the judgment.
  • Debt workout/restructuring for a client in the restaurant business that defaulted on obligations to lender due to the slumping economy. Assisted the client in re-working certain loans and obligations and delaying others without losing business.
  • Obtained retroactive relief from automatic stay on client’s behalf after defaulting borrower filed bankruptcy on eve of execution on debtor’s real estate.
  • Represented client in investigation and litigation involving embezzlement and fraud by company employees. Successfully pursued former employees and obtained partial recovery of stolen funds.
  • Represented a client sued by a bankruptcy trustee for payments made to it on the eve of debtor’s bankruptcy. Resolved the matter with no payment to the bankruptcy trustee.
  • Represented a client whose neighbors dogs barked day and night. Obtained a preliminary injunction which was made permanent, keeping dogs from disturbing their use and enjoyment of their property or barking at all between 6 pm to 9 am.

Memberships

  • Chester County Bar Association, Chair of Real Estate Section
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Interfaith Housing Assistance Corporation, Director Emeritus
  • West Chester Lions Club, Past President & Board Member
  • Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
  • West Chester Rotary Club, Board
  • West Chester Rotary, Board of Directors
  • West Chester Rotary Foundation, Board of Directors
  • West Chester Lions, Board of Directors
  • West Chester Lions  Foundation, Board of Directors

Previous Community Involvement

  • West Side Little League, Secretary and Coach
  • “Community Hero Torchbearer,” carried the Olympic torch through West Chester, Pennsylvania on its way to the Olympic Games in Atlanta

Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter: “Short Sales, Beyond the Sale and Release of Debt”, Suburban West REALTORS® Association, 2015
  • Presenter: “Tax Sales”, Chester County Bar Association, Real Estate Section, 2018
  • Panelist: “Legal Issues for Nonprofit Boards”, Greater West Chester Chamber’s Non-Profit Discussion session, 2018
  • Presenter: “Real Estate Seller Disclosure Law“, Chester County Bar Association, Real Estate Section, 2022

Videos

Why You Need A Litigation Attorney
Preserving Mechanics Lien Rights
How To Save Your Home From Foreclosure
First Big Case
What People Don’t Know About Being A Lawyer
Advice For An Aspiring Attorney
Charitable Work
What I Enjoy About Practicing Law
Life in 60 Seconds

PRACTICE AREAS

OFFICES

ADMISSIONS

  • Pennsylvania
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

EDUCATION

  • Dickinson School of Law
  • University of Delaware
    English, Political Science

ARTICLES

IN THE NEWS

AWARDS

Martindale-Hubbell Ratings 2019
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Top-Lawyer-2019-MLT
Top Lawyers 2018-MLT
MLT-Top-Lawyer-logo 2017
MLT-Top-Lawyer-2016
AVVO rating
avvo reviews

Lance J. Nelson

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Lance J. Nelson

Partner – Family Law

Lance Nelson, chair of the Firm’s family law practice, has over 25 years of experience representing clients in family law matters such as divorce, marital agreements, adoption, custody, and support. For his business clients, Lance advises on a variety of legal issues, including contract disputes, construction issues, corporate control issues and other aspects of day-to-day business disputes.

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Lance Nelson, chair of the Firm’s family law practice, has over 25 years of experience representing clients in family law matters such as divorce, marital agreements, adoption, custody, and support. For his business clients, Lance advises on a variety of legal issues, including contract disputes, construction issues, corporate control issues and other aspects of day-to-day business disputes.

Lance has an AV Preeminent Rating in Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, the highest legal ability, and ethical standards rating. He has been consistently selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list since 2010 and the Main Line Today Top Lawyers list in the field of Family Law since 2009. Lance was selected by his peers for inclusion 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law.

Active in the community, Lance has been a Board Member of the West Chester Business Improvement District since 2001, the West Chester Downtown Foundation since 2003, and the West Chester Public Library since 2011—presiding as Chairman to all three organizations during his tenure. An avid sports fan, Lance also coaches various basketball teams, including St. Agnes CYO.

Since joining MacElree Harvey in 1992, Lance was named a shareholder in 1998 and served as the Managing Partner from 2001 to 2011.

Read Lance’s Chester County Leadership interview for VISTA Today.

Notable Representations

  • Counseled a business owner with more than 50 separate business entities through the divorce process. Successfully litigated complex multi-entity valuation issues and support issues. Finally, negotiated an overall resolution to the divorce prior to trial.

  • Advised a wife and mother through a contentious divorce involving multi-generational family trusts. Counseled wife through complex accounting issues over the course of a lengthy marriage. Assisted wife in bringing the divorce to an overall out of court resolution.

  • Counseled a father with a significant interest in a family-owned business. Worked with client and client’s spouse’s counsel to resolve issues related to the value of the family-owned business, the division of the marital property, an equally shared custody arrangement and ongoing support obligations without resorting to any court intervention.

  • Worked with a mother whose husband owned a substantial business. Through many court hearings in the litigation process, successfully resolved for this mother all of the issues related to the value of the husband’s business, a custody schedule, appropriate support payments and the division of the marital property.

  • Counseled children who own significant portions of multigeneration family-owned business through the prenuptial process. Helped young man navigate an already stressful pre-wedding situation and address the consequences of his ownership in a multi-million dollar family business without injecting more stress with his fiance.

  • Represented a professional service firm through the arbitration process when a former owner left taking many clients with him. Through the arbitration, successfully secured for the majority owner enforcement of certain financial and other obligations of the departing shareholder.

  • After a multi-day non-jury trial, successfully secured a substantial judgment for a custom builder that included not only sums that were due under the contract, but lost profits.

  • Successfully represented in a non-jury trial a non-profit organization to resolve certain corporate governance issues that were raised by a dissident group of members.

Memberships

  • Chester County Bar Association, President 2011

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association

  • Delaware State Bar Association

  • Doris Jonas Freed Family Law Inn of Court

Previous Memberships

  • American Inns of Court (John E. Stively Inn)

  • Legal Aid of Chester County, Board Member

  • Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board Hearing Committee (2001-2008)

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, Task Force on Balance and Quality of Life (1999 – 2001)

Community Involvement

  • West Chester University – Presidential Scholarship Steering Committee 1999-2012, Chairman 2001 – 2002

  • West Chester Business Improvement District Board Member 2001 – 2019, Chairman 2004 – 2005

  • West Chester Downtown Foundation Board Member 2003- Present, Chairman 2009 – 2010

  • Basketball Coach – St. Agnes CYO and West Chester Lightening Leagues

  • West Chester Public Library, Board Member 2011-Present

Speaking Engagements

Lance is a frequent lecturer on litigation-related topics. He has presented to various state and local organizations including the Chester County Bar Association, the Institute of Management Accountants, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Videos

Watch more of Lance Nelson’s videos on YouTube.

PRACTICE AREAS

OFFICES

ADMISSIONS

  • Pennsylvania

  • Delaware

  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

EDUCATION

  • Villanova University School of Law, Juris Doctor
    Order of the Coif

  • Boston College, Economics and Political Science

ARTICLES

IN THE NEWS

AWARDS

  • Citizen of the Year, The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce (2009)

  • The Best Lawyers in America© 2019-2025

  • Main Line Today, Top Lawyer, 2009 – 2025

  • Martindale-Hubbel, AV Preeminent Rating

  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, 2010 – 2025

Patrick J. Gallo, Jr.

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Patrick J. Gallo, Jr.

Partner – Civil and Commercial Litigation

“Patrick’s meticulous preparation and proactive approach to case study make him someone you would covet for representation; furthermore, he made himself readily available for questions and seemed to have a genuine interest in my concerns regarding the case.” – Client Review from Avvo

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P.J. is a seasoned civil and commercial litigation attorney with extensive experience representing businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals in complex disputes and high-stakes litigation. P.J. provides strategic, results-driven advocacy both in and out of the courtroom. Businesses and individuals rely on P.J. for practical legal strategies that protect their operations, reputation, and financial interests.

Over the course of his career, P.J. has successfully handled a wide array of matters, including:

  • Breach of contract disputes
  • Construction litigation
  • Partnership and shareholder disputes
  • Business torts and fraud claims
  • Commercial and residential real estate disputes
  • Insurance coverage and bad faith actions
  • Employment litigation (e.g. wage and non-compete claims)
  • Estate and fiduciary litigation (e.g. will contests, trust disputes and guardianships)

P.J. is known for his meticulous case preparation, strong negotiation skills, and persuasive courtroom advocacy. P.J.’s goal for his clients is simple: resolve disputes efficiently while positioning clients for long-term success. Whether advocating in trial, arbitration, or mediation, P.J. delivers responsive service and determined representation.

Since 2015, P.J. has been consistently selected to the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list published by Super Lawyers Magazine. Only 2.5% of all lawyers in Pennsylvania receive this honor. P.J. has also been featured on Main Line Today’s Top Lawyers list published by Main Line Today Magazine since 2016. He also won 2022 VISTA Millennial Superstar for his achievements and contributions. In 2025, P.J. was featured on Executive Leaders Radio show, “Building through Empathy, Passion, and Hard Work”.

P.J. is a graduate of Widener University School of Law and West Chester University, where he played football for the Golden Rams. He is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and has been admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Outside the practice of law, P.J. enjoys spending time with his wife, Meredith, and their three sons, Patrick, Gabe, and Graham.

Notable Recent Representations

  • Lead trial counsel representing a group of mushroom growers who were alleged to have engaged in an antitrust civil conspiracy to fix mushroom prices provided to Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. After a three-week trial in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in which Winn-Dixie was seeking millions, the jury returned a defense verdict that was successfully defended on appeal to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Obtained millions on behalf of client in a complex commercial contract dispute in a hotly contested case.
  • Represented business owners in high stakes shareholder disputes resulting in successfully negotiated buyouts.
  • Successfully represented a multi-million dollar privately held corporation in a breach of warranty claim filed against an international manufacturer involving a significant capital investment the corporation made in commercial products that were defective resulting in a substantial settlement recovery.
  • Successfully represented a commercial developer in a multi-million dollar dispute over defects in the design and construction of a new commercial office building resulting in a significant confidential settlement for the developer.
  • Successfully represented a leading national builder of high performance modular commercial structures in a breach of contract action asserted against a general contractor.
  • Served as lead counsel for a multi-million dollar company in an action asserted against a major international reinsurance company for the recovery of insurance as a third party beneficiary, which resulted in a favorable confidential settlement.
  • Successfully represented numerous homebuyers and sellers in disputes over misrepresentations and violations of the Real Estate Settlement Disclosure Law.
  • Successfully represented beneficiary in removal proceedings concerning the executor.

Memberships

  • Chester County Bar Association
  • Delaware County Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • American Bar Association, Litigation Section
  • Tri-County County Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce
  • Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry

Community Involvement

Leadership

  • Chester County Bar Association, Board of Directors (2022-2025 and 2016-2018)
  • Chester County Bar Association, Young Lawyers’ Division Chair (2017)
  • Chester County Bar Association, Diversity Committee
  • Chester County Bar Association, Judicial Evaluation Committee (2026-present)
  • Chester County Bar Association, Pro Bono Committee
  • Chester County Bar Association, Advocacy Academy Graduate (2015)
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, YLD Executive Council (Former Zone 9 Co-Chair)
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, Bar Leadership Institute Graduate (2016)
  • Leadership Chester County Graduate (2016)

Publication

PRACTICE AREAS

OFFICES

ADMISSIONS

  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

EDUCATION

  • J.D., Widener University School of Law
  • B.A., West Chester University, magna cum laude

ARTICLES

IN THE NEWS

AWARDS

Patrick Gallo Avvo Rating

William J. Gallagher

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William J. Gallagher

Of Counsel – Litigation and Estates

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William J. Gallagher has been practicing law and serving the community for over 60 years. His practice focuses on general litigation and estates.

Mr. Gallagher currently serves on the Board of Directors of Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania and is a past president of the organization. He is also a member of the Chester County Bar Association’s Pro Bono Committee and Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Legal Services to the Public Committee. Additionally, Mr. Gallagher served as Board Chair for the Chester County Community Foundation from 2014 to 2016.

A longtime resident of Kennett Square, Mr. Gallagher has also served as zoning hearing board solicitor for the Kennett Township for over forty years.

A graduate of La Salle University, Mr. Gallagher received his law degree from Villanova University.

Memberships

  • Chester County Bar Association, Pro Bono Committee, and Past President
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, Legal Services to the Public Committee, Senior Lawyers Committee and Investigation Panel of Judicial Evaluation Commission
  • American Bar Association

Previous Memberships

  • Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Disciplinary Board Hearing Officer

Community Involvement

Videos

Quality Of MacElree Harvey’s Staff
My Favorite Charities
Why I Practice Law

PRACTICE AREAS

OFFICES

ADMISSIONS

  • Pennsylvania
  • Supreme Court of the United States

EDUCATION

  • Villanova University School of Law
  • La Salle University, Government

IN THE NEWS

AWARDS

Super Lawyers 2019
William J. Gallagher
MLT-Top-Lawyer-logo 2017
Top Lawyer
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Centreville, DE

5721 Kennett Pike
Wilmington, DE 19807
302-654-4454
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Hockessin, DE

724 Yorklyn Rd #100
Hockessin, DE 19707
302-239-3700
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Kennett Square, PA

209 East State Street Road
Kennett Square, PA 19348
610-444-3180
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West Chester, PA

17 West Miner Street
West Chester, PA 19382
610-436-0100
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