Estates & Trusts

John F. McKenna

February 5, 2015 by Hoppel Design

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

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Commercial Litigation

Estates & Trusts Law

Guardianships

Litigation Law

Mediation and Arbitration

Trust & Estate Litigation

OFFICES

West Chester, PA

ADMISSIONS

Pennsylvania
New Jersey

EDUCATION

Temple University School of Law
Farleigh Dickinson University
Psychology

ARTICLES

Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!

IN THE NEWS

MacElree Harvey Law Firm Grows Mediation and Arbitration Practice – MH MA

12 MacElree Harvey Attorneys Named as Best Lawyers® 2023

AWARDS

Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, Louis J. Goffman Award, 2018

William J. Gallagher

February 5, 2015 by Hoppel Design

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

Chester County Community Foundation, Board Chair, 2014-2016
Recipient of the Chester County Community Foundation’s 2010 Door Opener Award

Videos

Quality Of MacElree Harvey’s Staff

My Favorite Charities

Why I Practice Law

PRACTICE AREAS

Commercial Litigation

Estates & Trusts Law

Litigation Law

Personal Injury Law

Professional Malpractice

Trust & Estate Litigation

OFFICES

Kennett Square, PA

West Chester, PA

ADMISSIONS

Pennsylvania
Supreme Court of the United States

EDUCATION

Villanova University School of Law
La Salle University, Government

IN THE NEWS

15 MacElree Harvey Attorneys Named to Prestigious 2020 Super Lawyers/Rising Stars List

AWARDS

Robert A. Burke

February 4, 2015 by Hoppel Design

Robert A. Burke

Partner – Litigation

Mr. Burke focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and estate and trust litigation. This includes trial and appellate work in federal, state and international courts. He regularly presents matters before alternative dispute resolution panels and frequently lectures on trial tactics, practice, and procedure. He has appeared before the United States Court of Appeals in both the Third and Sixth Circuits.

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Mr. Burke advises clients in the areas of:

Commercial and corporate litigation
Trust, Estate and Orphans’ Court litigation
Resolution of partnership and shareholder disputes
Intellectual property disputes

Prior to joining MacElree Harvey, Bob was a partner at Blank Rome, a large law firm in Philadelphia, where he worked for fourteen years. Before that, he was associated with a large firm in Northern New Jersey for five years. Following law school, Bob clerked for a Federal District Court Judge in the District of New Jersey.

Notable Representations

Successful resolution of Orphans’ Court dispute over control of charitable organization.
Obtained verdict successfully overturning last will and testament arising out of undue influence.
Obtained injunctive relief to protect client from theft of valuable trade secrets.
Obtained $13.5 million verdict for estate of child killed in fire caused by defective product.
Representation of foreign government regarding protection of assets in United States and over 30 foreign jurisdictions.
Successful resolution of international dispute relating to distribution of life insurance proceeds in excess of $10 million.
Represented major technology firm in the resolution of contentious shareholder litigation.
Obtained a verdict in a bench trial for clients in a veil-piercing case. Plaintiff unsuccessfully sought to impose a $7 million judgment on personal assets of business owners.

Memberships

Chester County Bar Foundation, Board of Directors, 2019-Present
Chester County Bar Association, Board of Directors, 2015-2018
Stively American Inn of Court, President, 2014-Present
Chester County Bar Association, Litigation Section
Philadelphia Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
New Jersey State Bar Association

Speaking Engagements

November 2018: What to Do and Not to Do as you Enter a Business Dispute
April 2018: Technology in the Courtroom
November 2017: Use of Jury Consultants in Trials Involving Complex Commercial Disputes
Nov. 2015: How to Give Compelling Opening Statements
Oct. 2014: Estate Litigation Practice and Procedures
Jan. 2014: Effective Litigation Techniques
Oct. 2013: Non-Competition Agreements
Oct. 2013: Litigating Commercial Contracts
May 2012: Electronic Discovery in Litigation
Oct. 2011: Protecting Your Business From Litigation
June 2011: Wage and Hour Issues for Businesses
May 2010: Medicare Secondary Reporting and DPW Liens
April 2010: Preparing Written Discovery Responses and Objections
July 2009: Deposition Strategy: Practice and Procedure
Jan. 2009: Benefits and Pitfalls of Arbitration
Jan. 2008: Conducting Discovery in Foreign Countries
Dec. 2007: Good Deals Gone Bad – A Litigator’s Hindsight is Always 20/20
Dec. 2006: Litigators’ Perspective on Corporate Transaction Documents

Community Involvement

Bow Tree Civic Association, Board Member
West Chester Running Club
Race Director for a community 10K and 5K road race

Videos

PRACTICE AREAS

Commercial Litigation

Employment Law

Estates & Trusts Law

Guardianships

Litigation Law

Trademark & Trade Secret Litigation

Trust & Estate Litigation

OFFICES

West Chester, PA

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 and Sixth Circuits
United States Supreme Court

EDUCATION

Seton Hall University School of Law, 1990 (J.D.)
Villanova University, 1987 (B.A.)

ARTICLES

Phil Mickelson And Friends File Lawsuit Against PGA For Antitrust Violations And Related Claims

Business Litigation in a COVID-19 World

IN THE NEWS

MacElree Harvey Team Shines in “Bet-the-Company” Corporate Litigation

12 MacElree Harvey Attorneys Named as Best Lawyers® 2023

Attorney Robert Burke Leads: “There and Back Again: Civil Litigation Case Study from the Beginning to the Supreme Court of PA”

MacElree Harvey, Ltd. Names New Shareholders and Partners

Attorney Bob Burke Argued Before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court

15 MacElree Harvey Attorneys Named to Prestigious 2020 Super Lawyers/Rising Stars List

AWARDS

Watch Robert Burke’s videos on YouTube including his six part series on Estate Litigation.

Joseph A. Bellinghieri

January 29, 2015 by Hoppel Design

Joseph A. Bellinghieri

Partner – Trusts and Estates, Tax, and Corporate Law

Joe represents individuals and businesses with a variety of estate, tax, real estate, and business issues. With thirty years of experience, Joe is a seasoned attorney.

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Joe’s philosophy is to provide prompt and personal individual attention to each and every client. He strives to understand each client’s needs and to provide positive outcomes based on those needs. Joe is also a Certified Public Accountant and Licensed Pennsylvania Realtor which gives Joe the ability to provide his clients with different perspectives on their issues.

Notable Representations

Advises numerous families in regard to wealth transfer strategies, including the creation of Charitable Remainder Trusts, Private Foundations, Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts, Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, Limited Partnerships, and Qualified Personal Residence Trusts.
Represents numerous entities with various real estate projects including the feasibility of projects, as well as financing and governance issues.
Acts as General Counsel to major center city law firm.
Serves as Executor and Trustee for numerous families.
Negotiates and resolves disputes between family members of complex Estates with significant assets.
Created and structured a Limited Partnership for the purchase of valuable real estate providing significant Estate Tax savings.
Successfully assisted business owner with the sale of multi-million dollar business.
Evaluates start-up entities for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
Successfully represented physician practice in an IRS audit.
Successfully represented a restaurant owner in a Pennsylvania sales and income tax audit.
Assists families in obtaining Guardianship over declining family members.
Advocated on behalf of Executor and Estate against the disinherited beneficiary.
Assisted non-profit entity in its initial set-up and with its corporate governance issues.