Centreville, DE | Hockessin, DE | Kennett Square, PA | West Chester, PA
724 Yorklyn Rd #100
Hockessin, DE 19707
302-239-3700
Real Estate
Matthew M. McKeon
Matthew M. McKeon
Partner – Land Use
Matthew McKeon is an attorney in the West Chester office and a member of the firm’s Land Use Practice Group. He focuses his practice primarily on land use, zoning, and litigation-related matters.
Matthew McKeon is an attorney in the West Chester office and a member of the firm’s Land Use Practice Group. He focuses his practice primarily on land use, zoning, and litigation-related matters.
Matthew has a passion for assisting clients navigate a range of issues concerning land use, zoning, and other real property matters and has been repeatedly recognized in Main Line Today’s “Best Lawyers” list, Super Lawyers, and The Best Lawyers in America.
Prior to joining MacElree Harvey, Matthew worked as a Judicial Clerk with the Honorable Rochelle S. Friedman, Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania in Doylestown, PA, where his work on numerous zoning appeals sparked his interest in his practice areas.
Matthew earned his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law and his B.A. in both Political Science and History from the University of Vermont.
Memberships
- Chester County Bar Association, Chair of Real Estate Section
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Historical Society
Community Involvement
- Chester County Historical Society, Board of Trustees
- West Chester Lions Club, Past President
- West Chester Rotary Club
Presentations
- “Real Estate Seller Disclosure Law“, Chester County Bar Association, Real Estate Section, 2022
Articles
Testimonials
Exceptional
It was difficult finding a lawyer to handle our zoning case. Some lawyers did not return my phone calls and others were indifferent. We were so happy to find Matthew McKeon. He was always friendly, informative and patient. Matt showed a deep understanding of our personal situation and showed empathy during this difficult time. He discussed the pros and cons of our situation and helped us decide the best course of action. I would highly recommend Matt McKeon!
Videos
OFFICES
ADMISSIONS
- Pennsylvania
EDUCATION
- Syracuse University College of Law (J.D.)
- University of Vermont (B.A., Political Science, History)
AWARDS
Duke Schneider
Duke Schneider
Partner – Trusts and Estates
Duke works primarily with family-owned and closely held businesses on succession planning, family wealth transfer planning and the structure of the business enterprise. Duke also works closely with individuals on a wide variety of estate and wealth transfer planning and estate and trust administration matters.
Duke works primarily with family-owned and closely held businesses on succession planning, family wealth transfer planning and the structure of the business enterprise. Duke also works closely with individuals on a wide variety of estate and wealth transfer planning and estate and trust administration matters.
Notable Representations
- Implemented a plan to shift ownership of a family-owned business to children including stock purchase, buy/sell, employment and deferred compensation agreements for an individual business owner.
- Planned and created generation-skipping dynasty trusts for a family, including grantor retained annuity trust strategies for an individual client.
- Planned and implemented a family limited partnership funded with real estate and investment assets for an individual client.
- Represented and counseled business owner and individual clients in Estate and Trust Administrations.
- Created and funded a private foundation and charitable remainder trust for a charitably inclined client, resulting in income and estate tax savings.
- Represented an individual business owner in sale of a significant family-owned business
Community Involvement
- Bishop Shanahan High School, Board of Directors, Presidents Society
- Community Volunteers in Medicine, Planned Giving Committee, Harrison Society
Videos
PRACTICE AREAS
OFFICES
ADMISSIONS
- Pennsylvania
EDUCATION
- Widener University School of Law
- Pennsylvania State University, M.B.A.
- Pennsylvania State University, Pre-Law
ARTICLES
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IN THE NEWS
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AWARDS
Brian L. Nagle
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.
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
- Handi-Crafters Inc., Board Member
- Uptown! Entertainment Alliance, Former Board Member
- St. Agnes Catholic Church, Member of Parish Council For Pastoral Planning
- CYO Basketball Coach
- West Side Little League Baseball Coach
- Community Guardian MacElree Harvey Sets Up Armory’s Second Act
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
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
No posts found.
IN THE NEWS
AWARDS
Michael G. Louis
Michael G. Louis
Partner – Commercial Litigation and Real Estate Litigation
Michael Louis is Chair of MacElree Harvey’s Banking and Finance Litigation Practice.
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
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
AWARDS
J. Charles Gerbron, Jr.
J. Charles Gerbron, Jr.
Partner – Land Use and Litigation
J. Charles Gerbron, Jr. is a dynamic attorney who represents businesses, developers, non-profits, and individuals on a variety of litigation, corporate, and land use-related matters.
J. Charles Gerbron, Jr. is a dynamic attorney who represents businesses, developers, non-profits, and individuals on a variety of litigation, corporate, and land use-related matters. As a trial attorney, Charlie is an experienced practitioner and skilled courtroom advocate who has successfully represented clients in the courts of common pleas of Chester, Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, and Berks County, as well as in Federal Court. His trial litigation practice regularly involves corporate litigation, complex commercial litigation, land use litigation, real estate litigation, and construction litigation, among other practice areas.
As a zoning and land use attorney, Charlie regularly represents clients before municipal boards of supervisors/commissioners, planning commissions, and zoning hearing boards. He is frequently retained by developers, businesses, non-profits, and individuals to assist them in obtaining approvals, relief under applicable zoning and land development ordinances, and challenging the validity of zoning ordinances on procedural and substantive grounds.
Charlie’s appellate practice is focused primarily on land use, zoning, corporate, complex commercial, real estate, and construction-related litigation in Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court, Superior Court, and Supreme Court. His experience, expertise, and enthusiasm for the practice area make him a formidable appellate advocate.
Charlie joined MacElree Harvey in 2012 and was elected partner in 2018. Before joining MacElree Harvey, Charlie served as an appellate prosecutor in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, where he gained extensive experience litigating before the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme courts. Charlie has also litigated civil rights and labor and employment matters in the federal courts.
Notable Representations
Zoning & Land Use Litigation
- Successfully represented a developer in challenging the procedural validity of an amendment to a zoning ordinance.
- Successfully represented a developer in obtaining the necessary zoning and land development approvals for a 55+ community.
- Successfully represented an independent school in obtaining zoning and land development approvals for a new STEM/STEAM center and outdoor instruction area.
- Successfully represented a large agricultural supply company in obtaining extensive zoning relief to construct a cutting-edge composting operation.
- Successfully represented a biotech firm that produces and distributes environmentally friendly products in obtaining a variance under local zoning ordinances to construct a critical addition to the facility.
Charlie also regularly leads representations involving variances, special exceptions, conditional uses, zoning officer determinations and notices of violation, development rights, conservation easements and other zoning and land use related matters.
Construction Litigation
- Successfully represented a large electrical subcontractor in a multi-claim, multi-action dispute with the owner and general contractor of a multi-million dollar casino project.
- Successfully represented a developer-owner in a multi-million dollar mechanics’ lien and breach of contract dispute.
- Successfully litigated construction defect disputes on behalf of general contractors, subcontractors, and owners.
- Successfully represented a builder-developer against allegations of defective stormwater management facilities.
- Successfully represented an owner in a dispute over charges pursuant to a commercial construction agreement.
Charlie also regularly leads representations concerning construction defects, payment disputes, mechnics liens, and subcontractor-contractor disputes.
Corporate Litigation
- Successfully represented a managing member in a dispute among members of a limited liability company.
- Successfully represented a corporation following a books and records demand.
- Successfully litigated a partnership dispute.
- Successfully represented a minority shareholder in a “freeze-out” dispute.
- Successfully represented a construction material supplier in a shareholder dispute.
Real Estate Litigation
- Successfully represented a builder-developer in a dispute with a bank concerning a multi-million suburban development.
- Successfully represented a landowner in obtaining an injunction to ensure continued access to property after threats by an adjacent landowner to block access.
- Successfully represented a general contractor in an easement and boundary dispute with an adjacent landowner.
- Successfully represented a homeowners’ association in a dispute with an association member involving violations of restrictive covenants and claims under the Fair Housing Act.
- Successfully represented a homeowner in a dispute with a homeowners’ association motivated by bias as demonstrated by selective enforcements of restrictive covenants.
Charlie also regularly leads representations involving easements, boundary disputes, adverse possession and prescriptive easement claims, agreement of sale termination and deposit disputes, claims of misrepresentation or non-disclosure in the sale of real property, homeowners’ association disputes, and stormwater litigation.
Complex Commercial Litigation
- Successfully represented a financier involved a loan-procurement dispute that included allegations of fraud, misrepresentation, and deceptive acts.
- Successfully represented a food service provider in a complex breach of contract dispute.
- Successfully represented a produce cooperative in a contract and payment dispute with members.
- Successfully represented a produce grower involved in a complex contractual dispute with a partner-grower and produce purchaser.
- Successfully represented a produce grower involved in a payment dispute with a produce purchaser implicating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
Memberships
- Chester County Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
Community Involvement
- Trustee, Upland Country Day School
- Lawrenceville School Invitational Ice Hockey Tournament Committee
PRACTICE AREAS
OFFICES
ADMISSIONS
- Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
EDUCATION
- Villanova University School of Law (J.D.)
- Georgetown University (B.A., Government)
AWARDS
