Your Lawyers for Life
Our attorneys live and serve locally, from our offices in West Chester and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Greater Wilmington, Delaware, even as they participate in a multitude of cases on a regional and national basis. They champion Gawthrop’s core principle of providing the highest quality legal services to businesses, individuals and governmental entities — with a level of personal attention, efficiency and success that is seldom found elsewhere.
Select an attorney to view their contact information:
Denise Antonelli is a member of Gawthrop Greenwood’s Trusts & Estates department, practicing in the areas of Estate Planning and Estate and Trust Administration.
Kristen Bennett helps clients navigate potentially confusing areas of estate planning, as well as estate and trust administration, with care, understanding and compassion.
Elliot H. Berton protects condominium and homeowners’ associations in state and bankruptcy courts, with extensive experience representing banks & financial service companies
James D. Doyle practices in homeowners and condominium association law, real estate transactions and litigation, zoning and land use and buyer/seller disputes.
Walter P. Eells concentrates his practice in the Family and Orphans' Courts, including adoptions, guardianships, divorce, custody, support, pre- and postnuptial agreements, litigation and mediation.
Stacey L. Fuller practices Municipal Law, Land Use Law and Education Law, representing municipalities, townships, boroughs, planning commissions, zoning hearing boards and charter schools.
Annie Martino Frazier prepares complex estate plans for high net worth individuals, with background in corporate law and international tax and aspects of Delaware and Pennsylvania trusts & estate law.
Tod represents individuals with significant wealth in their estate planning and trust and estate administration, succession planning for businesses and farms, and generation-skipping transfers.
A lifelong Delaware resident, family lawyer Carl Heckert practices divorce litigation and mediation, including property division, custody, child support, alimony, protection from abuse & grandparents rights
Sandy Knapp practices in Business Law, Commercial Transactions, Admiralty/Maritime Law, Real Estate Law, Banking and Finance, transactional and general corporate matters.
Don Kohler focuses in family law, including divorce, custody, support, alimony, Orphans’ Court, guardianships, adoptions, and probate litigation.
Pat McKenna represents municipalities, zoning hearing boards, municipal authorities and planning commissions as well as private land owners and developers.
Steve McDonnell is a litigator who concentrates in contract disputes, construction claims, employment issues and insurance matters, helping corporations and individuals.
As head of the Business Law Department, Mike Merlie practices in finance, secured transactions, mergers, acquisitions, real estate and admiralty/maritime law.
Michael Naseef represents developers, builders and investors in residential and commercial land development and zoning matters, including real estate acquisition, financing, leasing and transfer.
Steve Olsen practices in Estate, Trust Administration, Estate Planning Taxation and Business Transactions. He also has wide experience supporting the legal needs of medical marijuana operators.
Mary Ann Plankinton practices in Pennsylvania and Delaware in family law (divorce, support, custody and adoption) as well as estate planning, administration and litigation. She is also a trained mediator.
A business and real estate law lawyer, Gordon Prince is the “go to” resource for businesses on compliance, transactions, formation, contracts, corporate governance and commercial real estate transactions.
Joanna Reiver practices in estate planning, planning for family members with disabilities, closely held business interests, charitable trusts and generation-skipping trusts.
Rachel M. Sorokin is an associate attorney whose practice focuses primarily on community association law. She represents homeowners’ and condominium associations in matters involving governance, compliance and formation, as well as related zoning and land use issues.
Theo Speedy advises municipalities, zoning hearing boards, municipal authorities and HOAs on governance, land use, zoning, employment, compliance and public policy. He is a litigator for public and private clients.
Steve Sugarman supports homeowners associations (HOAs), planned communities, condominium associations and cooperatives in Pennsylvania.
Connor J. Thomson is a lawyer for homeowners associations (HOAs), condominium associations, cooperatives and insurance companies that turn to Gawthrop Greenwood.
Lauren E. Wenger is a civil litigation, real estate, and insurance attorney known for her sharp legal insight, compassionate client advocacy, and extensive experience handling complex claims and courtroom matters across Pennsylvania.
Emeritus
Gawthrop Greenwood’s legacy of superior service is rooted in a foundation of trust established by our emeritus attorneys who have retired from full-time practice. We invite you to contact Gawthrop Greenwood at 610-696-8225 for more information.
Kevin Holleran
Patrick C. O’Donnell
In Memoriam
Holly L. Setzler
Practicing for more than 30 years, Holly L. Setzler established a long-and-strong reputation as a highly respected community association law and real estate attorney. She was a leader in her field as well as within Gawthrop Greenwood, not only as a professional but as a dear friend. Holly was also an active member of her Chester County community, where she was an advocate for grieving children and families through A Haven. Please join us in honoring Holly’s legacy.
Latest News
Gawthrop Greenwood Welcomes Community Association Lawyer Rachel M. Sorokin
Gawthrop Greenwood, PC is pleased to announce that community association lawyer Rachel M. Sorokin has joined the firm as an associate, representing the needs of homeowners’ and condominium associations in what has become the fastest-growing form of housing in Pennsylvania.
Family Law Attorney Don Kohler Goes Back to School for Mock Trials with Local Children
You know him as family law attorney Donald F. Kohler, but on Friday he was "Judge Justice Kohler" to these wonderful children! This is the 15th year that...
Deadline to File Tax Collector Surety Bond with Court of Common Pleas is March 15th
A reminder to Elected Tax Collectors for boroughs, towns and townships: In accordance with the Local Tax Collection Law, 72 P.S. § 5511.1 et.seq. you are required to secure a surety bond for the faithful performance of your duties, and have the bond filed in the Court of Common Pleas by March 15, 2026.
Gawthrop Greenwood Attorney James Doyle Appointed President of Chester County Bar Foundation
Gawthrop Greenwood, PC Partner James D. Doyle has been elected President of the Chester County Bar Foundation for 2026. "It is my honor to carry on the Foundation's 41-year history of helping Chester County citizens understand, gain access to and benefit from our legal system," said Doyle.
Denise M. Antonelli
Denise Antonelli is a member of Gawthrop Greenwood’s Trusts & Estates department, practicing in the areas of Estate Planning and Estate and Trust Administration.
P. Kristen Bennett
Kristen Bennett helps clients navigate potentially confusing areas of estate planning, as well as estate and trust administration, with care, understanding and compassion.
Elliot H. Berton
Elliot H. Berton protects condominium and homeowners’ associations in state and bankruptcy courts, with extensive experience representing banks & financial service companies
James D. Doyle
James D. Doyle practices in homeowners and condominium association law, real estate transactions and litigation, zoning and land use and buyer/seller disputes.
Walter P. Eells
Walter P. Eells concentrates his practice in the Family and Orphans' Courts, including adoptions, guardianships, divorce, custody, support, pre- and postnuptial agreements, litigation and mediation.
Stacey L. Fuller
Stacey L. Fuller practices Municipal Law, Land Use Law and Education Law, representing municipalities, townships, boroughs, planning commissions, zoning hearing boards and charter schools.
Ann L. Martino Frazier
Annie Martino Frazier prepares complex estate plans for high net worth individuals, with background in corporate law and international tax and aspects of Delaware and Pennsylvania trusts & estate law.
J. Stoddard Hayes Jr.
Tod represents individuals with significant wealth in their estate planning and trust and estate administration, succession planning for businesses and farms, and generation-skipping transfers.
Carl W. Heckert
A lifelong Delaware resident, family lawyer Carl Heckert practices divorce litigation and mediation, including property division, custody, child support, alimony, protection from abuse & grandparents rights
Sandra L. Knapp
Sandy Knapp practices in Business Law, Commercial Transactions, Admiralty/Maritime Law, Real Estate Law, Banking and Finance, transactional and general corporate matters.
Donald F. Kohler
Don Kohler focuses in family law, including divorce, custody, support, alimony, Orphans’ Court, guardianships, adoptions, and probate litigation.
Patrick M. McKenna
Pat McKenna represents municipalities, zoning hearing boards, municipal authorities and planning commissions as well as private land owners and developers.
Stephen R. McDonnell
Steve McDonnell is a litigator who concentrates in contract disputes, construction claims, employment issues and insurance matters, helping corporations and individuals.
Michael F. Merlie
As head of the Business Law Department, Mike Merlie practices in finance, secured transactions, mergers, acquisitions, real estate and admiralty/maritime law.
Michael V. Naseef
Michael Naseef represents developers, builders and investors in residential and commercial land development and zoning matters, including real estate acquisition, financing, leasing and transfer.
Stephen J. Olsen
Steve Olsen practices in Estate, Trust Administration, Estate Planning Taxation and Business Transactions. He also has wide experience supporting the legal needs of medical marijuana operators.
Mary Ann Plankinton
Mary Ann Plankinton practices in Pennsylvania and Delaware in family law (divorce, support, custody and adoption) as well as estate planning, administration and litigation. She is also a trained mediator.
Gordon W. Prince
A business and real estate law lawyer, Gordon Prince is the “go to” resource for businesses on compliance, transactions, formation, contracts, corporate governance and commercial real estate transactions.
Joanna Reiver
Joanna Reiver practices in estate planning, planning for family members with disabilities, closely held business interests, charitable trusts and generation-skipping trusts.
Rachel M. Sorokin
Rachel M. Sorokin is an associate attorney whose practice focuses primarily on community association law. She represents homeowners’ and condominium associations in matters involving governance, compliance and formation, as well as related zoning and land use issues.
Theodore T. Speedy, Jr.
Theo Speedy advises municipalities, zoning hearing boards, municipal authorities and HOAs on governance, land use, zoning, employment, compliance and public policy. He is a litigator for public and private clients.
Steven L. Sugarman
Steve Sugarman supports homeowners associations (HOAs), planned communities, condominium associations and cooperatives in Pennsylvania.
Connor J. Thomson
Connor J. Thomson is a lawyer for homeowners associations (HOAs), condominium associations, cooperatives and insurance companies that turn to Gawthrop Greenwood.
Lauren E. Wenger
Lauren E. Wenger is a civil litigation, real estate, and insurance attorney known for her sharp legal insight, compassionate client advocacy, and extensive experience handling complex claims and courtroom matters across Pennsylvania.