Mission and Vision
McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC exists to provide professional services of superior value designed to enhance our clients’ success. We do this with creativity and integrity while anticipating problems and understanding our clients’ needs.
Since 1935, McNees has led the community and legal profession. We foster a firm culture that attracts and retains the best people and enables us to use our unique talents to better serve our clients enthusiastically and with unity of purpose.
In the Community
McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC is committed to devoting our resources and skills to constantly improve the communities in which we do business. For the firm, this includes contributions to charitable organizations, sponsorship of charity events, and encouraging employees to contribute to the United Way through payroll deductions. Similarly, our attorneys and staff give generously of their personal time and talent to organizations in their own communities. All attorneys in the firm are encouraged to donate pro bono services, which they provide individually and through Central Pennsylvania Legal Services.
Pro Bono
McNees supports its lawyers in fulfilling their responsibilities under Rule 6.1 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct, and similar rules applicable to its attorneys in other jurisdictions, which states a “that a lawyer should render public interest legal service.” The firm recognizes that an attorney may discharge this responsibility by providing legal services to persons of limited means, public service organizations, or charitable groups.
McNees also recognizes that pro bono service offers occasions for individual professional experiences and satisfactions that are unique to this type of legal work. McNees encourages its attorneys to experience the unique professional satisfaction that comes from representing a pro bono client.
The firm as a whole has long participated in and supported numerous pro bono programs, including the pro bono programs of the Dauphin County Bar Association, the Federal Middle District Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. McNees attorneys regularly receive referrals of pro bono cases from these organizations and others.
McNees attorneys have been leaders in pro bono organizations, serving as, among other things, chair of the PBA Legal Services to the Public Community, chair of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, and chair of the Dauphin County Bar Association Public Service Community.
As part of McNees’ pro bono efforts, McNees attorneys have:
- provided wills and other estate planning documents for Pennsylvania’s first responders under the PBA’s Wills for Heroes Program
- obtained protection from abuse orders to protect women from domestic violence as part of the YWCA Domestic Violence Legal Clinic
- reviewed licensing contracts and otherwise assisted new artists in protecting their intellectual property as part of the Lawyers for the Arts Program
- helped new charitable community organizations to form and obtain 501(c)3 status
- assisted clients in relocating for better job opportunities while retaining custody of their children
- prevented low income tenants from being evicted from their homes
- assisted clients in responding to consumer credit card lawsuits related to previously extinguished debt obligations
- helped a client obtain expungement of a minor criminal offense in order to obtain employment
The firm also recognizes that there are other pro bono programs in Dauphin County, and the other regions in which the firm has offices, that are worthy of support, including, but not limited to, the Harrisburg YWCA Domestic Violence Legal Clinic, the Wills for Heroes Program of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the Pro Bono Program of the Federal Middle District Bar Association.
The firm’s attorneys and professionals are active in these, and other, pro bono programs. The firm’s legal professionals are encouraged to find pro bono opportunities that fit their interest and skills and to make a difference by sharing their legal skills with those who might otherwise go unrepresented.
At McNees, inclusion and belonging are foundational to our mission, vision, and core values, reflecting our commitment to building a culture where every individual feels like a valued member of our team. We celebrate the unique perspectives and experiences each team member brings, understanding that an inclusive workplace strengthens our ability to attract and retain top talent and enhances our capacity to serve our clients and community effectively. By fostering an environment where everyone can succeed, we continue to deliver the broadest range of perspectives that benefit both our clients and the communities we serve.
Education and leadership development
We are committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning and inclusive leadership. To support this, we provide voluntary training programs to enhance our team members’ understanding. Recognizing the evolving demographics of our workforce, which now spans five generations, we proactively develop strategies and resources to support a thriving multigenerational environment.
We encourage and support all attorneys on their path to leadership within the firm and also encourage our professionals to lend their talents to the communities in which they reside. Our commitment to equal opportunity in the workplace has led us to have one of the highest percentages in the nation of women equity partners among firms of our size.
Talent acquisition
Attracting and retaining an inclusive workforce and promoting equal opportunity is critical to our success. We ensure that open opportunities are posted on a variety of platforms to reach a broad spectrum of candidates. Additionally, we maintain strong relationships with law schools in the markets we serve to build a pipeline of future associates and lateral hires.
Our talent acquisition team is dedicated to recruiting individuals who will contribute to delivering exceptional service to our clients, while enhancing our firm’s inclusive culture. Members of the talent acquisition team actively pursue education and training opportunities to stay informed on best practices and emerging trends in recruitment.
Click here to learn more about Careers at McNees
Community outreach and partnership
McNees is committed to making a positive impact beyond the firm. We are actively involved in numerous community organizations and programs, including:
- The American Bar Association’s 21-Day LGBTQ+ Equity Habit Building Challenge©
- Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (CAAP)
- Dauphin County Bar Association’s CAMP 1L Summer Internship Program
- Keystone Human Services – Annual Corporate Sponsor
- LGBT Center of Central Pennsylvania – Annual Corporate Sponsor
- Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA)
- McNees Legal Equity Advancement Program (LEAP)
- The Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania (TCCP)’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Tech Summit
- Women’s Business Enterprise Center-East (WBEC-East)
- The YWCA’s Race Against Racism and YWCA’s Racial Justice Challenge
Vendors and suppliers
As part of McNees’ ongoing efforts, we are proud to partner with small businesses to support the work we do for clients. We seek firms and vendors that provide high-quality services or products at competitive rates, are responsive and responsible, comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations, provide timely service, and promptly resolve any issues. Additionally, we prioritize companies that align with the firm’s core values. Whenever possible, we partner with businesses that fall into one or more of these four categories:
- Clients – We support our clients’ businesses
- Equal opportunity – We support businesses regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
- Local – We support businesses in our local communities
- Small – We support small businesses and start-ups
Gilbert Nurick (left), Governor Dick Thornburgh (middle), and Penns ylvania Bar Association President Louis Goffman (right).
History
In 1912, Sterling G. McNees started his law career in the small western Pennsylvania town of Apollo, just 20 minutes east of Pittsburgh. Then in 1935, shortly after he formed a partnership with Charles Hollinger and Gilbert Nurick, he was engaged by Milton Hershey to do legal work for Hershey interests. As they served Hershey Chocolate Corporate, Hershey Estates, the Milton Hershey School, the Hershey Trust Company and Hershey National Bank as well as other clients, their reputation for conscientious and successful service grew.
In 1942, David M. Wallace joined the firm, and by 1950, McNees Wallace & Nurick had grown to specialize in a wide array of practice groups, such as real estate, financial services and estate and trusts.
McNees Wallace & Nurick opened offices in Washington D.C. in 1996, Columbus, Ohio in 1997, State College, Pennsylvania in 2002, Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2004, Scranton, Pennsylvania in 2012, Frederick, MD in 2017, York, PA in 2019, Radnor, PA and Pittsburgh, PA in 2021.
Today, McNees Wallace & Nurick continues its tradition of valued service, its understanding of Clients First, and its leading edge spirit. Explore our site and you’ll see that while McNees Wallace & Nurick keeps ahead of your trends, issues and challenges, our foundation of quality service remains steadfast and strong.
This year, McNees Wallace & Nurick marks the 88th anniversary of its founding, giving us an opportunity to reflect, remember and celebrate. We are reaching out to you, because you are an important part of that nearly nine-decade-long legacy of dedicated service to our clients and our community.
We are excited to announce the launch of our McNees Alumni Program! This new initiative aims to celebrate our Firm’s remarkable history while fostering stronger connections between McNees attorneys past, present and future. After all, the McNees attorneys of today are the McNees alumni of tomorrow.
We hope you will consider joining us as we build a thriving community of legal professionals that will live on for generations to come. Whether you practiced at our Firm 50 years ago or your tenure was more recent, you are always a member of the McNees team.
When you join the McNees Alumni Program, you will be able to keep in touch with colleagues, share personal and professional milestones, access McNees training opportunities and resources and stay informed about the Firm. You will gain access to:
- Bi-annual alumni newsletters, featuring conversations with members of the program, event and archive photos, save-the-dates, Firm news and additional ways to connect
- Networking invitations to McNees events
- CLE opportunities offered by McNees
- Job opportunities at McNees and in-house with our contacts
Join us today! Click here to join the McNees Alumni LinkedIn Group.
Share: Have you started a new position or received a promotion? Gotten married or welcomed a new baby or grandchild? As life milestones happen, keep us updated so we can share your good news! Please send updates, including new contact information, to alumniconnect@mcneeslaw.com.
Thank you for being a part of McNees’ history and future – we look forward to your engagement in the McNees Alumni Program!
Sincerely,
The McNees Alumni Program Advisory Committee
- Donna Kreiser, Alumni Program Champion and Executive Committee Liaison
- David Kleppinger, McNees Chair Emeritus and Penn State University Board of Trustees Vice Chair
- Laura Williams, Penn State Dickinson Law Associate Dean
- Tim Deckert, AAA Mid States General Counsel
- Ashley Nichols-Weber, McNees Construction, Government Procurement and Contracting Attorney
- Elizabeth Maninfior, Alumni Program Co-Manager
Honors and Accolades
McNees Wallace & Nurick attorneys are frequently recognized as leaders in various surveys and publications both legal and non-legal. Below are just a few of these:
The Legal Intelligencer’s 2020 Professional Excellence Award for Most Innovative Law Firms
The Best Lawyers in America, in the 2022 edition, includes 34 McNees attorneys. Best Lawyers in America is regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the U.S. and called “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice” by Corporate Magazine.
Two McNees attorneys have been recognized as 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers.
Super Lawyers recognized 12 McNees attorneys in their 2022 Pennsylvania directory.
McNees was ranked nationally in one practice area and regionally in more than 30 practice areas in the 2020 U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers’ “Best Law Firms” rankings.
McNees achieved a national Tier 2 ranking in Energy Law and 31 metropolitan rankings for its practices in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
The “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process.
McNees was voted “Simply the Best” 2018 Law Firm by Harrisburg Magazine.
Seventy-eight McNees attorneys are recognized as Select Lawyers in Central Pennsylvania.
McNees has been named to the inaugural list of the National Law Journal’s “NLJ 350”, the definitive ranking of the largest 350 law firms in the nation, ranked by number of full-time attorney positions.
McNees Wallace &
Nurick was recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
The United Way awarded McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC the prestigious Excellence in Leadership Award for its many contributions to the organization. This award is presented each year to an organization whose hard work, creativity, and commitment of time and resources demonstrate exemplary support of United Way.
Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area honored McNees as an “Outstanding Company” for demonstrating consistent, exceptional, dedicated support of the organization and the community in a selfless way.
Wellness Initiative
To achieve the Firm’s goals, we aim for happy, healthy, productive employees who have engaging, challenging work in an environment where excellence and client service is rewarded. To help our attorneys and staff in their health and wellness targets, we are proud to provide a strong selection of benefit plans, coupled with a range of health and wellness programs throughout the year to enhance balance between career and personal well-being.
- Discounted health insurance premiums for nicotine-free enrollees
- Employee Assistance Plan (free and confidential counseling)
- Bi-annual Wellness Fair with complimentary biometric testings
- Bi-Annual Firm Fitness Event (1/2 day of fitness activities)
- Lunch-and-Learn opportunities (nutrition, alternative medicine, and healthy lifestyle, etc.)
- Walking Incentive Program
- Participation in charitable fitness events
- On-site chair massage therapy offerings
- On-site fitness class opportunities
- On-site flu shots
- Firm-provided fresh fruit days
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Host Site
- Up to 100% reimbursement for use of mass transit in lieu of driving/parking
- Nicotine-cessation reimbursement benefit
- Weight Watchers reimbursement benefit
Management
Brian F. Jackson
Chairman
717.237.5467
bjackson@mcneeslaw.com
Nicole Kaylor
Vice Chair
717.237.5416
nkaylor@mcneeslaw.com
Robert A. Weishaar, Jr.
Vice Chair
202.898.5700
bweishaar@mcneeslaw.com
Administrative
Donald Martin
Chief Technology Officer
717.581.2308
dmartin@mcneeslaw.com
Sara Reohr
Chief Financial Officer
717.237.5250
sreohr@mcneeslaw.com
Jenna Wagner
Chief Operating Officer
717.237.5260
jwagner@mcneeslaw.com
Kimberly Wakefield
Senior Director of People & Development
717.237.5309
kwakefield@mcneeslaw.com
Tena Cox
Director of Billing
412.227.2530
tcox@mcneeslaw.com
Nicole Y. Fiamingo
Director of Legal Project Management & Information Center
717.581.2308
nfiamingo@mcneeslaw.com
Shannon McCurdy
Director of Professional Development
717.237.5271
smccurdy@mcneeslaw.com
William McLaughlin
Director of Marketing
717.237.5373
wmclaughlin@mcneeslaw.com
Briana Hallett Stiff
Director of Business Development
717.237.5444
bhallett@mcneeslaw.com
