Profile

Paul is Chair of the Family Law Practice Group at McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC.

What does Paul do for Clients?
As a practitioner focusing on family law for over 30 years including very active participation in the PBA Family Law Sections and an active speaker on Family Law topics for both PBA and PBI, including being a course planner of the annually held Family Law Institute, Paul has closely observed the development of family law over several decades. As a result of his extensive experience in virtually all of the Central Pa Counties, Paul is familiar with many of the decision makers whether they be Judges, Divorce Masters, Custody Conciliators or Support Conference officers. As noted above, Paul’s experience with business owners and individuals of significant wealth, he is quite accustomed to dealing with complex marital estates and the valuation of business, trusts stock options and other complex assets.

How does Paul spend his free time?
Paul is an avid cyclist and often rides his bike to and from work with longer rides, occasionally over 100 miles on weekends. He is an owner of the Climbnasium and active climber who has climbed all over the U.S. and Canada (Mt. Rainier is on the list again this summer). He has recently become a rather avid disc golfer and also enjoys a spirited round of ping pong.

EXPERIENCE/REPRESENTATIVE CASES

Mr. Helvy has considerable experience representing clients with significant assets and income.  He has taught multiple continuing legal education courses to other lawyers on the topics of determining the value of a business in the context of divorce and ascertaining an individual’s actual income (as opposed to what appears on their tax returns) for purpose of calculating support and alimony.

Mr. Helvy is a past chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association,  Family Law Section and continues to be actively involved in the leadership of the Section.

EDUCATION

West Chester University, B.A., 1984, cum laude

Dickinson School of Law, J.D., 1988

HONORS/AWARDS

The Best Lawyers in America®, Family Law, 2007-present

Lawyer of the Year®, Best Lawyers, Family Law, 2013, 2016, 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025

Pennsylvania Super Lawyers®, 2008 – present

Best Family Law Firm, Central Penn Business Journal’s Reading Rankings, 2018

Select Lawyers, 2014, 2016

Local Legal Leaders, 2015-present

MEMBERSHIPS

Dauphin County Bar Association, Chair, Young Lawyers, 1995-1996

Pennsylvania Bar Association – PBA Family Law Section Chair (2014-15), Executive Committee member, Council member, past chair of the Programming Committee, Legislative Committee, Membership Committee and Specialization Committee member

PA Family Support Alliance, Board of Directors

Central Pennsylvania Collaborative Professionals, Certified Collaborative Lawyer

Dauphin County Bar Association, Social Committee

PA Bar Foundation, Director

Cumberland County Bar Association

Lancaster Bar Association, Member

COURT ADMISSIONS

U.S. District Court – Middle District of Pennsylvania

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania

PRESS RELEASES

August 15, 2024 - Best Lawyers® recognizes 38 McNees attorneys, one named “Lawyer of the Year”

August 17, 2023 - Best Lawyers® Recognizes 42 McNees Attorneys, Three Named “Lawyer of the Year”

August 18, 2022 - Best Lawyers® Recognizes 34 McNees Attorneys, Six Named “Lawyer of the Year”

May 23, 2022 - 12 Pennsylvania McNees Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers®

November 30, 2021 - McNees’ Family Law Chair to Present “Year in Review” Lecture

October 11, 2021 - McNees’ Chair of Family Law to Explain Current Trends, Latest Developments

August 19, 2021 - 39 McNees Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers®, Six Named “Lawyer of the Year”

May 26, 2021 - Ten Pennsylvania McNees Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers

August 24, 2020 - 34 McNees Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers®, Four Named “Lawyer of the Year”

June 29, 2020 - Thirteen McNees Attorneys Among 2020 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List

February 24, 2020 - McNees Attorneys to Present on Marital Settlement Agreements for PBI

August 15, 2019 - 33 McNees Attorneys Among 2020 Best Lawyers in America, 7 Named Lawyer of the Year

May 9, 2019 - McNees Attorneys Among 2019 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List

April 22, 2019 - McNees Attorneys to Participate in PBI’s Family Law Institute

December 4, 2018 - McNees Attorneys to Present on Tax and Family Law at PBI Seminar

August 15, 2018 - 35 McNees Attorneys Among 2019 Best Lawyers in America

May 31, 2018 - 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

April 17, 2018 - Family Law Institute

April 17, 2018 - Three McNees Attorneys participating at Family Law Institute

August 15, 2017 - 38 McNees Attorneys Selected as 2018 Best Lawyers in America

December 8, 2016 - McNees Wallace & Nurick attorneys recognized as “Local Legal Leaders” by Harrisburg Magazine

October 7, 2016 - Passage of Pennsylvania’s new divorce law endorsed by McNees attorney J. Paul Helvy

August 15, 2016 - 37 McNees Attorneys Selected by 2017 Best Lawyers in America

June 9, 2016 - McNees Wallace & Nurick attorneys selected as 2016 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

December 8, 2015 - McNees Attorneys Selected as 2015 Select Lawyers

August 17, 2015 - 39 McNees Attorneys Selected by 2016 Best Lawyers in America 7 named 2016 “Lawyers of the Year’’

June 2, 2015 - McNees Wallace & Nurick Attorneys Selected as 2015 Local Legal Leaders

April 27, 2015 - McNEES ATTORNEY PAUL HELVY TO PRESENT AT THE PENNSYLVANIA BAR INSTITUTE'S (PBI) GENERAL PRACTITIONERS' UPDATE

April 15, 2015 - 2015 McNees Attorneys To Present At The Pennsylvania Bar Institute's (Pbi) Family Law Institute

Contact Info

Practice Groups