WEST CHESTER, PA — Gawthrop Greenwood attorney Patrick McKenna is being recognized by the Chester County Bar Association for his service to the public and legal profession. He was recently presented with the Bar Association’s Board of Directors’ Award in recognition of outstanding achievement in the legal profession and advancing the goals and principles of our constitutional form of government.
McKenna was awarded at the Chester County Bar Association’s President’s Dinner that was held on March 11, 2022 after a hiatus due to the pandemic. CCBA President Michelle Bernardo-Rudy (pictured) honored McKenna for his work as 2020 President of the Chester County Bar Foundation, which has a mission to help Chester County Citizens understand, gain access to and benefit from the legal system through support for law programs and services. Programs supported by CCBF include Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Domestic Violence Center of Chester County, Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County and Family Service of Chester County.
“Patrick has been a tremendous champion of both the Chester County Bar Association and the Chester County Bar Foundation for as long as I have known him,” said Matt Holliday, Executive Director of the Chester County Bar Association. “We are lucky to have had his leadership in a great number of positions for most of the last 20 years. Knowing him as I do, I am sure he will continue to be one of our biggest supporters as he seeks to constantly contribute to our Chester County community.”
Bernardo-Rudy noted, “I have known Patrick for almost 20 years. During that time, I have watched him grow as an attorney into the wonderful advocate he is today. His dedication to his work, the legal community and the community as a whole is admirable and something I see him continuing well into the future. It was an honor to present him with the award and I am proud to call him a colleague and a friend. Congratulations Patrick!”
McKenna served as President of the Chester County Bar Association in 2019, upholding Gawthrop Greenwood’s legacy of CCBA leadership. Eleven attorneys from Gawthrop Greenwood have served as CCBA President, including Gawthrop Greenwood partners Kevin Holleran (1995) and John Halsted (1976).
McKenna has been a member of the Chester County Bar Association since 2002 and has also served as Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. In addition, he is a past Chair of the Young Lawyers Division and a past Chair of the Judicial Evaluation Committee and the Bylaws Committee.
McKenna is Chair of the Management Committee at Gawthrop Greenwood, PC, where he is a partner. He is a member of Gawthrop’s Government and Education Law Department, which is ranked nationally for Land Use and Zoning Law. McKenna provides legal counsel to cities, townships, boroughs, police departments, planning commissions, municipal authorities and zoning hearing boards. He also advocates at government meetings; advises elected boards on governance, open records and other issues; litigates municipal, school, land development and zoning matters through appeal; and drafts legislative and policy documents for municipal governments.
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