McAndrews, Mehalick, Connolly, Hulse and Ryan

What McAndrews, Mehalick, Connolly, Hulse and Ryan does

McAndrews, Mehalick, Connolly, Hulse and Ryan P.C. is a Pennsylvania-based professional law firm founded in 1982 by Dennis McAndrews that delivers specialized legal representation in special education, estate planning, special needs trusts, elder law, guardianship, estate administration, and personal injury. The firm serves individual families and clients—primarily families of children with disabilities, families planning for the long-term financial security of individuals with special needs, and seniors requiring elder law and estate planning services—across Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and the Washington D.C. metropolitan area through a network of 10 office locations and virtual consultation channels. Its core offerings include Special Education Legal Services (IEP advocacy, 504 plans, disciplinary matters, Extended School Year services, compensatory education), Estate Planning (wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives), Special Needs Trusts, Elder Law (Medicaid and long-term care planning), Guardianship, Estate Administration and Probate, Personal Injury, University Discipline/Title IX Representation, Internal Investigations, and Business Succession Planning.

The firm operates on a traditional professional services model with hourly and fee-for-service billing, supplemented by free initial consultations and contingency or reduced-fee structures for many matters to lower access barriers. Underpinning operations is a cloud-based client records management system and virtual meeting technology that enables remote client consultations and document review across the multi-state footprint. The firm's go-to-market is community-centered and event-driven: attorneys conduct hundreds of free webinars, seminars, and IEP clinics annually in partnership with disability advocacy organizations including The Arc (multiple Pennsylvania chapters), ACHIEVA, NAMI chapters, and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, generating lead flow through educational outreach and positioning the firm as a thought leader in special education and disability law.

Leadership is structured around Michael Connolly (CEO and Supervising Partner of Special Education), Lesley Mehalick (Supervising Partner of Estates and Trusts), and a bench of named partners and lead attorneys across the firm's regional offices, with founder Dennis McAndrews now serving as Founder and Managing Partner Emeritus following a formal succession. The firm has received 2023 Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers Rising Stars recognition, 2024-2025 Best Lawyers "Best Law Firm" listing, and 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms designation. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the firm operates with 11-50 total employees and no external investors, parent company, or institutional ownership.

Name

McAndrews, Mehalick, Connolly, Hulse and Ryan

Legal name

McAndrews, Mehalick, Connolly, Hulse and Ryan P.C.

Website

https://mcandrewslaw.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

McAndrews, Mehalick, Connolly, Hulse and Ryan P.C. is a Pennsylvania-based law firm founded in 1982 providing specialized legal representation in special education, estate planning, special needs trusts, and elder law to families and individuals across Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Washington D.C. metropolitan area through 10 office locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education and Disability Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Other Legal Services (54119)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

Keywords

• Special education law
• Estate planning services
• Special needs trusts
• Elder law services
• Disability legal advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Berwyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Hourly/Fee-for-Service: Traditional law firm billing model with hourly rates and fee-for-service arrangements for special education, estate planning, elder law, guardianship, estate administration, and personal injury matters. The firm offers free initial consultations and handles many cases without retainer or ongoing hourly fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

McAndrews Law Offices provides specialized legal representation for individual clients and families across practice areas centered on special education advocacy, estate planning, special needs trusts, elder law, guardianship, estate administration and probate, and personal injury. The firm offers free initial consultations and conducts extensive educational outreach through seminars, webinars, and IEP clinics in partnership with disability advocacy organizations.

Product overview

McAndrews Law Offices is a law firm providing specialized legal services primarily focused on family law matters. The firm operates as a unified legal practice offering services across multiple interconnected practice areas including Special Education Legal Services, Estate Planning, Special Needs Trusts, Elder Law, Guardianship, Estate Administration and Probate, Personal Injury, University Discipline/Title IX Representation, Investigations, Business Succession Planning, and advocacy for abuse of vulnerable citizens. The practice areas are designed to serve families across different life stages—from children's educational needs through estate planning and elder law—with particular expertise in disability-related legal matters. The firm offers both in-person consultations at its multiple office locations and virtual client meetings via video/phone conferences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Special Education Legal Services Legal representation and advocacy for families regarding special education matters, including IEP development, evaluations, discipline, Extended School Year services, IDEA and Section 504 compliance, and compensatory education claims, serving parents and children with disabilities.
• Estate Planning Services Comprehensive estate planning services including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and sophisticated planning techniques for wealth transfer and tax minimization, serving families and individuals planning for the future.
• Special Needs Trusts Legal planning to protect public benefits for persons with disabilities while providing financial resources through specialized trust arrangements, serving families of individuals with disabilities.
• Elder Law Services Legal services for seniors including long-term care planning, Medicaid planning, public benefits, and protections for elder dignity and well-being, serving older adults and their families.
• Guardianship Services Legal representation for establishing and managing guardianships for individuals who require assistance with decision-making, serving families of minors or adults with disabilities and elderly individuals.
• Estate Administration and Probate Legal guidance through the probate process and estate administration to streamline asset distribution and minimize taxes, serving executors and families administering estates.
• Personal Injury Representation Legal representation for personal injury matters, often coordinated with special needs trust planning for settlement proceeds, serving injured individuals including those with disabilities.
• University Discipline and Title IX Representation Legal representation for students in higher education disciplinary proceedings and Title IX matters, serving college and university students facing institutional accusations.
• Investigations Services Internal investigations for corporate organizations, academic institutions, and public/private entities regarding alleged misconduct, serving institutions needing independent inquiry.
• Business Succession Planning Services Planning services for business owners to ensure smooth transitions of ownership and management, serving owners of closely held businesses and family enterprises.
• Abuse of Vulnerable Citizens Legal Services Legal advocacy for children, persons with disabilities, and elderly citizens who have experienced abuse, serving vulnerable individuals and their families.
• Will Contests, Trust Distribution Disputes, and Power of Attorney and Guardianship Abuses Legal representation in disputes over wills, trust distributions, and power of attorney and guardianship abuses, serving beneficiaries and fiduciaries in contested estate matters.
• Review of Academic and Organizational Policies, Practices, and Allegations of Misconduct Review and advisory work on academic and organizational policies and practices, including evaluation of alleged misconduct, serving institutions and individuals subject to such proceedings.
• Bilingual Special Education Legal Services (Spanish) Spanish-language special education legal representation and advocacy for Spanish-speaking families of children with disabilities, complementing the firm's English-language special education practice.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)coreOthersFirm membership in NAELA connects attorneys with a network of elder law specialists and provides ongoing advocacy resources for seniors. NAELA membership indicates commitment to best practices in elder law.
• The Arc of Northeastern PennsylvaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for free educational presentations on bullying, special education rights, and IEP development. Firm attorneys regularly present at Arc events.
• The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton CountiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership providing free IEP clinics, webinars on special education and guardianship, and educational presentations for families.
• The Arc of Dauphin CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for free presentations on dyslexia, COVID compensatory services, and special education topics.
• ACHIEVAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest provider of lifelong supports for people with disabilities in southwestern Pennsylvania. Firm presents webinars and IEP clinics in partnership with ACHIEVA.
• Health Promotion Council's Technology Assisted Children's Home Program (TACHP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Eastern Pennsylvania Special Needs Association meetings on topics including Extended School Year services.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - Multiple ChapterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NAMI chapters including Luzerne-Wyoming Counties and Montgomery County for presentations on special education and mental health topics.
• Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirm attorneys serve as faculty for PBI continuing education seminars on special education law and exceptional children conferences.
• Decoding Dyslexia / Dyslexia and Literacy NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for free presentations on dyslexia, Orton Gillingham approaches, and IEP advocacy.
• Delaware County Advocacy and Resource OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for free presentations on special needs trusts.
• Jewish Family Service of LancasterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanel discussion partnership for obtaining appropriate services for students with special needs.
• Delaware County Bar AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for virtual education law presentations during COVID-19 pandemic.
• Kaleidoscope Family SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for family support group presentations on special needs trusts and guardianship.
• ACLU of DelawareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanel partnership for LGBTQ+ expression in schools awareness event and Know Your Rights resources.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hinkle, Fingles & Prieur: A New Jersey-based law firm with a dedicated special education and disability rights practice representing families in IEP disputes, special needs planning, and related matters — the closest direct competitor in the Mid-Atlantic disability-law niche.
• Timoney Knox LLP: Fort Washington, PA firm with a special education and education-law practice serving families across Pennsylvania — directly comparable in geography, service mix, and target clientele.
• Susan M. Graham LLC: Pennsylvania-based special education law firm focused on IEP advocacy, due-process hearings, and 504 plan disputes — closely overlapping with McAndrews' core special education practice area.
• Woodsmall Law Group: Pennsylvania special education and disability law firm representing families in school-related disputes and special needs planning — comparable specialty, geography, and client base.
• Childs Law LLC: Pennsylvania-based firm focused on special education advocacy and education law for children with disabilities — overlaps with McAndrews in geography and in the IEP/special education service line.

Broad incumbents

• Disability Rights Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania's federally funded Protection & Advocacy system providing free legal services to people with disabilities — represents a broader, publicly funded alternative for the firm's disability and special education clients.
• Hodgson Russ LLP: Large multi-practice firm with a trusts and estates practice serving clients across the Northeast — overlaps with McAndrews' estate planning and special needs trusts work as part of a broader legal portfolio.
• Blank Rome LLP: Major Philadelphia-based full-service law firm with trusts and estates and litigation capabilities — competes for estate planning and elder law work as part of a much larger portfolio.

Emerging players

• Wrightslaw: National special education advocacy training and information platform publishing guides, training programs, and resources for parents and advocates — functions as a complement/competitor at the educational and lead-generation layer.

Others

• Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI): Pennsylvania's continuing legal education provider, where McAndrews attorneys serve as faculty — adjacent ecosystem player that channels referrals and thought-leadership reach to other attorneys in the state.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYsKb63f-tmtdfuaH-5eQHg
• Facebookfacebook.com/mcandrewslaw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcandrews-law-offices-p-c-
• Instagraminstagram.com/mcandrews_law_offices
• Pinterestpinterest.com/mcandrewslaw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McAndrews, Mehalick, Connolly, Hulse and Ryan