Gawthrop Greenwood attorney Patrick McKenna was recognized by the Chester County Bar Association (CCBA) for his service to the public and the 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."

CCBA president Michelle Bernardo-Rudy presented the award to McKenna at the CCBA's President's Dinner held on March 11. The ceremony returned to an in-person event after a hiatus due to the pandemic.

McKenna was honored for his work as the 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 CCBA include Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Domestic Violence Center of Chester County, Crime Victims' Center of Chester County and Family Service of Chester County.

McKenna served as president of the CCBA 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 in 1995 and John Halsted in 1976.

McKenna has been a member of the CCBA 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, 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.