Our founding values (Day 2)

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Our founding values

In the early 1930s, Harrisburg was a growing state capital with new businesses, civic projects, and a steady flow of opportunity. It was here that Sterling McNees opened his law office.

From the beginning, he believed the practice of law required two things: earning a client’s trust and delivering on it. That balance became the standard by which he measured his work and the foundation on which the firm was built.

He captured it in words that would come to define his career:

“And now we come to the cornerstone on which reputation is built. It is conscientious and successful service to the client. It is one thing to get the business. It is another to do the work thoroughly and promptly. One must always balance the effort with the result desired. There is no end to research, even in a simple case, but no case is worth endless research. It takes judgment to know when to say, ‘We have gone far enough.’”

Those who knew him recalled the quiet focus of his office. Files were stacked neatly, reference books were within reach, and the scratch of his pen could be heard long into the evening. Yet he never confused activity with progress. When he had gathered the facts, applied the law, and found the answer, he stopped. He believed a lawyer’s duty was not to do more for the sake of more, but to do exactly what was needed.

It was an approach rooted in respect. Respect for the client’s time, resources, and trust. Respect for the craft of law itself. That foundation became the measure by which all of Sterling’s work was judged, and it set a tone that carried through the early years of the firm’s life.

In an era when legal work could easily be buried in paper and process, Sterling chose clarity over clutter and purpose over perfectionism. It was a choice that would give McNees Wallace & Nurick its very first cornerstone.

A cornerstone that endures

Ninety years later, the firm has grown in size, reach, and services, yet Sterling McNees’ first cornerstone remains firmly in place. Every matter we take on still begins with the same question he asked himself in those early offices: What will best serve the client?

The tools have changed. The pace has quickened. But the measure of our work is still the balance of diligence and judgment that Sterling valued above all. It is a foundation that has carried us through decades of change, guided our decisions in moments large and small, and earned the trust of generations.

Our refreshed Core Values

In January 2025, we took the opportunity to refine and refresh the Core Values that guide how we work with clients, colleagues, and communities. These values capture the spirit of Sterling McNees’ first cornerstone while looking ahead to the firm’s future.

• Build authentic relationships: We are respectful and inclusive. We celebrate differences and individual perspectives and foster a culture of belonging. We prioritize the needs of others and strive to create positive and lasting relationships with our clients, colleagues and community. We assume positive intent and listen with an open mind to seek understanding.

• Cultivate excellence: We are client-focused and integrity driven. We collaborate to deliver superior client service and collectively strive for excellence in all that we do. We embrace opportunities for continuous innovation. We operate with integrity and do the right thing for each other and our clients.

• Champion growth: We are curious and relentless. We are committed to a future of endless growth and development, both for our firm and our team. We seek to enhance the range and reach of solutions we offer to clients. We are curious and pursue opportunities that advance the firm’s impact and business objectives.

• Achieve balance: We are resilient and mindful. We recognize the importance of self-care and mutual support in cultivating a thriving workplace. We prioritize total well-being and nurture a balanced and resilient team. We uplift each other through empathy, understanding and teamwork.

These Core Values are more than words. They are the touchstones that shape our daily decisions, inform how we approach challenges, and define the culture of the firm. Just as Sterling McNees balanced diligence with judgment, these values keep us grounded while inspiring us to move forward with purpose.