50 years of impacting the community

Since 1976, Gross McGinley has grown with the Lehigh Valley, guided by founding partners who believed that practicing law and investing in their community should go hand in hand. Founding partner Malcolm J. Gross spent decades supporting the region’s cultural and educational fabric. His service as a Trustee and later Chair of the Harry C. Trexler Trust, as well as leadership roles with the Lehigh County Historical Society and Muhlenberg College, helped steward transformative investments in parks, history, and higher education across the Valley. 

Fellow founding partner Paul A. McGinley also exemplifies that vision. As Co‑Chair of The Rodale Institute’s Board of Directors and a longtime board member of WDIY 88.1 FM and The Velodrome Fund, Paul long worked to strengthen community institutions right here in our backyard. He remains driven by the belief that when local organizations thrive, so do the people and businesses they serve.

Together, Mal and Paul’s work reflects Gross McGinley’s belief that the most meaningful legal work does not end within the walls of their law firm; it lives on in stronger institutions, better-connected neighborhoods, and opportunities created for the next generation.

Gross McGinley remains dedicated to standing alongside the nonprofits, schools, and civic projects that shape this region. Downtown Allentown’s new Da Vinci Science Center is one prime example. Founding partner J. Jackson Eaton, III and the firm’s attorneys helped structure key pieces of the project’s complex financing, serving as counsel to this regional STEAM destination. For decades, Jackson has been a trusted advisor to cornerstone Lehigh Valley organizations such as ArtsQuest, KidsPeace, and the Da Vinci Science Center, guiding them through governance, financing, and growth so they can stay focused on mission and impact.

Managing Partner John F. “Jack” Gross, a lifelong Allentown resident and former chair of Da Vinci’s Board of Trustees, continues to champion the Center’s mission to expand access to science education for children across the Valley. In addition to his many years supporting Da Vinci Science Center, Jack has served on numerous boards, including Community Action Lehigh Valley, Communities In Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania, the American Red Cross, and more, where he helps advance their charitable purposes as well as educational opportunities across the Lehigh Valley. Together, Jack and Jackson show how deep community involvement, paired with thoughtful legal counsel, can quietly shape a region’s trajectory.

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