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About Howland Hess Birnbaum
Founded in 1885
With a legacy that spans over 100 years, Howland Hess Birnbaum stands as a testament to enduring dedication, legal expertise, and an unwavering commitment to our clients. Founded in the historic Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia and now serving from Huntingdon Valley, our firm has grown and evolved, proudly upholding traditions of trust, integrity, and personalized service.
Our History
The roots of Howland Hess Birnbaum trace back to August 3, 1885, when Mr. Guernsey Hallowell first entered the business of conveyancing and real estate with William H. Shallcross. The Shallcross family, prominent figures in the Frankford area, helped establish a strong foundation of service and commitment. The firm remained in the heart of Frankford at the Frankford Mutual Fire Insurance Company building until the 1950s.
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On November 21, 1897, O. Roger Melling joined Mr. Hallowell, and by 1924, they formalized their partnership under the name "Hallowell & Melling." As the firm evolved, so did its leadership. In 1935, after Mr. Hallowell’s retirement, Mr. Thomas S. Howland joined the firm, forming "Melling & Howland." The partnership grew with the addition of Robert G. Hess in 1949, ultimately becoming "Howland & Hess."
Over the decades, the firm welcomed a distinguished line of partners, each bringing their expertise and commitment to our clients. The current partners continue to embody our legacy of excellence, serving clients across the Greater Philadelphia, Montgomery County, and Bucks County areas.
Our Legacy of Partners
With a legacy that spans over 100 years, Howland Hess Birnbaum stands as a testament to enduring dedication, legal expertise, and an unwavering commitment to our clients. Founded in the historic Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia and now serving from Huntingdon Valley, our firm has grown and evolved, proudly upholding traditions of trust, integrity, and personalized service.
Robert G. Hess
Some good Philadelphia lawyers can never be replicated. Attorney Robert G Hess, a perfectly good man, died Thursday April 21, 2016, a few days short of 94 years old, leaving no mold for making another like him. Now the hundreds of people he touched will sorely miss him.
After a stint as a staff sergeant in the Signal Corps in World War II’s European Theatre, Mr. Hess, a graduate of Ursinus College, attended University of Pennsylvania Law School. There, he became a lawyer for all the right reasons – to help people, to solve problems, and to settle disputes. And he became successful at all three. The first in his family to become an attorney, Mr. Hess passed the Bar in 1948 and began working under Thomas Howland and Roger Melling, partners of a law firm in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. But after working in every type of law under the sun, he was drawn to the preparation of wills, settling estates, and helping clients to set up trusts. He felt that in these areas he helped clients, particularly older ones, deal with important life issues. In his own words, “What I enjoy most is representing older people who at this point in their lives need guidance, and it’s not only legal guidance. It’s where to live, how to live. Sometimes you feel like a minister or a priest.”
Mr. Hess was well respected for his service within the legal and lay communities. He was a past chairman and member of the board of directors of Aria Health (formerly Frankford Hospitals) and the board of directors of the Aria Health Foundation (formerly Frankford Hospital Foundation and the Wesley Enhanced Foundation (formerly Evangelical Manor Foundation). He was instrumental in their growth. He was counsel to several retirement facilities and in his customary style, continually offered his services to those around him, especially in his own retirement community, for free. He was a member and past president of the Frankford Lions Club, Jerusalem Lodge F & AM, the Scottish Rite and Lulu Temple. He was also the recipient of the Frankford High School’s prestigious Alumni Pioneer Award for his accomplishments and contributions to the community. When he won, he quoted from Russell Conwell’s book, Acres of Diamonds. “It is said that you can find all of the wealth and riches you need in your own backyard. I pointed out that my [first] office was two blocks from the high school.”
By the way, Mr. Hess’s devotion to community service was carried into his final year. When he found out that apartment-bound people in his retirement building weren’t always getting their morning newspapers, as documented in his last short story, “The Paperboy,” he took it upon himself to sort and deliver 40-some newspapers every morning with the help of his walker.
One of Mr. Hess’s differentiators was his wife of almost 70 years, Alberta. She would continually accompany him on his many legal missions, whether it was serving divorce papers or to clients’ homes to witness the signing of their wills. Until last year, he was still working a few mornings a week, and she was still travelling with him. People familiar with the couple, knew them as nearly inseparable, sharing a fondness for Disney World, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The only time Mr. Hess could be found apart from his wife was on the golf course and in the kitchen, where he exercised his talent as a culinary expert, preparing her dinner.
Robert G. Hess, Esq. died April 21, 2016 of heart failure in Attleboro Village, Langhorne, PA. He was the devoted ‘Best Friend and Husband’ for 69 years to Alberta M. (nee Davis) Hess and the perfect father of Dr. Robert G. Jr., RN (Evi Eskin, MD), Bruce D. ESQ. (Jennifer), Mark D. (Judy), and Susan L. Hess. He had nine grandchildren, two of whom predeceased him, including Jonathan M and Robert Hess, 3rd who died while serving in the US Coast Guard, and 5 Great-grandchildren.
Michael W. Cassidy
Of Counsel, Attorney at Law
Michael W. Cassidy is an experienced civil and criminal trial lawyer. Before joining Howland Hess Birnbaum as a partner in 1997, he had his own Montgomery County general practice since 1988. His trial experience dates back to his years as an assistant district attorney in Montgomery County in the early 1980's.
Michael has been politically active and a local civic leader for many years. He served as commissioner in Springfield Township (Montco) from 1990-1995, and in Upper Dublin from 1998-2001. He also served on the Rockledge Borough Zoning Hearing Board. Mr. Cassidy has been vice president of the Springfield Township Republican Committee and a ten-year member of the Montgomery County Republican Committee. He is a coach and continues active involvement in youth baseball, basketball and football. In his professional capacity, he has served as solicitor to the Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds, assistant solicitor in Montgomery County, solicitor to the Rockledge Volunteer Fire Company and counsel for La Salle High School and Community Ambulance Association of Ambler.
Mr. Cassidy is a graduate of La Salle University and Delaware Law School. In 2017, he moved into his current of-counsel position so that he could focus his energies on giving back to his alma mater, La Salle College High School, where he works as a guidance counselor. He and his wife, Cathy, are the parents of two children.
Richard I. Torpey
Richard I. Torpey was admitted to practice in 1959, and has an extensive background in estate planning, will and trust drafting, estate administration and litigation involving estates and trusts. He is past president of The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, one of the colonial societies in Philadelphia; a charter member of the Brehon Law Society; a fifty-one year member of the Board of Trustees of Episcopal Hospital, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Temple University Hospital. He is past President of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association; Fellow, Pennsylvania Bar Foundation; past member, Board of Governors of Philadelphia Bar Association; member of the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations. An avid sailboat racer, he is two-time National Champion as well as Commodore of the Ensign Class Association, and an active member of the Toms River, New Jersey, Yacht Club.
Mr. Torpey is a graduate of St. Joseph's Preparatory School, the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University School of Law where he was Note Editor of the Law Review. He and his late wife Mary are the parents of six children, and proud grandparents of four.
Richard was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar and the Supreme Court of the United States prior to his retiring from the practice of law in 2024 after more than 40 years as a partner at Howland Hess Birnbaum.
George P. O’Connell
George has an extensive background in estate administration, estate planning and taxation, real estate, zoning and land use. George, a 35 year partner at Barbin & O'Connell, prior to its merger with Howland Hess Birnbaum, is committed to the community and continuously served pro bono on the Montgomery County Legal Aid Society from 1971 until his retirement, and was a Director and Solicitor for the Elkins Park Fire Company for in excess of thirty-five years. George was a member of the Montgomery Bar Association's Real Estate and Tax and Probate Committees and of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. George is a graduate of Villanova University and Villanova University School of Law. He and his wife Kathleen are the parents of three children. George retired from the practice of law in 2020.
Thomas M. Guinan
Of Counsel, Attorney at Law
Thomas M. Guinan has an extensive background in elder, business and corporate law. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1974 and the New Jersey Bar in 1987. He was the chairman of a local community bank board of directors. He is a member of the board of Holy Redeemer Hospital, past president of the Lower Moreland Business Association and the Frankford Kiwanis Club; past co-chairman of the Montgomery Bar Association Construction Law committee; past member of the Estate Planning committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association; past chairman of the Huntingdon Valley Library and Frankford Hospital School of Nursing Golf and Tennis Outing; Past Solicitor for Glenn Foerd and past president of the Cape May Cottagers Association; past board member of the Cape May Taxpayers Association; member of the Historical Society of Frankford; member of American, Pennsylvania and Montgomery County Bar Associations, St. Thomas More Society, and past member of the Board of Governors of Torresdale-Frankford Country Club. He has done extensive pro bono work for the Montgomery County Legal Aid Office and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
In June of 2016, Mr. Guinan completed The Camino de Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage. The Camino de Santiago de Compostela is also known by the English name "The Way of St. James" and is dedicated to the Apostle. Mr. Guinan and his son, Tom, began this holy pilgrimage in 2010, and completed walking the last two thirds (approx. 250 miles) in June, 2016. The traditional route goes through the Pyrenees Mountains and continues for about 510 miles. Tom and his father met many interesting people along their journey; including a Bishop from Barbados who wrote “No Greater Love”, a blog about the time he spent with Tom and his son. A great deal of information regarding the Camino can be found on the internet, and even YouTube, for those who are interested in reading more about the journey. Mr. Guinan is a graduate of Villanova University and Temple University Law School. He and his wife Judi are the parents of three. Tom moved from his position as managing partner to his current of-counsel position at the end of 2019.
John R. Howland
Of Counsel, Attorney at Law
John R. Howland, was admitted to practice in Pennsylvania in 1972 and spent his entire career at Howland Hess Birnbaum until his death in 2024. John maintained an extensive real estate and business law practice, and also concentrated in estate planning and administration.
John was extremely active with in the Bar Association, was a Past President of the Montgomery Bar Association, and was a member of the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. John had also chaired several committees, including Insurance, General Practice, Nominating, and the Joint Committee of Lawyers and Realtors, a cooperative committee of the Bar Association and the Association of Realtors. He was the past Chairman of the Real Property Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association and a past Director of the Montgomery Bar Association. John was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar and was also a past President of its Conference of County Bar Leaders (“CCBL”).
John was just as active in civic organizations, including the Northeast Lions Club, where he was the recipient of the 45 Year Monarch Award and was a past President. He was one of the founding directors of the Lower Moreland Business Association, served on the Lower Moreland High School Advisory Council and served many years on the Huntingdon Valley Library Outing Committee. He coached and managed Little League teams for many years. He served two separate 5 year terms as Treasurer of the Roosevelt Racquet Club of Huntingdon Valley, and was a past president.
John also served as President of the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project (“MCAP”), a charitable organization that provides pro bono representation to victims and potential victims of child abuse in the Montgomery County Courts. John worked as a pro bono volunteer advocate since MCAP operated as a committee of the Montgomery Bar Association, and was one of the founding officers when MCAP became an independent 501(c)(3) organization in 2004.
John was a graduate of Lafayette College and Villanova Law School. He is survived by his wife, Kathi, their ten children, and 20 grandchildren.
Guernsey Hallowell
William H. Shallcross
Thomas S. Howland
O. Roger Melling
"Our experience with the law firm of Howland, Hess, Guinan, Torpey, Cassidy, O' Connell and Birnbaum has always been beyond excellent. We have been clients for at least 25 years. The rapport and guidance of the entire staff is outstanding, and they go above and beyond with the utmost care and professionalism. And Michele Miller is incredible, reliable and on point and amazing to deal with in every situation. The attention to detail is hands down the best! And, the best part is they make you feel like family."
- Donna and Raynor
