Firm History
A Longstanding Tradition of Excellence
For over fifty years the Leeson law office has been committed to providing the best possible legal services to individuals, families, businesses, local government agencies, and non-profit organizations throughout the Lehigh Valley. Attorneys associated with the law office have been extensively involved in the Lehigh Valley community; they have served as members of the boards of the Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority, the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, the Lehigh Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation (PBS-39), the Pennsylvania Public Television Network and the Janet Johnston Housenick and William D. Housenick Memorial Foundation.
The Leeson law practice began in 1969 and was founded by the late Joseph F. Leeson, Sr., a Pennsylvania legal legend. Prior to embarking on a legal career, Joseph Leeson, Sr. enlisted and served in the United States Navy during World War II. After serving in the Navy, he worked in the insurance industry while attending law school at night. In 1969, he opened an office for the practice of law in the heart of Bethlehem at 70 East Broad Street. Joseph Leeson, Sr. later served as the president of the Northampton County Bar Association and city solicitor for the City of Bethlehem. He also served as chairman of the Northampton County Trial Court Nominating Commission to fill judicial vacancies in the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County.
As the law firm grew, so did the workload. As a result, two decades after the founding of the law practice, Joseph Leeson, Sr. was joined in the practice of law by his sons, and the law firm became known as Leeson, Leeson & Leeson. Leeson, Leeson & Leeson would also be joined by other Lehigh Valley attorneys, including the late H. P. McFadden, Robert H. Holland, and Earl Heffner, Jr. The law firm’s original specialty was insurance defense litigation, but over the years the Leeson, Leeson & Leeson law practice evolved into a full-service law firm able to provide legal assistance to businesses, individuals, and government entities in virtually any area of civil law.
1969 - 1991
Joseph Leeson, Sr.
Joseph Leeson Sr. founded the firm in 1969 and became one of Northampton County’s most esteemed trial attorneys. A self-made man, he worked as an insurance adjuster to put himself through college and law school. He held prominent community roles, including Bethlehem city solicitor and chairperson of the Governor’s Judicial Merit Selection Committee. Joseph passed away in April 1991, and William and Joseph Jr. assumed leadership of the practice.
1991 - 2015
Joseph Leeson, Jr.
Joseph Leeson, Jr., one of the partners of Leeson, Leeson & Leeson, left the law practice in 2015 after being nominated by the President of the United States to serve as a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, based in Allentown.
1991 - 2020
William Leeson, Jr.
William Leeson, Sr., also one of the partners at Leeson, Leeson & Leeson, former city solicitor for the City of Bethlehem and estate law expert, left the law firm in 2020 to transition to retirement and spend more time assisting the City of Bethlehem as city solicitor.
2020 - 2024
Joseph F. Leeson, lll
Now, Joseph F. Leeson, III continues the Leeson family law practice tradition under the name Leeson & Leeson to remember and pay tribute to the contributions of his grandfather, whose standards of excellence and integrity are the foundations of the legal practice today.
Leeson & Leeson continues to grow and expand, as it has since 1969, so as our clients grow and diversify, we are prepared to provide whatever legal services our clients need.