Call Now
Rooted in Service. United by Trust. Building What Comes Next.
Mette began with lawyers whose careers crossed private practice, public service, the judiciary, education, and civic leadership. Since 1969, that breadth of purpose has shaped the firm's growth. Generations of attorneys have built trusted relationships, exercised integrity in positions of public and private responsibility, pursued excellence in practice and teaching, and welcomed colleagues whose experience expanded what the firm could offer.
Today, one name carries that shared history forward: Mette.
Before 1969 | The roots of a public-service tradition
Robert E. Woodside Jr. served five terms in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, became a Dauphin County judge, joined the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in 1953, and later served as Pennsylvania Attorney General. Howell C. Mette worked on the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 before entering Harrisburg private practice in 1956.
1969 | A new Pennsylvania firm takes shape
Howell C. Mette and colleagues founded the predecessor of what became Mette, Evans & Woodside, bringing together talented attorneys across legal disciplines to serve the growing needs of businesses, institutions, families, and individuals.
1972 | The Woodside tradition joins the firm
Woodside, Woodside & Zwally merged into the growing firm. Robert J. Woodside, who had practiced with his father since 1965, joined the combined practice.
1970s–1990s | Service beyond the office
Mette attorneys became leaders in the profession and the community. James W. Evans served as president of the Dauphin County Bar Association in 1978, followed by Howell C. Mette in 1989. Howell taught at Dickinson Law for roughly 50 years, until 2002, and was recognized with an honorary Doctor of Laws in 1985 and the school's Edward C. First Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award in 1989.
1982 | From firm practice to the federal bench
Robert J. Woodside was appointed to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, where he served as Chief Bankruptcy Judge.
1985 | Scholarship with lasting influence
Robert E. Woodside's Pennsylvania Constitutional Law was published. Courts and litigants continued to cite it decades later.
2010s | Recognition and an expanding platform
The firm broadened its team and capabilities across insurance, business, real estate, litigation, professional licensure, and workers' compensation. In 2017, it earned its seventh consecutive first-tier "Best Law Firm" ranking for trusts and estates.
2020 | Remembering Howell C. Mette
Founder Howell C. Mette died in January 2020 at age 91, still active with the firm some 50 years after its founding. His legacy joined client service, tax and estate practice, teaching, mentorship, and leadership in the local bar.
2024 | Two Harrisburg firms become one
Mette merged with SkarlatosZonarich, and Cognetti Law Group later joined, bringing new legal traditions and deeper capabilities to the firm.
2026 | One name carries the story forward
Mette, Evans & Woodside becomes Mette. The singular name preserves the firm's strongest identity while recognizing that today's institution is larger than any list of named partners. This is not history erased, but history distilled: many people, practices, and legacies moving forward as one firm.
Today and next | The standard ahead
From its Harrisburg roots, Mette serves clients across Pennsylvania from offices in Harrisburg, Trevose, and Sunbury. Our vision is to set the standard for what a modern law firm can be: a place where exceptional people thrive, operational excellence expands their impact, and enduring client relationships create extraordinary outcomes and lasting opportunity.
Our history gave us more than a name. It gave us a standard. Now, as one Mette, we carry it forward.