Robert C. Jefferson IV

Robert C. Jefferson IV


Unruh, Turner, Burke & Frees

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2026

Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America from 2021-2024

West Chester, Pennsylvania

Practice Areas

Land Use and Zoning Law

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Robert C. Jefferson, IV is a senior associate attorney at Gawthrop Greenwood, PC who focuses his practice on municipal government law, as well as land use, land development and zoning. A former Assistant District Attorney, Jefferson spent six years at the Chester County D.A.’s Office prosecuting 19 jury trials and more than 20 bench trials for criminal cases ranging from felonies to misdemeanors. His career in public service, along with experience navigating the adversarial court system, has proven beneficial to both public and private sector clients as they face testimony and cross examination before zoning hearing boards, planning commissions and other municipal authorities.

A member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and Chester County Bar Association, Jefferson is active in CCBA’s Young Lawyers Division. He has been a member of the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls Grants Allocations Committee. He also supervised the certified legal internship program at the Chester County D.A.’s Office, drawing on his own valuable experiences as a legal intern at the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Office of General Counsel at the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority as well as State Farm Insurance.

Jefferson graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance in 2007. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor at University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2010, and spent a year defending criminal cases in private practice before joining the D.A.’s office in 2012.

Recognized by Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Best Lawyers®, Main Line Today Top Lawyers and Daily Local News Top Lawyers, Rob was appointed to the House of Delegates for the Pennsylvania Bar Association in 2021. A resident of Exton, he focuses his free time on service to the community, including as a member of the board of directors and past secretary of the Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County. He is also a regular speaker on career exploration for West Chester Area School District.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 17 West Gay Street, Suite 200
    P.O. Box 515
    West Chester, PA 19380
Education
  • University of Pittsburgh, J.D., graduated 2010
  • University of Pittsburgh, B.A., graduated 2007
Bar Admissions
  • Pennsylvania, 2010
Affiliations
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association - Member
  • Chester County Bar Association - Member
  • CCBA Young Lawyers Division - Member
  • Chester County Fund for Women and Girls - Member, Grants Allocations Committee
  • Crime Victims' Center of Chester County - Member, Board of Directors and Secretary
  • People's Light - Members, Board of Trustees
  • Chester County D.A.'s Office - Supervisor, Certified Legal Internship Program

Unruh, Turner, Burke & Frees

West Chester, Pennsylvania

14 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

4 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

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Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Land Use and Zoning Law
Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America from 2021-2024 for work in:
  • Land Use and Zoning Law - 2024
  • Municipal Law - 2024
  • Land Use and Zoning Law - 2023
  • Municipal Law - 2023
  • Land Use and Zoning Law - 2022
  • Municipal Law - 2022
  • Land Use and Zoning Law - 2021
Awards:
  • Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch, 2021-2024

  • Best Lawyers in America, 2026

  • Daily Local News Top Lawyers 2022 - present

  • Main Line Today Top Lawyers 2019 - present
  • VISTA.Today Millennial Superstar 2022
  • Super Lawyers Pennsylvania Rising Star 2020
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
  • Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
  • Litigation - Municipal
  • Municipal Law
  • Real Estate Law

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Analysis: PA Supreme Court Rejects Latest Challenge to Gov. Wolf’s Business Shutdown Order


Four Pennsylvania businesses and one individual sought relief from Governor Wolf’s March 19, 2020 order compelling the closure of the physical operations of all non-life-sustaining businesses in an effort to reduce the spread of the coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”)

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Robert C.

Jefferson

New Law Legalizes Robotic Deliveries in Pennsylvania


Pennsylvania has a new law on the books that legalizes the use of Personal Delivery Devices, but municipalities are limited in the ways they can regulate such devices.

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Robert C.

Jefferson

Gawthrop Greenwood Appointed Solicitor of the City of Coatesville


Gawthrop Greenwood Appointed Solicitor of the City of Coatesville

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Robert C.

Jefferson

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