Zachary Merkle

Shareholder in St. Louis, MO

Zach Merkle joined Sandberg Phoenix in 2017. He practices in Business Litigation, generally focusing on commercial, real-estate and employment litigation. Zach is a member of the Appellate and Complex Litigation team, where he regularly handles federal and state appeals.

In his appellate practice, Zach uses his clerkship experience to navigate federal and state appellate courts at all levels. He has handled appeals spanning the Firm's litigation practice groups, from appealing business disputes to safeguarding defense judgments won by the Firm's Health Law practice group. He is equipped to handle non-routine appellate matters too, such as amicus briefs, interlocutory appeals, and extraordinary writs.

Zach also has a thriving trial-court practice in the Business Litigation practice group. He represents businesses and individuals spanning a range of commercial and real-estate issues. His commercial-litigation practice involves disputes over contracts - stock purchase agreements, commercial leases and innumerable other commercial contracts - and business torts, such as tortious interference, breach of fiduciary duty, civil conspiracy and fraud. As part of his Business Litigation expertise, Zach frequently litigates real-estate issues that arise from sale contracts, boundary disputes, deeds, declarations, easements and miscellaneous property rights. Finally, on the Employment Litigation team, Zach defendants claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower protection and trade-secret violations.

Disputes seemingly can arise from anywhere, even with the best intentions, often from an unforeseen circumstance or a series of unfortunate events. Zach understands that his clients want to end the dispute in a fair way, as soon as possible. Zach always works to resolve disputes practically and efficiently, even before a lawsuit is filed, so his clients can get back to their lives and their businesses. But Zach also understands that, sometimes, intractable disputes must be litigated until the end - and he is prepared to take those cases all the way through the appellate process.

As the Team Leader of the Real Estate Litigation Team, which often involves mortgage-related issues, Zach represents banks and mortgage servicing companies in litigation of all stripes, including title issues, disputes over debt and security instruments, and defensive litigation initiated by borrowers.

And, of course, the law is not everything in Zach’s life. Outside the office, Zach is happiest with his wife, dog and two young kids with the (winning) Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Blues or Newcastle United on in the background.

Services

Appellate & Complex Litigation Arbitration & Mediation Bankruptcy Class Actions Commercial Litigation Data, Privacy, and Cybersecurity Employment Litigation Professional Liability Real Estate Litigation Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights Shareholder Litigation

Industries

Accounting Banking & Finance Brokers / Dealers & Financial Advisors Entrepreneurs, Closely Held & Family Owned Business Government Insurance Agents & Brokers Insurance Litigation Lawyers & Law Firms Mortgage Providers & Services Real Estate