Zachary Stephen Merkle

People Zachary Merkle Shareholder Zach Merkle, a Business Litigation attorney, joined Sandberg Phoenix in 2017. His practice primarily involves commercial, real-estate, and employment litigation. On the Appellate and Complex Litigation Team, Zach also regularly handles federal and state appeals. Zach leverages his clerkship experience to navigate appellate courts at all levels, including non-routine appellate matters like amicus briefs, interlocutory appeals, and extraordinary writs. Zach is Team Leader of the Real Estate Litigation Team, which handles all real-estate matters in court, like disputes over commercial leases, sale contracts, boundary lines, deeds, declarations, easements, and miscellaneous property rights. Beyond real estate, Zach also has a thriving general commercial-litigation practice. He represents businesses and individuals spanning a range of commercial disputes - from contract disputes to business torts (such as tortious interference, breach of fiduciary duty, civil conspiracy, and fraud). Zach frequently assists banks and mortgage servicing companies in litigation: title issues, disputes over debt and security instruments, and defensive litigation initiated by borrowers. Zach has extensive experience in traditional state and federal courts, as well as private arbitration matters and bankruptcy adversary cases. His bankruptcy practice has grown in recent years due to positive results for creditors against debtors attempting to discharge debts. Finally, on the Employment Litigation team, Zach defends claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower protection, and trade-secret violations. And the law is not everything in Zachs life. Outside the office, Zach is happiest with his wife, two young kids, and his dog - with St. Louis City SC, Newcastle United, or the Atlanta Braves winning in the background. Licensure(s) and Admission(s) Missouri Illinois United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois Clerkship Zach was a clerk with the Honorable Kurt S. Odenwald of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. Awards & Recognition 2023, 2024 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyer Rising Star Business Litigation