Merkin is an AV peer review rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell who has been practicing law in Miami, Florida since 1974 with both a large national firm, and since 1978, his own firm. His core legal practice areas include corporate and business law, real estate, representing startups, mergers and acquisitions, international transactions and nonprofit corporations. Merkin has an extensive background
in all types of domestic and international business transactions. He specializes in guiding businesses through the legal complexities of development and works with foreign companies in developing operations in the United States. Merkin's joint legal and investment banking experience enables him to provide the broad legal representation required to help companies navigate all stages of their development.
Before beginning private legal practice, he was a member of the Corporate Finance Department of Hayden Stone, Inc., a New York investment banking firm. Merkin served on the Board of Directors of Safrabank, a commercial bank located in Miami, Florida. He served as a Lieutenant in the United States Army from 1965 to 1967, serving one year in the Republic of South Vietnam.
Through two affiliated companies, Gilkin Properties, Inc., a Florida registered real estate broker and MASCO Management, Inc., Mr. Merkin and his staff provide property management, brokerage and corporate management services.
Education
Mr. Merkin received a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, and J.D. degrees from Cornell University. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1972.
Giving Back to the Community
Mr. Merkin's philosophy has always been to give back to his community.
Mr. Merkin is and has been a member of various nonprofit civic and religious organizations. He has served as Chairman of the City of Miami Community Development Advisory Board, as a member of the Board of Directors of Miami Capital Development, Inc., as a Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Academy of Finance of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, as an adviser to the Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship of Miami-Dade College, as a member of the Entrepreneurial Studies Work Group of Miami-Dade College and as President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Miami Hebrew Academy. He currently is a member of Board of Directors and past President of the American Jewish Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors of Locust Projects, a nonprofit art space in Miami. He currently devotes much of his time working with youth as a member and as a past Chairperson of the South Florida Advisory Board of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.
In 2017, Mr. Merkin was awarded the Not for Profit Pro Bono Award by Dade Legal Aid of the Dade County Bar Association.
