Partner

Michael F. Merlie

BIOGRAPHY

As head of the Business Law Department at Gawthrop Greenwood, Michael F. Merlie concentrates his practice in the areas of finance, secured transactions (including creditors’ rights), mergers, acquisitions, admiralty/maritime law, real estate law and startup businesses. Representing institutional, corporate and entrepreneurial clients in a wide variety of business matters, his experience includes negotiating and documenting mergers, acquisitions and real estate transactions. He has also represented institutional lenders in negotiating and documenting financing transactions and has developed a particular expertise in maritime financing. Mike also assists entrepreneurs in all phases of start-up organizations.

Mike is experienced in commercial litigation and bankruptcy matters with reported decisions in both the District Court and the Bankruptcy Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Prior to his legal career, he was a certified public accountant with a Big Four accounting firm in Philadelphia. He graduated from Villanova University and the Villanova University School of Law where he was a member of the Villanova Law Review.

Mike is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Bar Associations, the Maritime Law Association of the United States and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mike has served on various nonprofit boards, most recently on the board of the Chester County Economic Development Council.

COURT ADMISSIONS

Pennsylvania
New Jersey
United States Supreme Court

EDUCATION

Villanova University School of Law, Villanova, Pennsylvania, J.D. (member of the Law Review)
Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, B.S. Accounting

MEMBERSHIPS & SERVICE

American Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Maritime Law Association of the United States
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Chester County Economic Development Council, past board member

ADDITIONAL DISTINCTIONS

The Best Lawyers in America^®
Top Lawyers, Main Line Today, 2015-present
Top Lawyers, Daily Local News, 2021-present, Readers Choice Awards
Smart CEO Magazine “Legal Elite 2011″

CREDENTIALS

COURT ADMISSIONS

Pennsylvania
New Jersey
United States Supreme Court

EDUCATION

Villanova University School of Law, Villanova, Pennsylvania, J.D. (member of the Law Review)
Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, B.S. Accounting

MEMBERSHIPS & SERVICE

American Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Maritime Law Association of the United States
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Chester County Economic Development Council, past board member

ADDITIONAL DISTINCTIONS

The Best Lawyers in America^®
Top Lawyers, Main Line Today, 2015-present
Top Lawyers, Daily Local News, 2021-present, Readers Choice Awards
Smart CEO Magazine “Legal Elite 2011″

NEWS & INSIGHTS

Gawthrop Greenwood Supports 100th Anniversary of New Castle County Chamber

Located just minutes from Gawthrop Greenwood’s offices in Greenville, the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce just celebrated its 100th anniversary with an annual dinner attracting more than 400 dignitaries,…

Chester County Residents Choose Gawthrop as 2021 Best Lawyers

In the first annual Daily Local News Best Lawyers - 2021 Readers Choice Awards, Chester County residents have chosen Gawthrop Greenwood. The Daily Local News asked readers to cast their vote…

Coronavirus and Business Contracts: What’s the Law?

By Gordon W. Prince, Esq. With the unprecedented disruption to business caused by coronavirus, business leaders from the C-suite to the mom-and-pop shop are wondering: How will this affect my…

Sailing the High Seas: Q&A with the Maritime Lawyers at Gawthrop Greenwood

If there’s a local port or public body of water involved, chances are that Gawthrop Greenwood is too. The firm’s Maritime Law Department recently sat down to describe the scope…

Main Line Today Names Gawthrop Greenwood Attorneys to “Top Lawyers 2019”

Continuing the firm’s consistently high rankings on the annual “Top Lawyers” list published by Main Line Today, 14 attorneys from Gawthrop Greenwood have been named in 2019. Main Line Today is a regional…

(610) 696-8225

(484) 412-0616

mmerlie@gawthrop.com

PRACTICE AREAS

DISTINCTIONS

The Best Lawyers in America^®
Top Lawyers, Main Line Today, 2015-present
Top Lawyers, Daily Local News, 2021-present, Readers Choice Awards
Smart CEO Magazine “Legal Elite 2011″

Latest News

Theodore T. Speedy, Attorney at Gawthrop

Major Changes to Pennsylvania Building Codes to Affect Municipal Code Officials, Builders, Designers, Contractors

PA will officially implement the International Code Council 2021 Code Series as the Commonwealth’s Uniform Construction Code. All municipalities and municipal code officials, in addition to designers, contractors and builders who work with them, must ensure compliance.

Gawthrop Greenwood law price recipient Diya Lakshmanan in her front yard on graduation day

3 Students Awarded Gawthrop Greenwood’s 2025 Law Prize

"The night before I received the package with the award letter and book, I’d been contemplating what to do after completing my bachelor’s degree. Law had always been in the back of my mind..."

Gawthrop Attorneys Named 2025 Super Lawyers, Rising Stars

Attorneys from Gawthrop Greenwood, PC have been recognized as leaders in their fields in Pennsylvania…

Gawthrop Greenwood municipal and litigation attorney Theodore Speedy

Municipal Law and Litigation Attorney Theodore T. Speedy, Jr. Joins Gawthrop Greenwood

Gawthrop Greenwood, PC is pleased to announce that municipal law and litigation attorney Theodore T. Speedy, Jr. has joined the firm as an associate effective May 12, 2025.

How Can We Help You?

With offices in West Chester, Berwyn and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as well as Greater Wilmington, Delaware,
we provide the highest level of legal services throughout the Greater Mid-Atlantic Region.