MILESTONE
Merline & Meacham Mark 50 years n story by STEPHANIE TROTTER | photos by EMILY PAINTER
Jan. 1, 1970: Richard Nixon sat in the White House; B.J. Thomas sang about raindrops falling on heads; and David Merline Sr. opened a single-attorney practice in Greenville. The raindrops dried up, and the public knows how Nixon’s second term ended. As for the law firm? It’s become a mainstay in the community, and this month, Merline & Meacham P.A. celebrates 50 years of legal service.
THE FOUNDER
“My dad was just a very natural person,” says only son, Dave Merline Jr. “He was very concerned with being fair, being kind and treating everyone with respect. That’s how he lived and we just continue to try to do that every day.” Merline Sr. grew the firm from a small office in the Daniel building to a three-generation operation, handling business law, estate planning and tax work for more than 10,000 clients. As a boy, Merline Jr. recalls tagging along with his dad downtown. “We’d swing by his office after church and he’d say, ‘I just need to do one thing,’” the second-generation barrister says. “It would turn out to be two hours. It was very personal work. He was helping people and people seemed to appreciate it.” No internet; no TV ads; no word-processing programs: The firm grew with hard work, using shorthand and a long list referrals. “There wasn’t a big business strategy,” Merline Jr. says. “He developed
12 UBJ | January 3, 2020
a deep relationship with a lot of clients. He loved what he did. He helped people and he was sincere about it. I always knew I wanted to do that. I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer.”
SECOND-GENERATION GROWTH
Son joined father in 1984 and Keith Meacham came on board a few years later, adding to the company name. But it’s the names of clients that would read like a who’s who of Greenville, if attorney-client privilege didn’t prohibit release. When asked about the impact their professional work has had on the community, Merline Jr. initially sits silent with humility. Only when pressed does he admit their clients have left fingerprints everywhere, in many different ways. “The community has benefitted from our estate planning, gifts that our clients have made,” he says. “In one case, we created a foundation, a private charity for one family decades ago, and they funded it. It gives hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to various charities. It’s a living, breathing thing.” Employees’ volunteer efforts have also molded the landscape. M&M attorneys have led and guided dozens of institutions within the industry, including the South Carolina Bar Association, the South Carolina Supreme Court’s Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization and The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Their leadership and legal acumen have extended into other sectors as well, serving groups that include the Clemson University Foundation, South Carolina Mental Health Association and Rotary Club of Greenville, in addition to boards of directors with the St. Francis Foundation, Greenville Hospital System Foundation, Community Foundation of Greenville
and Meals on Wheels. By 1995, the firm’s 25th anniversary, more attorneys had joined the staff, Above: Andrew D. Merline (left) and David A. Merline Jr. (right) including current shareholder is more complicated. It’s no longer Bob August. “They had a stellar reputation,” snail mail; it’s an email or text. You the University of South Carolina have to be more responsive.” Leading the way with new ideas School of Law graduate says. “My is third-generation attorney, Andy professors said it was the best firm in the state and if you can get them Merline, who joined the firm four to even talk to you, jump on it. We years ago. “I can recall 20 times asking my have a good working atmosphere, granddad, ‘What do you do all day?’” good management style and longterm view of things, with clients says the youngest Merline. “He’d say, ‘Well, I answer the phone and read who are loyal to us.” a lot.’ Now, I answer the phone and read a lot!” To better reach Andy’s age group, You have to Merline & Meacham has recently created a social media presence, and work harder and is updating its website, while mainbe better so that taining the quality that’s secured success across half a century. More than people will 80% of new business comes from appreciate referrals from pleased clients, other attorneys and outside companies. what you did “It’s very much problem solving,” to get here.” says the young attorney. “Everything’s unique. There’s always 100 -Dave Merline Jr. fires to put out, and you only have time to do one. But it comes together really well, and I’m extremely happy THE FUTURE Today, Merline & Meacham offic- and appreciate it.” His father says collaboration is es in Greenville and Columbia house the mid-size firm’s culture, and he just under 20 employees. The firm’s knows he’s passing the legal pad in five shareholders like to hire young the right direction. talent who will stick around. “I told my son you can’t be aver“We hire with the intent of you staying,” Merline Jr. says “We heavily age,” Merline Jr. says. “You have to mentor. We heavily groom. I think work harder and be better so that we are the largest collection of tax people will appreciate what you did and estate-planning attorneys of any to get here. He’s doing that.” Together, father and son hope to firm in our state.” continue to build what Merline Sr. That grooming includes adaptstarted 50 years ago. ing to ever-changing technology “My Dad got brain cancer and and tax laws. “Over time, certain areas of law passed a few years ago,” Merline Jr. have shrunk and certain areas have says. “But he kept working until he grown. So, we have,” Merline Jr. says. couldn’t work anymore. He’d be “Another thing that’s changed: Ev- working today if he didn’t get sick. erything is faster now. Everything He loved what he did… and so do I.”
