Before joining the firm, Ms. Merkel served as a law clerk to United States District Judge David G. Larimer for four years where she handled both civil and criminal matters.

Prior to relocating to the Rochester area, Ms. Merkel worked as an Attorney Advisor for the Occupational Health and Safety Review Commission, an independent federal agency that reviews citations or penalties resulting from OSHA inspections. Ms. Merkel also served as an in-house attorney for an international labor union, where she specialized in labor relations and employment issues.

Ms. Merkel is a graduate of the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America, and she holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the Ohio University. 

Admitted to practice in both state and federal courts in New York, Ms. Merkel is a member of the Monroe County Bar Association. She is also an active volunteer in the community, serving for two years as the President of the Board of Directors for the Genesee Center for the Arts and Education.