Overview
Experience
News
Professional

Overview

Merle F. Wilberding has more than fifty years’ experience advising and representing clients in the areas of business planning, non-profit organizations, real estate law, taxation, and zoning. This experience affords his clients a unique, skillful, and practical management of matters ranging from general corporate legal and strategic business management issues to complex reorganizations involving asset sales, public and private financing, and spin-offs.

He has represented a wide range of corporations (both for-profit and not-for-profit corporations), developers, and religious organizations located both within and outside of the United States. He has served as chairman and general counsel for the Greater Dayton Foreign Trade Zone, Inc. He has a broad range of legal and business experience and is an active adviser and board member to a variety of businesses and community non-profit organizations.

Wilberding served as chairman of the firm’s Tax Department for ten years. He has briefed and argued a number of tax cases in the Ohio Supreme Court, including Dupps Company v. Lindley, 62 Ohio St. 2d 305 (1980), and Dayton Supply & Tool vs. Montgomery County Board of Revision, 111 Ohio St. 3d 367 (2006).

Merle’s professional publications include articles in national law reviews and other legal and business media. In addition, he is a free-lance writer with a number of articles, books, and Op Ed Columns as listed in his attached Curriculum Vitae. He has testified before the United States Congress and before the Ohio legislature as well as giving a number of speeches and presentations as listed in his attached Curriculum Vitae.

Prior to his association with Coolidge Wall, Merle practiced with the Arent Fox law firm in Washington, D.C.  During the Vietnam War, Merle served as a U.S. Army Captain, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, Government Appellate Division, Washington, D.C., where he briefed and argued appeals in the Presidio Mutiny case and the Lt. William L. Calley – My Lai Massacre case.

Recognition + Awards

Inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame (2019)

Ramey Award for Distinguished Community Service awarded by the Ohio State Bar Foundation. This award is one of top two awards given out in the State of Ohio and was given at the annual OSBF dinner on November 12, 2012.

Lloyd O'Hara Public Interest Law Award from the 2016 Access to Justice Award - November 3, 2016

Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, St. Mary's University (Minnesota) 2016

Walter Rice Honorary Alumni Award, University of Dayton School of Law (2015)

Best Lawyers® Dayton Lawyer of the Year 2012: Real Estate Litigation"

Best Lawyers® Dayton Lawyer of the Year 2015: Corporate Law

American Bar Foundation - Distinguished Life Fellow

Ohio State Bar Foundation - Distinguished Life Fellow

Dayton Bar Association - Distinguished Life Fellow

Dayton Original, Named as a "Dayton Original" by the Dayton City Commission

Muse Machine Honoree. In recognition of 25 years of service as a board member, emeritus board member, legacy donor, and contributor of legal services, the Muse Machine honored Merle Wilberding by dedicating its, "Seussical," to him on January 18, 2014. The Muse Machine is a nationally-acclaimed music and theater program for elementary and high school children in more than 90 schools in the Miami Valley.

Ohio Super Lawyers - recognition of the Top 5% of lawyers in the State of Ohio

Who's Who in America

Peer Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell

Best Lawyers® Dayton Lawyer of the Year 2016: Litigation-Real Estate

Best Lawyers® Dayton Lawyer of the Year 2023: Corporate Law

Best Lawyers in America Since 2006: Corporate Law, Litigation-Real Estate, Real Estate Law

Super Lawyers 2006-2008

Bar Admissions

Ohio
Iowa
District of Columbia
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit

Education

George Washington University National Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia
LL.M. Tax, Master of Law(s) in Taxation – 00/1972

Notre Dame Law School, Notre Dame, Indiana
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence – 00/1969
University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
M.B.A., Master of Business Administration – 00/1975

St Mary’s University, Winona, Minnesota
B.A., Bachelor of Arts – 1966

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Master of Library & Information Science – 2006

Oxford University
Additional Study in Library Science – 2001

Professional

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law-University of Dayton School of Law

American Bar Associations

Ohio State Bar Association

Dayton Bar Association

NAIOP

International Council of Shopping Centers

Community

Advisory Council, School of Law, University of Dayton (2004-Present)

Advisory Council, College of Liberal Arts, Wright State University (2008-2013)

Human Race Theatre, Trustee

Dayton History, Trustee

Montgomery County Law Library Resource Board, Trustee

Dayton Opera, Trustee (2008-2011)

Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation, Founding Trustee (2005-present)

The Muse Machine, Trustee Emeritus. The Muse Machine is an organization devoted to promoting drama and bringing the arts to more than 100 elementary and high schools throughout the Miami Valley.

Access to Justice Campaign, Co-Chair (2017)

The Greater Dayton Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ #100), Trustee & Chairman (1996-2006). Member, Founding Committee for the establishment of Foreign Trade Zone #100. General Counsel, 1996 – Present.

2003 Inventing Flight Committee, Trustee (2000-2003). A community board responsible for promoting the creation of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park and for planning and directing the celebration of the Centennial of Flight during the year 2003.

Board of Community Contributors, Dayton Daily News (2005-Present)

Graduate, Leadership Dayton Class of 1984

Holy Angels Parish, Member

The 100 Club, Member. A community organization devoted to recognition of heroic work by members of area police and fire departments.

John Stuart Society, University of Dayton

Sorin Society, University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame Club of Dayton, Member

Muse Machine

Member, Advisory Council, University of Dayton Law School

Board Member, Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation

Trustee, Montgomery County Law Library

Trustee & First Vice President (Incoming President, June 2021), Dayton Bar Association

Director and Treasurer, Law & Leadership Institute

Grants Committee Member, Ohio State Bar Foundation

Our Practices

Our attorneys have experience in the issues that business owners and entrepreneurs frequently face:
For nearly every type of business, real estate is a crucial component of success. For property owners, managers, developers and construction companies, commercial property issues are an everyday facet of business, and skillful solutions to those issues are essential to success of the business. Even if your company is not directly involved in the real estate industry, your place of business — whether purchased or leased — is a critical investment.
At Coolidge Wall, we understand how intimidating business issues like organization, internal governance and contract negotiation can be. As a client, you can expect our corporate and business lawyers to become thoroughly familiar with your business goals and operations. We then draw on the full experience of a distinguished staff of attorneys to help you make wise decisions for your business — from incorporation onward.
Litigation is one of the most challenging aspects of legal practice, one that not every attorney is prepared to handle. Coolidge Wall's team of seasoned litigators have experience with all types of disputes: civil and administrative litigation, appeals, and even select criminal matters.
At Coolidge Wall, we believe that a company’s workforce is its most important asset. However, managing personnel issues and striking the balance between attracting talent and keeping workforce expenses manageable can be a difficult and delicate task. Employers can easily make mistakes that lead to litigation, overcompensation or morale difficulties. Our labor and employment attorneys are well acquainted with labor trends and employment law and use that knowledge to provide our clients with creative and cost-effective advice.
The Ohio workers’ compensation system fills a legitimate need and was designed for administrative convenience. But for businesses of all sizes, workers’ compensation issues can be a nightmare. Employers trust the workers’ compensation practice team at Coolidge Wall to provide informed counsel and competent representation regarding these important issues.
Tax is a universal issue for every business in the United States. The record keeping, planning and preparation that is necessary to keep your tax affairs in order and avoid paying more than you should touches every aspect of your operation.

Our clients trust the attorneys of Coolidge Wall with their important estate planning and probate needs.  Our team is experienced in all aspects of estate planning and probate law, including wills and trusts, estate tax planning, probate administration, and business succession.

Our extensive transactional and civil work in the private sector has provided our team of attorneys at Coolidge Wall with the knowledge and practical experience necessary to provide public sector entities with competent legal counsel for a wide range of issues.

Coolidge Wall is here
to serve your legal needs

Coolidge Wall offers a diverse array of legal practice areas and business insight for our clients. Let our history, reputation and knowledge work for your business-no matter where you are. Contact us to learn how we can contribute to your company’s success.
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