Merle Ochrach, a principal with the firm, has been practicing real estate, banking, and municipal law for over thirty-five years. Merle has represented numerous municipalities, municipal authorities (water and sewer and industrial development authorities), lending institutions, developers and homeowners. Merle represents a number of industrial development authorities with regard to tax exempt financing. Merle is listed in the Bond Buyer’s Red Book. Through the industrial developmental authorities she represents she is able to assist non-profit and manufacturing companies with tax exempt loans ranging in scope from several million dollars to hundreds of millions of dollars. Merle negotiates and settles commercial lending transactions and secures sophisticated financing for borrowers and represents banks alike.

A large part of her practice also includes the negotiation and settlement of commercial lending transactions and the securing of sophisticated financing for borrowers and represents banks alike. Last year, Merle closed over a quarter of a billion dollars in real estate, equipment, commercial and tax-exempt financing matters.

Because of her in-depth knowledge of the requirements of local governments as well as the procedures for obtaining approvals and permits, she is sought after by lenders, developers and homeowners for help with a wide array of issues. Merle has extensive experience in negotiating and drafting commercial leases and has developed an expertise in addressing lease issues for retail, commercial and industrial centers. Additionally, she aids realtors, purchasers and sellers with advice on problematic issues that arise in the course of a real-estate transaction. Merle is Solicitor of the Montgomery County Industrial Development Authority (MCIDA). Merle has been tremendously active in the Montgomery Bar Association, having served as a past member of its Board of Directors, a past Chairperson of its Real Estate/Land Use Committee, a past Chair of the Montgomery Law Reporter Committee, a past Co-Chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee and a past Chairperson of its Municipal Law Committee. Merle also served as a delegate to the Pennsylvania House of Delegates for the Montgomery Bar Association. Merle served as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Development Corporation, a County organization that administers several State loan and grant funds.

Merle has been selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2021-2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America for Banking and Finance Law. Best Lawyers® is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. A listing in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers. For more than three decades, Best Lawyers® lists have earned the respect of the profession, the media, and the public, as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Merle received her law degree from Rutgers University School of Law Camden.

Representative Cases

Real Estate Transactions

  • Regularly assists clients in obtaining multi-million-dollar financing and construction loans, negotiating the most favorable position in terms of the loan documents. These negotiated points have often saved her clients significant funds and protected many clients against difficulties with the lender throughout the course of the loan.
  • Represented a developer to secure funds to purchase needed property under an agreement which was expiring. Under exceedingly tight deadlines, Merle was able to conclude a successful transaction by selling a portion of subdivided property to another developer while allowing her client to fulfill a substantial legal obligation under another outstanding agreement.

Banking/Financing

  • Represented lenders in preparing loan documentation and due diligence review.
  • Handled IDA transactions from the IDA, the Lender and the Borrower perspective.

Municipal/Local Government Law

  • Served as solicitor to municipalities, municipal sewer and water authorities, and industrial development authorities.
  • Successfully gained zoning approval to use a portion of a residentially zoned property for a church and school, although the prior non-conforming school use had previously ceased.
  • Represented municipal entities in placing bond financing and has represented lenders with tax anticipation loans and industrial development authorities in documentation of tax-free financing and has handled state PIDA loans and grant programs.

News

Credentials

Admissions

  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania

Education

  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey School of Law (J.D.)
  • University of Pennsylvania (B.A. in Economics and American History)

Memberships

Professional Memberships

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Montgomery Bar Association
    • Past member, Board of Directors, Executive Committee
    • Member, Real Estate/Land Use Committee
    • Past Chairperson, Law Reporter Committee
    • Member, Municipal Law Committee
    • Past Chairperson, Municipal Law Committee
    • Past Co-Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee
    • Past Delegate, Pennsylvania House of Delegates
  • Cheltenham Township Industrial Development Authority
    • Solicitor
  • East Norriton Township Industrial Development Authority
    • Solicitor
  • Horsham Industrial and Commercial Development Authority
    • Solicitor
  • Limerick Township Industrial Development Authority
    • Solicitor
  • Lower Salford Industrial Development Authority
    • Solicitor
  • Montgomery County Industrial Development Authority
    • Solicitor
  • Montgomery Township Industrial Development Authority
    • Solicitor
  • West Norriton Township Industrial Development Authority
    • Solicitor
  • Montgomery County Development Corporation
    • Past Member, Board of Directors, Past Treasurer

 

Civic Memberships

  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
    • Member, Annual Walk Committee
    • Legislative Advocate
  • North Montco/North Penn 5404 Robotics Team
    • Past Mentor

Publications & Speeches

Honors & Awards

  • Selected by peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for banking and family law for the years 2021-2024.
  • Co-recipient, First Committee of the Year Award, Montgomery Bar Association
  • JDRF Golden Sneaker Award

Personal Interests

Merle is an active volunteer with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Southeastern Pennsylvania.