Serving our community since 1988.

The history of Reuter Merkle Law Firm, LLC begins in 1988 when Dan Reuter opened his own law practice in St. Louis. He was the only attorney at the firm until his daughter, Erin Merkle, joined him in 2010 after graduating from law school.  For over a decade, Dan and Erin worked together prior to Dan retiring at the end of 2023.  During that time, Dan and Erin both became Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) as certified by the National Elder Law Foundation and focused the practice on estate planning and elder law issues. In early 2022, Mike Merkle, Erin’s husband, joined the firm.  Pat Reuter, Dan’s wife and Erin’s mother, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has assisted the law firm from its inception with various financial matters, and continues to assist the firm and clients with trust and estate administrations, trust tax returns, and various tax issues. Vicki Sexton, our legal assistant, has worked continuously at the firm since 1989, and for many clients is the face and the voice of the firm. 

Our family at Reuter Merkle Law Firm works with clients to create plans that address their goals and achieve peace of mind.  Each client’s needs are different and by building relationships with them and their families, our firm is uniquely positioned to create the best outcome available. Together, our family-centered law firm helps families take care of family.

Many don’t plan ahead and find themselves scheduling an appointment when faced with a crisis. Rest assured, Reuter Merkle Law Firm is experienced and can be a helping hand to assist with difficult decisions. Whether you have a family member in crisis or needing guidance, or you want to ensure your own affairs are in order, help is only a phone call away.

Erin Merkle

Erin is a graduate of the University of Dayton and the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, and began practicing law in 2010 with her father Dan Reuter.  In 2015, Erin became a Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in Missouri as certified by the National Elder Law Foundation and is one of only 14 CELAs in Missouri.  She’s a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Missouri Bar Trust and Probate Law Committee and Elder Law Committee, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, and numerous local chambers of commerce. She serves on the boards for Heartland Industries, Inc., a sheltered workshop in St. Louis County and Nazareth Living Center, a senior retirement community. 

Erin’s a member of St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church, where you will see her frequently serving as a lector. She lives in south St. Louis county with her husband Mike, their children George and Lillian, and their dogs Daphne and Duke. When she is not busy at the office or chasing her children, Erin enjoys running, cooking, reading, and traveling.

Mike Merkle

Mike is a Saint Charles native and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2004, with bachelor degrees in business administration and international studies. After his undergraduate studies, Mike continued at Mizzou and graduated in 2008 with his Juris Doctor (JD) and his Master of Business Administration (MBA). Following law school, MIke spent over 13 years in public service with the state and federal governments. During that time, he drafted legislation, drafted legal opinions, and advised the Missouri House of Representatives on various policy areas, researched and wrote legal opinions for federal Administrative Law Judges, and managed a team of attorneys and non-attorneys in the adjudication of cases before the Social Security Administration. Mike separated from federal service in March 2022, and joined the firm.

Mike is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the Missouri Bar Trust and Probate Law Committee and Elder Law Committee, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL), the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), and numerous local chambers of commerce.

Since 2016, Mike has served on the board of directors of the CHADS Coalition for Mental Health, a local non-profit that offers programs that advance awareness and prevention of depression and suicide among those 25 and under in our community. He is also an active Freemason, Shriner, and Scottish Rite Mason, and is a member of Ladue Elks Lodge No. 9. During his free time, Mike enjoys traveling with Erin and the kids, cheering on the Mizzou Tigers, Green Bay Packers, and St. Louis Cardinals, and hunting, fishing (especially with his son George), golf, coaching and assisting with youth sports, and anything else outdoors.

Dan Reuter, Founder

Dan is a St. Louis University School of Law graduate and has been practicing law since 1978. He was a member of the Missouri Bar Elder Law Committee, Missouri Bar Trust and Probate Law Committee, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He was also a past president of the Missouri chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

Dan, a lifelong resident of south St. Louis County, relocated full-time to Innsbrook with his wife, Pat. After serving his community for more than 35 years, Dan retired from practicing law at the end of 2023.

Dan and Pat are former members of Assumption Parish, and are now actively involved in St. Patrick Parish in Wentzville. Throughout his life and career, Dan has been active in numerous church, community, and professional organizations. He and Pat enjoy traveling and spending free time with their nine grandchildren.

Pat Reuter

Pat graduated from Wester University with a B.S. with an emphasis in Accounting and a Master of Science in Tax from Fontbonne University.  She is a licensed CPA in the state of Missouri and served as the Chair of the Missouri Society of CPAs from 2015 – 2016.  She is a member of the AICPA and the MOCPA.  She has been the CFO for the firm since its inception in 1988.  She served as Managing Director and Executive for Personal Tax Solutions at the Bank of America Private Bank until her retirement in 2018, when she returned to supporting the law firm as external CFO and Tax Consultant. 

Vicki Sexton

Vicki graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City with a B.S. in Political Science and Administration. After several years working as a clerk for the St. Louis County Circuit Court, she joined the law firm in 1989. With her years of experience and expertise in office administration, she handles all aspects of the day-to-day administration of the office and is normally the first contact clients have with the firm.  Her kindness and easy-going nature define the first impression for our clients, and her strong organizational and detail oriented skills provide valuable support to the attorneys. 

* Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. Neither the Supreme Court of Missouri nor the Missouri Bar reviews or approves specialist designations or certifying organizations.