Akron’s Brouse McDowell Celebrates the Start of a 2nd Century of Excellence

Featuring:

Marc Merklin of Brouse McDowell sits down for an interview with Madeline Critzer, Jenna Diblasi, and Abigail Van Drunen of CVCA for Akron’s AES Spotlight Series.

Photo by Elmer Thomas

As we said farewell to the decade this January, the esteemed law firm Brouse McDowell celebrated the beginning of their 101st year serving the city of Akron.

As they step into the 2nd century as a law firm, Brouse McDowell will do so with a new managing partner.  After eight years of expansive leadership, Marc B. Merklin announced he will be returning to his full-time practice and passing the baton of leadership to longtime partner and executive committee member, Daniel K. Glessner.  With so much to celebrate, we reflect on the past and glimpse into the future of this exceptional Akron-based law firm.

It started after World War I with hand with a handshake between co-founders Blake McDowell Sr. and Edwin Brouse, founding the firm in 1918.  By 1984 the firm had grown from five or six lawyers to twenty-eight.   Today, Brouse McDowell boasts a total of 80 lawyers from various offices in Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, Youngstown, and Naples, Florida.  

Projecting into the next 100 years, Brouse hopes to remain an independent and regional business firm based in Akron, so clients will continue to receive legal advice of the utmost quality.  Brouse McDowell places a heavy emphasis on the quality of their work.  Former managing partner Marc B. Merklin, who plans to return to his practice as a full-time attorney with Brouse McDowell, speaks to the firm’s successful 100 years, stating that they seek out attorneys who “are highly ethical, highly-skilled, care about the community, and particularly want to do the best they can for their clients.”

Brouse not only credits their excellent lawyers for their continued and sustained success but also the businesses they represent.  A good working relationship between client and lawyer is key to any long-standing firm.  “They’re all great businesses Merklin adds, “it’s a really good mix.”

The firm also has a close relationship to the city of Akron as well the law program at the University of Akron.  They are actively involved in a number of community organizations.

Their proximity to the University of Akron School of Law results in the firm hiring many Akron graduates. Mr. Merklin commended the University, stating, “we think it’s a good working relationship, and it’s a good way of making sure we have good legal talent in the city.”

Brouse McDowell, previously residing in First Merrit Tower (now Huntington Tower) since its construction in 1931, relocated to the AES building on South Main Street in 2004.  The AES Business Campus building, formerly building 41 of the BF Goodrich complex, has been home to several thousand Akron citizens who have been employed there over the years.  It was renovated into a “Class A” office building in 1995 by Tell Companies for ExxonMobil using the trade name of Advanced Elastomer Systems (AES).