Archives: Team Members

Bob’s focus lies in the areas of Mergers and Acquisitions, Estate Planning and Administration, Taxation, LLCs, Partnerships, Family Limited Partnerships and Corporations. He also assists clients in business transactions, business entity formation and business planning and tax strategy.

Bob and his wife Doane, are active members of First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, where Bob serves as a Deacon. He and Doane have four children. Bob plays the electric guitar and is an avid hunter (deer, ducks, dove and turkey) and fisherman.

Jonathan’s practice is focused on the areas of Tax Controversy and Estate Planning. He also assists clients in business transactions and business entity formation.

Jonathan and his wife, Emily have a young daughter named Sophia with whom they enjoy spending time outdoors. Outside the office, he enjoys attending sporting events, most specifically Furman football, baseball, and basketball.

Phillip Martin specializes in Business Organizations and Trusts and Estates.

He enjoys participating in endurance sports, such as triathlons and obstacle course races, spending time outdoors with his family and participating in service projects through Grace Church. He and his wife, Laura, have two children. Prior to embarking on his legal career, Phillip lived on Sado Island in Japan and served as an ESL (English as a second language) instructor there.

Keith serves clients in the areas of estate planning, probate law, estate and trust administration and taxation. He has served the greater Greenville community as a member of the St. Francis Foundation Board of Directors. Keith and his wife, Diane, have triplets who were born in 1993. In his spare time, Keith enjoys playing guitar and listening to music.

Verne helps people take care of their families through personalized estate planning, represents individuals and businesses in tax controversy and tax collection matters, and assists professionals and small businesses in tax efficient corporate planning and transactions.

Verne leads the firms Columbia, South Carolina office. He and his wife, Marie, have two children and are active members of First Baptist Church.

Andy’s practice is focused on the areas of: Mergers and Acquisitions, Business and Transactional Law, Succession Planning, Estate Planning and Estate Administration, Taxation, LLCs, Partnerships, Family Limited Partnerships and Corporations and Asset Protection Planning.

Andy and his wife, Erin, are members of Buncombe Street United Methodist Church in Greenville. He is also an active member at the Caine Halter Branch of the YMCA in Greenville.

Outside of the office, Andy enjoys playing tennis, fishing, classic cars and craft beer.

Marie provides the firm with expertise in Estate Planning, Estate Administration, ERISA, Welfare Plan and Non Profit Law.

In addition to her service to Merline & Meacham, Marie is active in the Greenville community, serving on the Board of Directors of both the Greenville Humane Society and the Meals on Wheels Endowment.

Marie and her husband, Jeff Dunlaevy, have two children. When not busy with the firm or her civic activities, Marie enjoys gardening and reading.

Aaron joined the firm on October 2, 2012. As an “Of Counsel” addition to the firm, he brings expertise in Estate Planning, IRS Representation and Probate. In addition to representing clients in dealings with the IRS, he also handles Decanting cases and Trust Modification for Merline & Meacham clients.

Aaron lives in Bluffton with his wife, Elizabeth (Lizz), Nelson who is a tax attorney. They have two children. In addition to his professional work, Aaron is a member of the Bluffton Rotary Club, and the Hilton Head Island Rugby Football Club.

Doug O’Neal has been with the firm since June of 2008. His expertise lies in the areas of estate planning (wills, trusts, asset protection, and trust modification/decanting), business entity work (formation of partnerships, LLCs and corporations, partnership and corporate tax, mergers and acquisitions, corporate lending and financing transactions, preparation and negotiation of corporate contracts and business succession planning).

Doug is a member of the Greenville Rotary Club. He and his family are active members of the Greenville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and work with Furman University students through Reformed University Fellowship.

He is married to Mary Teal O’Neal and they have three children. Doug is an avid cyclist who enjoys cooking, wine, travel and spending time with his family.