Stoel Rives LLP, a business law firm, has named Alan R. Merkle as the chairman of the firm. Merkle will succeed Ron Lone as chair.

Merkle began his legal career in the Stoel Rives Portland office in 1983. He moved to the firm’s Seattle office in 1987 and currently focuses his practice in energy infrastructure and construction and design matters. Prior to practicing law, Merkle managed the technical and business sides of major energy, construction and engineering projects and business units for the General Electric Company.

Merkle has been named as one of Seattle’s “Top 100 Lawyers” by Seattle Magazine, a “Super Lawyer” by Washington Law & Politics and is listed in Best Lawyers in America and Who’s Who in America. He was elected to and served on the Mercer Island City Council for nine years. He also served three terms as the mayor of Mercer Island until 2005.

Stoel Rives is a business law firm providing corporate and litigation services to a wide range of clients throughout the United States. The firm has approximately 400 attorneys practicing law in eight states. Stoel Rives is regarded as a leader in corporate, litigation, energy, real estate, project development, land use and construction, natural resources, environmental, labor and employment, and intellectual property law.