Edward Mermelstein

Biography

Mermelstein was born to a Jewish family in the Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union). In 1976, he emigrated to the United States. He graduated from the Thomas Cooley Law School and in 1995, founded his firm, which specializes in international clients investing in the United States, with offices in New York, Almaty and Moscow. From 2007 to 2009, he arranged over 300 deals for buyers from the former Soviet Union and represented buyers of over 24 apartments at the Plaza Hotel and 15 Central Park West. In April 2010, he merged his Edward A. Mermelstein & Associates firm with Uel Rheem and Christine Bell to form Rheem Bell & Mermelstein.

The New York Observer named Mermelstein as one of the top ten "Lawyers You Call" in New York, saying he was one of the "few real estate attorneys to successfully grow and sustain what could fairly be described as a global boutique firm" and cited his ability to speak four languages and representing an "eclectic international clientele" for whom he closed deals at the 15 Central Park West condominiums. He has been described as an "All Star attorney", and his abilities as lawyer, consultant and developer have led to him being called a "certified triple threat in the real estate world."

Philanthropy

Mermelstein is the President of COJECO, U.S. director of The Link of Times, a foundation set up by Victor Vekselberg that searches for and returns lost artifacts to Russia, and sits on the boards of the Russian-American Jewish Experience, Manhattan Youth Ballet and UJA-Federation of New York. He serves as a mentor to the Young Jewish Professionals Real Estate Network.

Personal life

Mermelstein is married to Rose Caiola. Caiola is a former ballet dancer with the Hungarian Royal Opera Ballet and founded the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center and Manhattan Youth Ballet.