Wayne M. Zell, Esq. is the CEO and Managing Member of Zell Law. He has devoted his legal, public accounting and business advisory career to counseling clients in a variety of industries, including investors, technology companies, government contractors, and non-profit organizations. His clients also include for-profit and non-profit executives, service providers and high-net-worth individuals.
Wayne has extensive experience in complex estate planning and business planning matters. On estate planning matters, Wayne regularly advises clients in structuring and preparing intricate revocable and irrevocable trusts, basic estate planning (i.e., wills, medical directives, and powers of attorney), family limited partnerships and limited liability companies, life insurance vehicles, charitable giving arrangements (including charitable lead and remainder trusts), private and public foundations and grant-making programs and asset protection planning.
In business planning matters, Wayne represents the owners of closely held businesses and non-profits on general business formation and operations, tax and succession planning matters, mergers and acquisitions, and executive compensation and CEO/founder issues.
Prior to joining the firm, Wayne practiced as an attorney and as a CPA with a variety of law firms and public accounting firms. He also served as General Counsel and CFO of YellowBrix, Inc., an internet content provider and enterprise software developer. He was a Senior Manager in the Washington National Tax Service Office of Price Waterhouse, specializing in tax-exempt organizations and flow-through entities, including partnerships, limited liability companies and trusts, and he has practiced as a certified public accountant since 1980.
Wayne is admitted to practice as an attorney in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. He currently serves on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee and Executive Committee of Northern Virginia Family Service. He also serves as a member of the Cornerstone Board at the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia.
Wayne is an active speaker and writer on estate planning, business planning, and tax planning topics. For more detailed content authored by Wayne, please see the firm's videos and podcasts.
Wayne has received an AV rating, the highest rating granted by Martindale-Hubbell, the preeminent law directory and attorney rating service. Since 2013, Wayne has also been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America for Taxation and Trusts and Estate. He lives in Reston, Virginia, with his beautiful wife, Lorri, and their four dogs (his four amazing kids are grown up and launching).
