About Wayne M.
Wayne M. Zell is the Managing Member and CEO of Zell Law, a firm specializing in business succession, business exits, and estate planning. With over 30 years of experience, he has advised clients on complex estate planning, business planning, taxation, and business exit strategies. He is a Certified Exit Planner (CExP) and the author of "Your Multimillion-Dollar Exit," an award-winning book that offers a unique process to help entrepreneurs successfully exit their businesses. Mr. Zell earned his Juris Doctor from the College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, in 1985. His Bachelor of Science in Commerce with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Virginia in 1980.
He is admitted to practice law in Virginia (1996), Maryland (1985), and the District of Columbia (1988). He is also admitted to the U.S. Tax Court (1985) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (1987). In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Zell has 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.
He has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America for Taxation since 2013 and for Trusts and Estates since 2020. He has received an AV rating, the highest rating granted by Martindale-Hubbell. Was named one of Virginia’s "Legal Elite" in 2010. Mr. Zell is an active speaker and writer on estate planning, business planning, and tax planning topics. He hosts the "Blueprint for Wealth" radio show and podcast, where he interviews entrepreneurs about their secrets to success. He also writes a monthly column for the Washington Business Journal entitled "Blueprint for Wealth." He serves on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee, and Executive Committee of Northern Virginia Family Service.
He is a member of the Cornerstone Board at the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. He is also a member of the Taxation Section and the Exempt Organizations Committee of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association. Mr. Zell resides in Reston, Virginia, with his wife, Lorri. Their four dogs. {
