Mr. Seel’s practice focuses on the representation of individuals in the estate planning context, with an emphasis on creating well-coordinated estate plans. Mr. Seel also represents fiduciaries in the estate administration context, and both beneficiaries and fiduciaries in probate-related litigation, as well as federal estate tax audit litigation. In addition to estate-related matters, Mr. Seel also advises owners of closely held businesses in general corporate and transactional matters, and he has acted as a private and court-appointed arbitrator in probate-related matters.
Mr. Seel has been awarded an AV Peer Review Rating by Lexis-Nexis Martindale-Hubbell.
Estate Planning
Representation of numerous corporate executives, professionals, and other individuals (of widely varying levels of net worth) in designing appropriate wealth accumulation and transfer plans.
Creation and maintenance of Family Limited Partnerships and LLCs.
Analysis and use of life insurance products within estate and business succession plans, including Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts.
Counseling of high net worth families regarding issues associated with multi-generational wealth transfers.
Creation of special needs trusts.
Business Succession Planning
Representation of business owners in designing business succession plans.
Significant experience in counseling business owners as they grapple with the difficult and often conflicting issues and desires that arise when trying to pass businesses to future generations.
Sales and gifts of family business interests.
Buy-Sell planning in the family business context.
Complex Estate Administration
Representation of fiduciaries (executors and trustees) in the post-death administration of estates.
Significant experience with estates involving family difficulties, complex assets and legal issues, hard-to-manage business interests, and litigation.
Orphans’ Court Litigation
Representation of fiduciaries and beneficiaries in litigation matters involving estate and trust administration.
Experience with court matters involving non-profit corporations.
Federal Estate Tax Audit Litigation
Representation of fiduciaries and beneficiaries in litigation matters involving Family Limited Partnerships, gifts of stock to GRATs, and valuation of closely held business interests.
Closely Held Businesses and Corporate Transactions
Advise diverse business entities such as real estate holding companies, automotive dealerships, transportation companies, start-up technology companies, and design firms.
Represent businesses in the acquisition of other companies, the purchase of real estate, employment contracts, services contracts, noncompetition contracts, and withdrawal of partners and shareholders.
Represent shareholders in the negotiation and preparation of shareholder buy-sell agreements.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Appointed by Orphans’ Court of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania to act as Special Master to adjudicate Orphans’ Court disputes.
Experience as private arbitrator of disputes in the probate context.
