Demosthenis Alex Zeppos, J.D., LL.M.
Managing Partner
In 2004, Demo founded the Zeppos Law Firm, now Zeppos Law Group LLP. Prior to his legal career, Demo worked as a business owner, allowing him to understand day-to-day business issues on a first-hand basis. In addition, his years of working at the national Big 4 CPA firms provided a depth of tax, finance and accounting expertise, which he incorporates into his counsel to clients on their business transactions.
Practice Areas:
Business, Corporate and Real Estate Transactions, Tax & Estate Planning
Demo is skilled in assisting companies and owners grow and preserve their business through competent and practical business and tax law counsel. Specifically, his practice concentrates on business transactional law and tax planning, including real estate transactions and finance, choice of business entity planning, and mergers and acquisitions. His services also include estate planning for wealthy families and multi-generational businesses using practical financial and tax planning methodologies. The scope of these services also focuses on helping U.S. companies structure their foreign investments and affiliates, and he assists foreign investors structure their investments within the United States.
Prior Experience
Prior to founding the Zeppos Law Firm in 2004, Demo managed the tax consulting process at Ernst & Young for Fortune 500 clients and large real estate developers in California.
Before moving to California, Demo worked in Chicago at KPMG where he collaborated with other attorneys and tax professionals in reviewing corporate mergers and acquisitions. His work included developing real estate tax minimization strategies for real estate clients and he was honored with KPMG’s “Creative Tax Innovation Award” for his accomplishments.
Prior to his tenure at Big 4 accounting firms, Demo served as a tax consultant for Grant Thornton LLP and as an attorney in Philadelphia. His work included general business transactional matters, including drafting opinions and legal agreements for mid-sized banks and Fortune 500 clients for employment, immigration, real estate, and tax law issues.
Education | ||
LL.M. Taxation | Villanova University, School of Law (2001) | |
J.D. | Villanova University, School of Law (1998) | |
B.A., High Honors | Lehigh University (1995) | |
Visiting Scholar | University of Pennsylvania |
Teaching
Demo provides tax and estate planning seminars and instruction to financial planners, certified public accountants and their clients, and corporations. He has lectured to graduate and undergraduate students at Pepperdine University’s School of Business and at Cal State Fullerton on choice of business entity tax planning for start-up and existing businesses.
Licenses & Recognition
Demo has been admitted to the State Bars of California, Texas, Arizona, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He is also licensed to practice in the United States Tax Court and is a member of the American Bar Association (Member, Special Tax Section, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law) and Orange County Bar Association.
He is a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Taxation Law, as certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization.
Demo was named as a “Rising Star” in both the 2009 and 2010 editions of Southern California Super Lawyers, is an Avvo Rated 10.0 “Superb” lawyer, and a ProVisors Group Leader.
Volunteer Activities and Personal Life
Demo serves on the Board of Directors for the National Hellenic Society, a fulfilled member of Leadership 100, and is the President of St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church in San Juan Capistrano. He is a supporter of Education for The Children and an AYSO soccer coach. He lives in south Orange County with his wife and his three children.