Law School Mourns Passing of Lawrence Zelle ’59, Founder of Zelle LLP

Lawrence Zelle ’59, who founded the Minneapolis-based law firm now known as Zelle LLP, passed away peacefully May 8 at his home, surrounded by his family. He was 86.

Born in 1934, Zelle grew up in the Jewish community on Minneapolis’ north side before earning both his undergraduate and J.D. degrees from the University of Minnesota and launching his law career. His firm honored that career with this statement: “The attorneys and staff of Zelle LLP mourn the loss of our dear friend, mentor, founder, and namesake Larry Zelle. Without Larry, there would be no Zelle LLP. He was a pioneer and legend in the property insurance industry. We honor his legacy by proudly carrying his name on our law firm letterhead. That will never change. We will miss you, Larry.”

Away from his law practice, Zelle was an avid sports fan, film aficionado, and supporter of the theater community, particularly the Minnesota Jewish Theater Company. In addition to his personal gifts to the Law School, Zelle spearheaded generous donations from his firm as well, most notably to the Center for Legal Studies Fund and the Mondale Hall Capital Building Fund.