With over 25 years of experience across legal services, corporate development, and M&A, Zanita Advisory Services helps leaders and investors turn opportunities into decisive, durable results.
Unlock Your Next Stage
My clients are the experts. I provide perspective that helps transform their knowledge into clarity, persuasion, and action—whether in the courtroom, the boardroom, or as part of a transaction. The result is expertise that performs.
Michelle Zeiter Diago advises leaders and investors navigating complex, high-stakes decisions. Her work is grounded in decades of experience working alongside litigators, founders, and executive teams—helping them align expertise, priorities, and execution when outcomes matter. With the majority of her career spent in Silicon Valley and her current practice based in the Washington, DC area, she brings a bi-coastal perspective shaped by growth-stage innovation and institutional decision-making.
Michelle’s perspective was forged through roles on both sides of the table. She began her career as a trial consultant, working directly with legal teams in the courtroom on high-stakes matters. She later led corporate development efforts across eight acquisitions over five years, driving each transaction from strategy through diligence, close, and integration. Michelle most recently founded and served as CEO of a legal technology company—building and scaling the business while working closely with investors, operators, and legal teams nationwide.
Services
Corporate Development & Strategic Growth
Define the path. Execute with discipline.
My role is to bring outside perspective and operational realism—helping teams translate strategy into action while avoiding distractions that dilute value.
Aligning leadership, operations, and incentives to support execution
Defining long-term growth and value-creation strategy
Preparing organizations for a potential sale or capital event
Evaluating growth through acquisition opportunities
Assessing and structuring strategic partnerships where appropriate
M&A Strategy and Integration Advisory
Clarity before the deal. Discipline after it.
My focus is on how legal services businesses actually operate—where value is created, where risk hides, and what it takes to integrate successfully beyond the model.
Industry and competitive landscape analysis
Buy-side target identification and pre-LOI assessment
Sell-side readiness and positioning for strategic or financial buyers
Operational, cultural, and risk-focused diligence
Post-acquisition integration planning and hands-on execution support
Trial Consulting
Complex cases clearly told.
The goal is clarity and credibility—helping teams present complex facts in a way that resonates with jurors and decision-makers.
Developing persuasive case themes
Juror research and mock trial strategy
Visual communication and trial presentation guidance
Testimonials
“I worked with Michelle during the acquisition of my company. She brought insight and humanity to a very personal and stressful process, understanding that it was more than just a transaction. Her patience, perspective, and integrity made all the difference.”
—Founder & Seller, Acquired Company
“I worked with Michelle on several acquisition-related projects over the years. She is knowledgeable, reasonable, responsive, and a genuine pleasure to work with.”
—M&A Attorney
“Michelle was instrumental in completing multiple acquisitions—leading search, managing diligence, supporting closing, and assisting with post-close integration. She is exceptionally organized, an effective communicator, and uniquely skilled at connecting with people throughout the deal process.”
—Investment Banker
“I’ve worked closely with Michelle across operations, acquisitions, and strategic planning, and she has proven herself to be exceptionally capable in each. She manages people and complex systems with ease, thinks strategically, and consistently gets things done. If I were choosing a partner in my own business, it would be Michelle.”
—Investment Banker & Partner
“Michelle led our organization through some of its most intractable challenges with a calm, confident, and constructive approach. She is an excellent problem solver who balances detailed execution with a holistic view—bringing clarity, positivity, and momentum to complex situations.”
—Litigation Consultant
“Michelle is a consummate litigation services professional—exceptional with clients, inspiring to colleagues, and relentlessly focused on delivering the best possible results. She is a proactive problem solver and a trusted communicator in high-stakes environments.”
—Litigation Consultant
Direct introductions available upon request.
Your Questions Answered
With whom do you work?
I work with private equity firms, founders, executive teams, and trial teams operating across legal services, professional services, and expert-driven businesses. Engagements often arise at moments of transition or inflection—growth, acquisition, integration, or high-stakes litigation—where experience and judgment matter.
Are you a consultant or operation partner?
My work often looks like an operating partner’s role. I bring hands-on experience across strategy, M&A, integration, and trial consulting, and I engage where execution—not just advice—is required. The structure of the engagement depends on the needs of the organization and the moment.
Do you work on a project basis or in longer-term roles?
Both. Many engagements are short-term and focused on a specific decision or transition. I am also open to longer-term or full-time roles where deeper involvement allows for greater impact.
What makes your approach different?
My clients are the experts. I don’t replace their expertise—I help them apply it with clarity and discipline. My background allows me to recognize patterns, anticipate challenges, and help teams avoid common breakdowns in strategy, persuasion, or execution.
Do you focus exclusively on legal services?
No. While much of my experience is rooted in the legal services ecosystem, I also work across professional services, expert-driven businesses, and other organizations where judgment, credibility, and execution are central to value creation.
How do you support M&A and growth initiatives?
I support clients before, during, and after transactions—helping define growth strategy, identify & assess opportunities, evaluate risk, and execute integration. My emphasis is on protecting value through alignment, clear decision-making, and disciplined execution.
What is your role in trial consulting engagements?
I work with trial teams on strategy, persuasion, and communication—helping translate complex facts into clear, credible narratives. My role is designed to strengthen decision-making and presentation without disrupting the team’s established approach.
Let's Work Together
If you are navigating growth, preparing for a transaction, or evaluating business opportunities, let’s explore how I can support your next stage.