Sessa & Dorsey
Sessa & Dorsey is a privately held boutique law firm in Hunt Valley, Maryland, that provides estate planning, estate administration, trust administration, and gift planning services to individuals, families, and business owners in Maryland, operating on a relationship-driven, fee-for-service professional services model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersHunt Valley, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sessa & Dorsey does
Sessa & Dorsey is a privately held boutique law firm headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland, specializing in estates and trusts legal services. Founded in 2020 and operated by principals Tom Sessa (Partner) and Cheri Dorsey (Attorney), the firm concentrates exclusively on four practice areas: estate planning (wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, retirement benefit planning, and specialty collections planning), estate administration (probate, revocable trust administration, estate tax returns), trust administration (irrevocable and charitable trusts, trustee services), and gift planning (family gifting strategies, charitable giving, gift tax returns). The firm positions itself as a high-touch, relationship-driven practice serving individuals, families, business owners, and estate beneficiaries in Maryland.
The firm operates on a professional services billing model with quote-based, custom pricing tied to engagement complexity; fees are not publicly disclosed. It pursues a sales-led go-to-market motion combining direct outreach, referrals, and content marketing through an active blog, email newsletters, webinars, and downloadable educational resources. Client interaction is supported by a MyCase-based client portal, and intake is conducted via phone or website contact form. The firm holds Martindale-Hubbell and Super Lawyers recognition, and its two principals collectively bring over 40 years of estates and trusts law experience. Sessa & Dorsey has no external investment, no parent company, and no disclosed subsidiaries or partnerships.
There is no proprietary technology platform; the firm is a traditional legal services practice rather than a technology-enabled business. Marketing and operations rely on standard web publishing tools and a third-party legal practice management system. Customer segments are primarily individuals and families in Maryland, with secondary segments of estate beneficiaries/heirs and business owners seeking succession planning. The firm competes in a crowded local market against larger Maryland firms and national estate planning platforms, differentiating on boutique service quality and senior practitioner attention rather than on scale, technology, or price.
Sessa & Dorsey firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sessa & Dorsey
- Legal name
- Sessa & Dorsey
- Website
- https://sessadorsey.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sessa & Dorsey is a privately held boutique law firm in Hunt Valley, Maryland, that provides estate planning, estate administration, trust administration, and gift planning services to individuals, families, and business owners in Maryland, operating on a relationship-driven, fee-for-service professional services model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sessa & Dorsey industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Estate Planning and Trusts Legal Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Lawyers (541110)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro industry
- Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) LawEstate Planning & Trust Structuring AdvisoryFinancial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Fiduciary, Trust & Estate AdvisoryEstate & Probate Administration ServicesFinancial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Fiduciary, Trust & Estate AdvisoryTrust & Estate Tax Planning & ComplianceFinancial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Fiduciary, Trust & Estate Advisory
Keywords
Where Sessa & Dorsey is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hunt Valley
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sessa & Dorsey business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Legal Services - Estate Planning: The firm provides comprehensive estate planning legal services including preparation of wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives. Services are provided to individuals and families seeking to plan for the future distribution of assets and management of affairs during incapacity.
- Legal Services - Estate Administration: Probate administration and estate settlement services, including filing estate tax returns, managing estate assets, and distributing assets to beneficiaries according to the will or intestacy laws.
- Legal Services - Trust Administration: Administration of irrevocable and charitable trusts, including trustee services and ongoing trust management.
- Legal Services - Gift Planning: Strategic gift planning services including family gifting strategies, charitable giving strategies, and gift tax return preparation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Professional legal services for estate planning, trust administration, and estate matters |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Sessa & Dorsey product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sessa & Dorsey is a boutique law firm providing comprehensive estates and trusts legal services to individuals and families in Maryland. Its core offerings include estate planning (wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, retirement benefit planning, and specialty collections planning), estate administration (probate administration and estate tax returns), trust administration (irrevocable and charitable trusts, and trustee services), and gift planning (family gifting strategies, charitable giving strategies, and gift tax returns).
Product overview
Sessa & Dorsey is a boutique law firm providing estates and trusts legal services through four core service offerings: Estate Planning (including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, retirement benefit planning, and specialty collections planning), Estate Administration (probate, trust administration, and estate tax returns), Trust Administration (irrevocable trusts, charitable trusts, and trustee services), and Gift Planning (family gifting strategies, charitable giving, and gift tax returns). The firm operates as a single integrated legal practice rather than a modular product platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Estate Planning Comprehensive estate planning legal service covering Last Wills and Testaments, Revocable Living Trusts, Financial Powers of Attorney, Advance Directives & Designation of Health Care Agents, Planning for Retirement Benefits, and Planning for Art Collectors & Other Specialty Collections. Targeted at individuals and families seeking to plan for future distribution of assets and management of affairs during incapacity.
- Estate Administration Estate administration legal service covering Probate Administration, Revocable Trust Administration, Related Non-Probate Matters, and Estate Tax Returns. Targeted at executors, beneficiaries, and heirs needing probate settlement, asset distribution, and estate tax return preparation following a death.
- Trust Administration Trust administration legal service covering management of Irrevocable Trusts, Charitable Trusts, and Trustee Services. Targeted at trustees, beneficiaries, and grantors needing ongoing administration of irrevocable and charitable trusts.
- Gift Planning Gift planning legal service encompassing Family Gifting Strategies, Charitable Giving Strategies, and Gift Tax Returns preparation. Targeted at individuals and families seeking to transfer wealth strategically, support charitable causes, and meet gift tax filing obligations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Firm helps families plan for the transfer of assets across generations, avoid probate, minimize estate taxes, and protect beneficiaries
Companies that use Sessa & Dorsey
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sessa & Dorsey technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Sessa & Dorsey partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Sessa & Dorsey competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Trust & Will: Online estate planning platform offering wills, trusts, and related documents at lower price points. Competes for entry-tier estate planning work that feeds Sessa & Dorsey's pipeline.
- Wealth.com: Digital estate planning platform for financial advisors and their clients. Represents the technology-enabled, lower-cost alternative to traditional estate planning counsel.
Broad incumbents
- BNY Mellon Wealth Management: Large wealth manager with personal trust, estate administration, and fiduciary services. Competes for the same trust and estate administration mandates in the Maryland and mid-Atlantic market.
- Venable LLP: Large Baltimore-headquartered law firm with a trusts and estates practice group. Competes for the same high-net-worth estate planning work in Maryland but as part of a much broader full-service portfolio.
- Northern Trust: Large trust company and wealth manager providing personal trust, estate administration, and fiduciary services. Addresses the same trust administration and estate settlement needs through a corporate fiduciary model.
- Holland & Knight: National full-service law firm with a sizeable private wealth services practice. Overlaps with Sessa & Dorsey on estate planning, trust administration, and gift planning for high-net-worth clients.
- DLA Piper: Global law firm with a private client and trusts practice serving high-net-worth individuals. Comparable estate, gift, and trust planning capabilities but delivered at enterprise scale.
Direct peers
- Frost Law: Maryland-based boutique tax and estate planning firm serving individuals and families with estate, trust, and tax services. Closely comparable in size, geography, and estate/trusts focus.
Regional players
- Offit Kurman: Mid-Atlantic regional law firm headquartered nearby with a substantial trusts and estates practice serving Maryland and surrounding states. Comparable in estates/trusts specialty but operates at much greater scale across multiple practice areas.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Sessa & Dorsey social profiles
Digital presenceSessa & Dorsey financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sessa & Dorsey leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Sessa & Dorsey funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sessa & Dorsey M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sessa & Dorsey
What does Sessa & Dorsey do?
Sessa & Dorsey is a boutique law firm providing comprehensive estates and trusts legal services to individuals and families in Maryland. Its core offerings include estate planning (wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, retirement benefit planning, and specialty collections planning), estate administration (probate administration and estate tax returns), trust administration (irrevocable and charitable trusts, and trustee services), and gift planning (family gifting strategies, charitable giving strategies, and gift tax returns).
Is Sessa & Dorsey a public or private company?
Sessa & Dorsey is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sessa & Dorsey founded?
Sessa & Dorsey was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sessa & Dorsey based?
Sessa & Dorsey is headquartered in Hunt Valley, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sessa & Dorsey make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Legal Services - Estate Planning is the primary driver. The others are legal Services - Estate Administration, legal Services - Trust Administration and legal Services - Gift Planning.
Who are Sessa & Dorsey's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Trust & Will and Wealth.com. Broad incumbents are BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Venable LLP, Northern Trust, Holland & Knight and DLA Piper. Frost Law is listed as a direct peer. Offit Kurman is listed as a regional player.
Does Sessa & Dorsey have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sessa & Dorsey.
What industry is Sessa & Dorsey in?
Sessa & Dorsey's product category is Estate Planning and Trusts Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAK, Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law, with a secondary code of FSAEAKAC, Estate Planning & Trust Structuring Advisory. Its NAICS code is 541110 and its SIC code is 8111.