From 2005 to 2008, Zeil was member of German Bundestag, where he served on the Committee on Economic Affairs and Technology. He was his parliamentary group's spokesperson for antitrust law.
In Cabinet Seehofer I, Zeil served as Deputy Minister-President and State Minister for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology.[2]
Life after politics
Since leaving active politics, Zeil has been working with Munich-based law firm SLB Kloepper Rechtsanwälte.[3] Ahead of the 2023 state elections, he sought his party’s nomination for the Munich South district but ultimately lost against Marco Deutsch in an internal vote.[4]