David M. Zachry

Partner

Contact Me

Services & Specializations

Admissions

California

Address

525 B Street, Suite 2200, San Diego, CA 92101

Office Tel.

619.525.3807

Fax

619.398.0193

Overview

David specializes in all divorce proceeding issues including child and spousal support, custody and visitation, reimbursements, restraining orders, complex property characterization issues, income attribution, tracing issues and appeals. He has extensive trial experience in handling domestic breach of duty claims, high net worth dissolutions involving complex property and support issues, and high conflict custody and visitation cases, and is a certified family law specialist.

Following a two-week trial, obtained $3,250,000 in damages and an award of $250,000 in attorney’s fees for client based upon her husband’s breach of fiduciary duty to their community estate.
Following a four-day trial, obtained an order for client granting zero compensation to their ex-spouse. The client’s ex-spouse wanted over $6 million in compensation for managing their community estate post-separation.
Successfully obtained a multi-million-dollar settlement for client on the second day of trial after four years’ of complex litigation. The client’s spouse was repeatedly sanctioned for engaging in discovery misconduct, breaching fiduciary duties and required to pay all of client’s attorney’s fees and costs during the multi-year litigation.
Following a three day trial, obtained an order awarding client $115,000 per month in child and spousal support and an award of $300,000 in attorney’s fees.
Following a two day trial, obtained an order for client which confirmed that a vaguely drafted prenuptial agreement did not apply to the valuable business at issue. The other party settled the case for approximately $19,000,000 following the Court’s decision.
Following a ten day trial, successfully defended client against his ex-spouse’s request to set-aside their Marital Settlement Agreement and Judgment based upon allegations of fraud, failure to disclose, breach of fiduciary duty and duress.
Successfully settled a matter for client which involved a dispute about the interpretation and application of a vaguely drafted prenuptial agreement to approximately ninety privately owned real estate entities. Client was a classic “out spouse” but, through negotiation, was allowed to own an economic interest in each entity and now receives over $1 million in distributions each year.
Defended client against a “Feldman” motion where the opposing party requested $400,000 in sanctions for alleged non-disclosures of material facts and information concerning his income and assets. The motion was defeated and the opposing party was sanctioned $7,500 for filing this motion.
Obtained multiple orders after trial for multiple clients during spousal support modification disputes which reduced their ex-spouse’s spousal support to zero notwithstanding the long-term duration of the client’s marriage.
Represented multiple clients in the negotiation and preparation of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.
Represented multiple clients during appeals.
Obtained a ruling that fully exonerated a client accused of abusing his children after three hearings, which involved obtaining testimony from client, client’s co-workers, client’s spouse and two employees from the County of San Diego’s Child Welfare department. After cross-examination, the Court expressed its view that client’s spouse was not a credible witness, nor was the County employee who filed negative reports about client with the Court.
Defended client against his ex-spouse’s request for $315,000 in attorney’s fees. Client was not ordered to contribute any money to his ex-spouse’s attorney’s fees and costs.
Prosecuted an appeal of an adverse trial court order concerning child support and spousal support. Notably, the Court of Appeal concluded that the trial court committed reversible error when it declined to reduce client’s ex-spouse’s spousal support in response to her unrelenting and unjustifiable alienation of the parties’ children from the client.

Best Lawyers®, Family Law, 2020-present
Super Lawyers®, Family Law, 2023-2025
Leading High Net Worth Family Lawyer, Doyle, 2024
Super Lawyers® Rising Star, Family Law, 2016-2019
Top Young Attorney, Daily Transcript, 2010-2011

JD, University of San Diego School of Law (San Diego Law Review, Business Law Society)
MBA, University of San Diego School of Business Administration
BA (Government and International Studies), University of Notre Dame