David Starks

Possessing a wide smile, engaging demeanor, quick wit, and a laser-sharp legal mind, David Starks is, as one colleague recently put it, Larger Than Life.

That personality has served him well over the years as he continues to carve out an impressive legal career rarely matched by attorneys twice his age: Diplomate, American College of Family Trial Lawyers; Fellow, International Academy of Family Lawyers; Top 100 Attorneys in Washington State; The Best Lawyers in America; Washington Super Lawyers, and most recently, Best Lawyers 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” for family law in the Seattle Metro Area.

Public rankings and recognitions aside, David is a strategic thinker, a gifted advocate, and a warm “people person” who insists that “law, even as an imperfect human creation, is capable of great things.” He proves that every day, representing clients in a wide range of divorce cases involving the protection, valuation, and distribution of significant assets or business interests, as well as other cutting-edge family law matters, including international divorce and child custody.

"Practicing family law is emotionally satisfying for me. I much prefer the personal connection that comes with protecting the rights of my clients and their families to the impersonal process of representing corporations. And I’ve done both."

Whether at the negotiating table or in the courtroom, David says he will “go the distance” to resolve each case in his clients’ interests. And he will do so with compassion and respect.

Admired around the office for his innate ability to connect with clients and for his willingness to share his expertise with younger lawyers, David Starks is the kind of professional who can handle with aplomb the toughest cases that come in the door.

"You wake up a little earlier than the other guy. You work a little later,” he explains. “And you make sure you’ve done everything you can to ensure the best possible outcomes. That’s what exceptional lawyering is all about. And that’s the standard we have set for ourselves at McKinley Irvin."

of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers as well as the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He has been designated to the list of “Top 100 Attorneys in Washington State,” Washington Super Lawyers®, rated 10/10 “Superb” on Avvo, and was chosen by his peers to the list of The Best Lawyers in America©. David is driven by a passion for his client's success and always fights to protect their best interests. Member: American Bar Association; Washington State Bar Association; State Bar of Texas, Oregon State Bar, King County Bar Association.