Gretchen Wallacker

Attorney

About Gretchen

Gretchen Wallacker has practiced all aspects of family law since 1993 and has substantial experience settling a full spectrum of complex family law matters that involve child custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, and property division. She is recognized by the State Bar of California as a Certified Family Law Specialist and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Drawing on more than 25 years of practice in San Francisco, the Peninsula, and Silicon Valley, Gretchen understands the Bay Area’s unique economic climate and is skilled at managing high-net worth cases that involve private equity and other property valuation and characterization issues. Gretchen also handles complex child custody and visitation issues. She understands the highly sensitive nature of these cases and compassionately works to ensure that the children’s best interests are prioritized.

While her background is in family law litigation, Gretchen now focuses the divorce portion of her practice on Alternative Dispute Resolution processes that include mediation and Collaborative Practice. Whether Gretchen serves as a mediator, collaborative counsel, consulting attorney, or settlement judge, she works to minimize the emotional and financial cost to her clients and helps guide them toward a result that will meet their interests and the interests of their families. Gretchen believes that resolving issues outside of the courtroom allows both parties to retain control of the divorce process and provides them the opportunity to reach a resolution that is specifically tailored to their lives and situation.

In addition to divorce matters, Gretchen also prepares premarital, post-marital, and cohabitation agreements. She offers her clients a variety of process options to create these agreements, including more traditional negotiations between counsel, collaborative 4-way meetings with counsel and clients, and mediation with consulting attorneys.

Gretchen received her law degree from the University of Michigan in 1992, after graduating cum laude from the University of California at Davis in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

Honors:

NorCal Chapter Fellow of the Year, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Northern California, 2018
Top 100 Northern California Attorneys, Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers, 2015-2021
Best Lawyers, Northern California, 2011-2021
AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubble, 2009-2021
Top 50 Northern California Women Attorneys, Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers, 2009-2021
Northern California Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers, 2005-2021

Leadership Positions:

President, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Northern California, 2021
President-elect, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Northern California, 2020
Secretary, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Northern California, 2019
Legal Counsel, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Northern California, 2017-2018
Co-Chair, Mentoring Committee, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Northern California, 2015-2020
Co-Chair, Bi-annual Trial Practicum, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Northern California, 2012, 2018
Chair, Collaborative Practice San Mateo County, 2003
Chair, San Mateo County Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2002
Co-chair, San Mateo County Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2001

Speaking Credits:

Presenter, “Child Custody Evaluation Legal Update,” Santa Clara Psychological Association, Custody Evaluator and Domestic Violence Training, 2019
Moderator, “Tips for Mediators and Consulting Attorneys,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Northern California Symposium, 2018
Presenter, “Spousal Support Update,” Collaborative Practice California, 11th Annual Statewide Conference, 2016
Presenter, “Divorce Options,” Collaborative Practice San Mateo County, Periodic
Presenter, “Second Saturday Divorce Workshops,” Second Saturday, Periodic