David has cultivated a practice over decades advocating for his clients in land use, zoning, environmental, litigation, and real estate matters. His leadership, vision, and passion for the law continue to shape the firm’s reputation for success in some of the most consequential cases and development projects in the region.
David is the managing partner and a co-founder of Zarin & Steinmetz. He maintains a full case load representing developers and other clients on a wide variety of projects throughout the New York Metro area. He has secured approvals for residential subdivisions, multi-family buildings, senior living facilities, shopping centers, as well as commercial, industrial, and mixed-use projects. His zoning and environmental work also involves conducting complex due diligence, drafting zoning, ensuring SEQRA compliance, and securing a multitude of entitlements and municipal permits.
David is highly regarded as a public speaker and zealous advocate, leading development teams throughout the region, as well as having argued cases before State and Federal Courts of all levels throughout New York State, including the New York State Court of Appeals, the State’s highest court. David’s transactional experience includes negotiating and/or closing complex real property transactions, including acquisitions, construction financing, PILOT Agreements, and IDA tax benefit transactions.
Having worked hard to secure the respect of local leaders, boards, regulatory agencies, and courts, David was twice honored to be selected as one of the top 25 attorneys in Westchester County. He is proud to have an “AV” rating from Martindale and Hubbell, and for being selected annually to the list of New York Metro SuperLawyers® since 2015.
David also takes pride in his community involvement. He was twice elected to the Yorktown Central School District’s Board of Education, selected as a member of the Yorktown Athletic Recreational Commission, has served as a Trustee for Ability Beyond — a not-for-profit organization that provides rehabilitation, residential, and vocational assistance to individuals with developmental disabilities, and he has chaired or anchored various committees at three different country clubs. Recently, David was asked to chair a special task force for the Westchester County Association to focus on addressing the pressing housing crisis in New York State.
David received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from American University, Washington College of Law in 1985, where he received the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Advocacy Award. He also received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1982. Prior to forming Zarin & Steinmetz in 1997, he was a partner at a leading Westchester County real estate and land development law firm. David began his legal career as an associate at the New York City office of Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler in its Litigation Department.
