Nicholas A. Leto, Jr.
- Education
- St. Augustine High School - San Diego - 1970
- University of California at San Diego - 1974 Magna Cum Laude
- University of San Diego School of Law - 1977
- Licenses & Certifications
- Admitted to State Bar of California 1978 to date
- Admitted to Federal Southern District Court of California - 1978 to date
- Admitted to Federal Northern District Court of California - 1981 to date
- Designated by California Board of Legal Specialization as Certified Family Law Specialist - 1985 to date
- Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - 1993 to date
- Appointed Director of Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - 1995 and 1996
- Appointed Member of Board of Examiners of Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - 1995, 1996, 1997
- Appointed Vice-President of National Marketing Southern California Chapter of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 1996 and 1997
- Appointed Chair of The Fourth Annual American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute of Trial Advocacy-La Costa-1997
- Appointed Treasurer of Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
- Elected President-Elect of the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - 2001-2002
- Elected President of the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - 2002-2003
- Appointed Counsel for the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2008-2009, 2009-2010
- Appointed member of the National Board of Governors of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 2009-2010
- Fellow, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - 1995 to date
- Recipient of the Judge Norbert Ehrenfreund Award presented by the Judiciary of San Diego County Family Law Court 2006
- Recipient of the Family Law Person of the Year Award prestented by the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 2008
- Martindale-Hubbell - AV rating
- San Diego County Superior Court Pro Tem and Mandatory Settlement Conference Judge - Family Law - 1985 to date
- El Cajon Municipal Court Pro Tem Judge (2 yrs)
- San Diego County Bar Association Attorney Fee Arbitrator - 1985-2005
- San Diego County Bar Association Client Relations Board Committee Member 1992 to 2005
- Best Lawyers in America 2001-2008
- San Diego Magazine, Best Lawyers in San Diego, September 2001-2008
- Los Angeles Times West Magazine - Best Lawyers - November 2006, 2007, 2008
- Member, San Diego County Presiding Judge Family Law Advisory Committee - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
- Member, Super Lawyers 2007, 2008
- Legal Practice & Lectures
- Program Chairperson for 1990 San Diego County Bar Association Certified Family Law Specialists 7th Annual Summer Seminar
- Lecturer for various panels of the San Diego County Bar Association Certified Family Law Specialists Annual Seminars 1990-1991, 1994-1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009
- Lecturer and panel moderator for the San Diego County Bar Association Certified Family Law Specialists 2002, 2004 and 2006
- Lecturer for the 5th Annual American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute of Trial Advocacy - Newport Beach, 1998
- Lecturer and panel moderator for the 7th Annual American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute of Trial Advocacy, Coronado, Ca 2000
- Lecturer for the 8th Annual American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute of Trial Advocacy, Costa Mesa, Ca 2001
- Lecturer for the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers So. Ca. Chapter Cont. Education of the Bar, Newport Beach, Ca 2005
- Lecturer for the 14th Annual American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute of Trial Advocacy, Newport Beach, Ca 2007
- Lecturer and Panel Moderator for The 15th Annual American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute of Trial Advocacy, Santa Monica, Ca 2008
- Lecturer and Panel Moderator for the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Annual Seminars, Chicago, Illinois, 2008
- Lecturer for Child Forensic Psychiatry Seminar for University of California at San Diego Child Psychiatry Fellows 1989 through 1993, 1995 and 1997
- Lecturer for University of California at San Diego Career Center, La Jolla, Ca 2001
- Lecturer for 1993 and 1994 Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company Seminar
- Lecturer for 1992 Association of Family and Conciliation Court Conference
- Contributor to Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company book, Preventing Legal Malpractice in the Specialties: Family Law (1995)
- Contributor to the book, The Smart Divorce, by Deborah Moskovitch (2006)
- Affiliations
- American Bar Association 1978 to date
- California Bar Association 1978 to date
- Foothills Bar Association 1981 to date
- San Diego Trial Lawyers Association 1978 to date
- Member Certified Family Law Specialists Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association 1985 to date
- Elected Member of Executive Committee of the San Diego County Certified Family Law Specialists (1989-91 and 1993-95)
- Appointed Treasurer of the San Diego County Certified Family Law Specialists (1991-1994)
- Appointed Chairperson of the Certified Family Law Specialist's subcommittee re: liaison with San Diego County Family Court Services (1991-1994)
- Elected Chairperson - Certified Family Law Specialists subcommittee of the San Diego County Bar Association - 1995
- Lifetime member of the National Registry of "Who's Who" 2001
- Featured in Pacific Crest Bank 2003 Annual Report
- San Diego County Bar Association Member of the Month - April, 2000
- Appointed Board of Director and Officer of the Foothills Bar Association (2 years)
- Community Service
- Valhalla High School Booster Club President - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
- Grossmont Union High School District Boosters' Executive Council President 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
- Southern California Lightning 18U Gold Amateur Softball Association Junior Olympic Assistant Coach - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
- Recipient of the San Diego County High School Sports Association Community Service Award - 1999
- Recipient of the California State Assembly Volunteer of the Year Award - 1999
- Recipient of the Grossmont Conference Athletic Directors and Administrators Appreciation Award - 2000
- Recipient of the Grossmont Union High School District Governing Board Athletic Commendation Award - 2000
- Appointed member of the Grossmont Union High School District Task Force 2000-2001
- Family honored by Valhalla High School naming its softball field Leto Field' 6/2/2000
Jolie La Fleur Veltmann
Ms. Veltmann is a partner of the firm Veltmann & Leto with an exclusive focus on family law with an emphasis on contested custody issues, paternity matters and high-asset dissolution cases. She also has expertise in obtaining and defending domestic violence restraining orders. She joined the firm in 2008 to help drive the firm's commitment to fulfilling clients' needs. Prior to becoming a partner at Veltmann & Leto, Ms. Veltmann managed her own law practice for 16 years specializing in family law.
Ms. Veltmann earned her law degree from California Western School of Law, was invited to join Law Review and her article on Health Care in California's Foster Care System was published in the school's law journal. She started her law career as a Deputy District Attorney in Northern California, and later as a defense attorney, successfully defended the first "three strikes" cases in California.
Ms. Veltmann has been featured as a family law expert on station KUSI and she has been court appointed to represent and act as Minor's Counsel as well as appointed to represent Servicemen under the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act. Ms. Veltmann was honored as Mentor of the Year as part of her work with the VIP Mentor youth program (Volunteers in Parol) founded in 1972, and participated in the San Diego Lawyer Volunteer Program. She is a featured speaker on Family Law at San Diego City College and Grossmont College. Based on her criminal law background, she is also court appointed to represent Family Law contempt cases.
Ms. Veltmann heads up a Family Law team to provide clients with high standards of representation. Whether clients desire settlement, litigation, or mediation, she can support the needs of the client. The firm has been very successful in settling cases through mediation and will obtain the best possible result given the unique facts and circumstances of each case. However, in cases where settlement and mediation are not possible, Ms. Veltmann and her team will pursue the client's rights in court to obtain the best results possible.
Angela Da Silva
Ms. Da Silva is a California Certified Family Law Specialist with a diversified educational background. In 1996, Ms. Da Silva obtained a bachelor of Arts degree, with two majors and a minor, from the University of California San Diego. In 1999, Ms. Da Silva obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of California Davis, and was admitted to the California State bar in December 1999.
For the past decade, Ms. Da Silva has specialized in family law litigation. She was a solo practitioner before becoming an associate attorney with the Law Offices of Jolie La Fleur Veltmenn and, in 2002, joined Veltmann & Leto. She is an experienced attorney who handles complex family law litigation.
In addition to being a California Certified Family Law Specialist, Ms. Da Silva is also a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, Family Law Section and Lawyer's Club of San Diego.
Kimber Cannistraci
In 1992, Ms. Cannistraci received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California Irvine. In 1998, Ms. Cannistraci obtained her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law, San Diego and was admitted to the California State Bar in December 2000. From September 2001 to September 2004 Ms. Cannistraci managed a high volume case load on various issues related to child support cases for the County of San Diego as a litigation attorney. In this capacity she reviewed, analyzed and prepared cases for litigation and also negotiated stipulations and settlement agreements with the parties. She also prepared court memoranda, briefing for complex legal issues at the Court's request and prepared departmental memoranda briefing recent court decisions. She also prepared trial briefs, memoranda of points and authorities, responses, motions and discovery requests.
From October 1, 2004, when she joined the firm, to the present, Ms. Cannistraci has assisted a senior partner regarding litigation of family law cases involving complex property, support, and child sharing issues. She has appeared in court on contested issues, drafted various pleadings, including disclosure pleadings, declarations, motions, memoranda of points and authorities, settlement conference briefs, trial briefs, and marital settlement agreements. Ms. Cannistraci has also prepared, reviewed, and analyzed discovery and conferred with experts, physicians, counselors, and vocational evaluators to assist with litigation and for mediation.
She is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, Family Law Section and is admitted to appear in the United States District Court of the Southern District of California.
Tricia K. Seifert
Ms. Seifert is a graduate of California Western School of Law. During law school, she was a research assistant and successfully completed a judicial externship with the United States Disctrict Court, Southern District of California. Since being admitted to the State Bar in June 2003, Ms. Seifert's practice has been limited to family law. She had a prospering solo practice for three years before joining the firm in May 2006. Ms. Seifert's hands on experience in her solo practice prepared her well for the complex litigation of the firm. Under the direction of lead attorneys, Ms. Seifert manages all aspects of litigation, including settlement negotiations, discovery, hearings, and trial preparation. She is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, Family Law Section and is admitted to appear in the United States District Court, Southern District of California.
James Scott Veltmann
After being admitted to the bar in 1976, Mr. Veltmann established a solo practice limited to family law. Several years later, in 1989, Mr. Veltmann co-founded Veltmann & Leto with partner and friend, Mr. Leto. Since opening in 1989, Mr. Veltmann and Mr. Leto limited their practice to complex family law litigation.
Over his 31 years of law practice, Mr. Veltmann developed a well-known and respected expertise in family law. After becoming a Certified Family Law Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization, he became a Fellow in both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, serving as President of the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers from 1999- 2000. Not surprisingly, for many years Mr. Veltmann was listed in Best Lawyers of America, one of the few family law attorneys in San Diego County to enjoy the honor.
In addition to practicing law, Mr. Veltmann devoted time to educating law students by serving as an Adjunct Professor for California Western School of Law. He also shared his expertise with the legal community by serving as Editor of the Family Law Bar News, authoring many articles, and lecturing on complex family law issues. Mr. Veltmann had the honor of serving the bench by acting as a Judge Pro Tem for the downtown Family Law Department of the San Diego Superior Court for over 25 years.
Sadly, Mr. Veltmann passed away in October 2008. His leadership and dedication to legal excellence will forever be remembered and has left an indelible mark on the legal community and the firm. His accomplishments remain here to honor his memory.