Cleek & Elin
attorneys at law
Attorneys
Robert J. Cleek
Robert J. Cleek opened the firm as a solo practitioner in 1978. A San Francisco native, he attended St. Patrick’s College Seminary and the University of San Francisco where he received a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology in 1970. Prior to becoming an attorney, he worked for ten years in law enforcement as a correctional officer and counselor for the State of California Department of Corrections at San Quentin State Prison. While working at San Quentin Prison, he attended the evening program at Golden Gate University School of Law and received his J.D. degree in 1978. He is admitted to practice before all the courts of California, the local federal District Courts, the Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States. Early in his legal career, Mr. Cleek’s practice included criminal defense and employment litigation as well general civil litigation matters. For the past twenty years his practice has been limited exclusively to Family Law.
Catherine A. Elin
Catherine A. Elin was admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York in 1992 and California in 1994. She graduated cum laude from New York Law School in 1992 and was a member of the NYLS Law Review in 1990. Her undergraduate degree is from New York University where she graduated with a B.A. in Psychology 1972. She also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from Sonoma State University and was employed as a special education teacher before going to law school in 1989. Ms. Elin is able to use her child development expertise to help divorcing parents develop workable co-parenting plans. Prior to joining Cleek and Elin, she was an associate with the law firm of Shanley and Fisher in Morristown, New Jersey where she worked in the civil litigation department, handling insurance defense and ERISA pension litigation. She is admitted to practice before all the courts of California, the local District Courts and Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit. Ms. Elin has been a member of Rotary International since 1995. She has participated in service projects both locally and internationally and she is currently the Stewardship Chair for Rotary International District 5150.