Leighton's law practice brought him to the Coachella Valley in 1991 and he immediately fell in love with what the Desert has to offer.  The resort atmosphere and gorgeous mountain views are what made Leighton call this Valley home.  Although Leighton enjoys a relaxing game of golf, the Coachella Valley is not too far from San Diego where he enjoys sailing and watching the ocean sunsets.

After 33 years of practicing law, Leighton chose to make real estate his full-time career.  Although he remains in good standing as a member of the American Bar Association, Leighton found that helping people accomplish their desert dreams was something he found attractive. That's when he chose to raise the bar in real estate.

Leighton enjoys the desert lifestyle with his wife, Gina, and their daughter, Jessica.  He has two grown sons; Leighton, Jr., and Travis. Leighton enjoys the time he spends with his family and looks forward to travel and fun time from cruises to Disneyland. 

Leighton's personal interests, in addition to family, include snow skiing, tennis, camping, computers and auto racing.  The Teglands are members of St. John Lutheran Church in Palm Desert.  Leighton and Gina also take a special interest in charity work for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and have sponsored fund-raising golf tournaments in Riverside, California.  They are also supporters of the Desert Youth Ballet and the California Desert Chorale.

Leighton is committed to serving his clients, working hard, being honest and helping people. 

Leighton attended college in San Diego at U.S.I.U., and obtained his Juris Doctorate degree at the University of Southern California in 1972.   He became the senior partner of a mid-sized law firm in Riverside, California, and then relocated to Palm Desert in 1991 to manage its desert office, becoming a sole proprietor in 2001.  

Leighton believes in the “win-win” situation which is what sparked his change of careers from practicing lawyer to full time realtor.  Leighton’s vast experience as a mediator, arbitrator and judge pro tem affords him the expertise necessary to negotiate the perfect deal for buyers and sellers alike. 

Leighton’s professional affiliations have included:  The American Board of Trial Advocates, Riverside County Bar Association, Desert Bar Association, Riverside County Barristers, Defense Research Institute, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, and the Association of Healthcare Risk Managers.  Leighton has served as a referee on the State Bar Court and the mediation panel for the Court of Appeals, Fourth District, Division Two.  He has contributed articles to legal professional publications and has lectured on various aspects of civil trial practice.  He is currently a member of the National Association of Realtors, the California Association of Realtors and the California Desert Association of Realtors.