Celeste McCollough

Of Counsel

Celeste McCollough has practiced law since 1982. She graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law with honors and was a Notes Editor for the Georgia Law Review. Celeste started her career as a law clerk for the Hon. Ellsworth Van Graafeiland of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Judicial Circuit in New York. She obtained her undergraduate degree in history from Emory University, where she was first in her class.

Celeste was selected by the Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service) to participate in 1984 and 1985 in a year-long program in Germany for foreign attorneys sponsored by the Ministry of Justice of North Rhein/Westphalia. At the conclusion of that experience, she practiced with Kreuz, Niebler & Mittl (now Beiten, Burkhardt, Mittl & Wegener) in Munich for several months, before returning to Chorey, Taylor & Feil, where she had begun private practice in 1983. Since her experience in Germany, Celeste has represented many German clients in business disputes in the U.S.

Celeste's practice involves many aspects of commercial litigation, including trade secrets, restrictive covenants, business torts, and contract disputes. She has extensive experience with trial practice in state and federal courts, evidentiary hearings before U.S. Bankruptcy courts and administrative agencies, and multiple private arbitrations. She has been involved in all aspects of dispute resolution, including private settlements, mediations, court proceedings and arbitration. Notable cases have included:

Representation of partners in real estate partnership disputes and dissolutions;
Private arbitrations representing sellers of businesses in earn-out disputes involving extensive accounting formulas, accounting applications, and conduct of business issues;
Representation of start-up company in Europe sued by former employer of key executives involving discovery and activities across American and European boundaries;
Dispute among owners of Central American agricultural processing and distribution company;
Representation of companies in multiple lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions against former employees, including trade secrets claims and breach of restrictive covenant claims;
Prosecution of claims on behalf of franchisee of multiple locations against franchisor for fraudulent inducement of franchise agreements;
Prosecution of action to regain control of U.S. entity set up by foreign entity for sale of goods manufactured abroad;
Defense of class action brought by sales persons against employer regarding application of commission formulas;
Multiple disputes involving the international sale of goods;
Trademark and unfair competition lawsuits;
Multinational disputes involving aircraft leases.

Celeste was named by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine to the list of Georgia Super Lawyers® in 2007 and 2008, and she has consistently received Martindale-Hubbell's "AV" rating, which is its highest rating, throughout most of her career.

She has participated in the German American Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta, and continues to represent German and European companies, in addition to numerous domestic clients.

Practice Areas

Education

University of Georgia, J.D., magna cum laude (1982)
Emory University, B.A., highest academic achievement (1979)
Young Harris College, A.A., summa cum laude (1977)

Bar and Court Admissions

Georgia State Bar
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

Professional Affiliations

Atlanta Bar Association
American Bar Association
ABA Individual Rights and Responsibilities Section
German American Chamber of Commerce