Celia J. Collins

Celia J. Collins is a highly respected Alabama attorney with decades of experience representing businesses and professionals in employment, labor, and workers’ compensation law. She is known for her strategic guidance, strong litigation skills, and dedication to helping clients navigate complex workplace challenges across multiple industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, corrections, shipbuilding, and food service.

Celia earned her Bachelor’s degree from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 1977 before receiving her Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1980. That same year, she was admitted to the Alabama State Bar, followed by admission to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits in 1981. These achievements established the foundation for her distinguished legal career focused on workplace rights and employer defense.

Celia provides comprehensive counsel on a broad range of employment issues, including FMLA compliance, wage and hour disputes under the FLSA, executive severance, and non-compete agreements. Her work extends to EEOC, OSHA, and NLRB matters, as well as civil rights cases involving Fair Housing Discrimination Claims. With her attention to detail and balanced approach, she ensures every client receives informed and practical representation.

Celia is often called upon to assist employers with high-stakes legal matters such as Affordable Care Act compliance, termination procedures involving protected classes, and harassment or discrimination claims. Her readiness to respond beyond regular business hours reflects her commitment to safeguarding clients’ interests and maintaining compliance in an evolving regulatory landscape.

Celia J. Collins continues to exemplify professional excellence, delivering dependable and results-driven representation that reflects her longstanding dedication to advancing employment and labor law in Alabama. Celia has been recognized by Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers for her excellence in Employment Law, Labor Law, and Workers’ Compensation Law. She was named “Mobile Lawyer of the Year” for Workers’ Compensation – Employers in 2014, Employment Law – Management in 2017, and Labor Law – Management in 2018. In 2016, she received the Mobile Bar Association Women Lawyers Trailblazer Award and was honored among the 2022 Mid-South Top 50 Women Lawyers.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Johnstone Adams, LLC
• Member, American Bar Association, Employment Law Section
• Member, Alabama Bar Association, Employment Law Section
• Secretary, National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Member, Mobile Bar Association

Licensed State

• Alabama

Education

• Vanderbilt University Law School
  Juris Doctorate (JD)
• Randolph College
  BA in Politics & Economics

Awards & Badges