Coleman Talley

Attorneys | Atlanta • Jacksonville • Valdosta

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  • Atlanta
    3344 Peachtree Road NE
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    1 Independent Drive
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    109 South Ashley Street
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J. Cullen Byrne

May 11, 2021 by

Cullen Byrne Headshot

Cullen is a Partner of the firm in its Atlanta office. He leverages a practical business-minded approach to provide real-world legal advice to private equity, venture capital and real estate funds, institutional limited partners, family offices, sophisticated private investors, entrepreneurs, operating businesses, and developers.

Cullen focuses on counseling his clients through a variety of critical business milestones such as the formation of joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, and debt and equity capital financings. He is skilled in the drafting and negotiation of complex partnership and operating agreements for a wide variety corporate and real estate investments and regularly guides startup and early-stage companies from formation through all stages of growth.

In addition, Cullen serves as outside general counsel and provides supplementary support to legal departments in a variety of industries including financial services, technology, and commercial real estate.

Prior to joining Coleman Talley, Cullen founded a boutique corporate law firm and held multiple in-house legal counsel roles at a national financial-services holding company and a Fortune 500 business-services provider.

Cullen earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in Political Science from Auburn University. He went on to obtain his Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law where he was a member of the Moot Court Board. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta Bar Association, and American Bar Association.

Converse Bright

November 1, 2018 by

J. Converse Bright is a Partner in Coleman Talley’s Valdosta office. Mr. Bright has practiced law since 1965. During a legal career spanning more than 50 years, Mr. Bright has served as lead counsel on many complex litigation matters.

A native of Valdosta, Georgia, Mr. Bright received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Virginia in 1962 and his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Georgia in 1965. Mr. Bright was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1964.

He is a member of the bar of the Court of Appeals of Georgia, the Supreme Court of Georgia, the United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Georgia, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits and the Supreme Court of the United States. His practice includes over 140 reported cases in the Georgia Court of Appeals and Georgia Supreme Court and over 30 cases in United States courts. Mr. Bright was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1976 and is a member of the United States District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Florida.

Mr. Bright was appointed by the Supreme Court of Georgia to the Georgia Board of Bar Examiners for 1999-2004. He is a past president of the Valdosta Bar Association and former member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia. Mr. Bright served on the Advisory Board of the United States District Court, Middle District of Georgia and as an Arbitrator in that court. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers.

Since 1985, Mr. Bright taught on the faculty of the Georgia Institute of Trial Advocacy at the University of Georgia Law School. He has taught at Valdosta State University as adjunct professor of American History and Political Science. Mr. Bright coached the Lowndes High School mock trial team, which has won several region titles.

He has been rated “AV” lawyer by Martindale-Hubble since 1980, listed in “Best Lawyers of America” since 1987, and “Super Lawyer” since its inception.

Bart Davis

October 4, 2018 by

Bart Davis is a Partner who concentrates his practice on residential and commercial real estate transactions. Since concentrating on real estate in 2010, Bart has extensive experience conducting residential and commercial real estate transactions, overseeing all aspects of the transaction, including title examination, document preparation and approval, and consummation of the transaction. Bart also has experience in preparation of residential and commercial leases, as well as preparation of estate and probate filings essential to real estate transactions such as petitions to probate wills, petitions to appoint administrators, and petitions for leave to sell property. Bart is additionally licensed, and is an experienced real estate practitioner, in the State of Florida.

Bart graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2004. He obtained his Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2007. He was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 2009 and the State Bar of Florida in 2013.

Bart is a member of State Bar of Georgia’s Real Property Law Section and the Valdosta Bar Association. He is an affiliate member of the Valdosta Board of Realtors, the Home Builders Association of South Georgia, and the Valdosta Chapter of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia, on which he currently serves on the Board of Directors.

Bart is a native of Valdosta. He is a former Board Chair of the Greater Valdosta United Way. He is a graduate of the 2018 class of Leadership Lowndes. Bart is also actively involved in volunteer coaching youth sports at the Boys and Girls Club of Valdosta and the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority. Bart has served in various leadership roles in his Church, First United Methodist Church of Valdosta, including past Church Council President, and he has been an active volunteer for Valdosta Prison Ministry, Inc. since 2011.

Bart is married to the former Angie Byrum. They have two children – Buck and Birdie.

Brett McNeill

January 29, 2016 by

Brett Daniel McNeill is a Partner of the firm and focuses his practice on commercial transactions, commercial real estate and construction law. Brett also has significant experience in corporate and business law, entity organization, private equity and finance. A native of Douglas, Georgia, Brett received his B.A. in Political Science from Valdosta State University in 2009 and his J.D. from Georgia State University School of Law in 2012. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Georgia.

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Greg Talley

January 8, 2016 by

Greg Talley practices primarily in the area of civil trial practice. He represents individuals and businesses in all areas of civil trial litigation with an emphasis on medical malpractice and healthcare liability defense.

Greg is a native of Valdosta, Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in speech communications in 1991 from the University of Georgia and his Juris Doctor (JD) Degree (cum laude) in 1995 from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the Brainerd Currie Honor Society, the Moot Court Board, and the Mercer Law Review. Greg formerly served on the State Bar of Georgia Board of Governors, serving Post 3 for the Southern Judicial Circuit.

Greg is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and Board Certified in the area of medical malpractice by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (ABPLA), the only organization accredited by the American Bar Association to certify attorneys in the practice areas of medical and legal professional liability. Since 2000, Greg has served as lead counsel in over 40 medical malpractice cases tried to jury verdict.

He practices in all State and Federal Courts in South Georgia and its surrounding area and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Lawyer’s Foundation of Georgia. He is former President of the Valdosta Bar Association and is a member of the Georgia Defense Lawyer’s Association and the Defense Research Institute.

Greg is admitted to practice in the Superior and State Courts of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Georgia, the United States District Court for the Middle and Northern District of Georgia, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Greg is Martindale-Hubbell Rated AV® Preeminent™.

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Tim Tanner

January 8, 2016 by

Tim Tanner

Timothy M. Tanner is a Partner at Coleman Talley concentrating in the areas of commercial litigation, business disputes, civil rights, and employment law. In addition, Tim’s practice also focuses on local government law. He serves as the attorney for the cities of Valdosta, Adel, and Nashville, Georgia. Tim also serves as the solicitor for the cities of Valdosta, Adel, and Hahira, Georgia, and attorney for the Berrien County Development Authority and Hahira Downtown Development Authority.

Tim, a native of Nicholls, Georgia, received his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in 1997 from the University of Georgia. In 2001, he received his Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University.

He is a member of the State Bars of Georgia and Alabama where he is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts. Tim is also a member of the Valdosta Bar Association, Georgia Municipal Association, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, and Defense Research Institute.

Tim is Martindale-Hubbell Rated AV® Preeminent™.

Mary Margaret Williams

January 8, 2016 by

Mary Margaret Williams is a Partner practicing in the areas of affordable housing, commercial real estate, and commercial transactions.  A native of Valdosta, Georgia, Mary Margaret graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance in 2005.  Mary Margaret graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2010 and was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 2010. Mary Margaret is a member of the State Bar of Georgia’s Real Property Law Section, the Women’s Affordable Housing Network, the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers Valdosta Chapter, and the American Bar Association’s Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law.

Ryan Spell

January 8, 2016 by

Ryan Spell is a Partner in the Atlanta office whose law practice focuses on the areas of commercial real estate and secured real estate lending. Pursuant to this practice, Ryan assists clients in the financing, acquisition, development, and disposition of commercial real estate, with an emphasis in multi-family, and assists financial institutions in closing secured loan transactions.

A native of Hahira, Georgia, Ryan graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2006. Ryan obtained his Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Georgia in 2008 and his Juris Doctor (JD) degree in 2011 from Mercer University. Ryan is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the American Bar Association.

Emily Macheski-Preston

January 8, 2016 by

Emily Macheski-Preston portrait

Emily is a member of Coleman Talley’s litigation department, focusing on zoning and land use, employment law, and professional property management of affordable housing.

Emily regularly advises developers and local governments on matters involving land use, ordinances, and the constitution.  In this capacity, Emily also provides training to her clients and has served as a speaker at seminars on land use matters, including most recently for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.  Emily has had the opportunity to work with both established and newly formed cities and is aware of the challenges unique to both types of local governments.

Emily is also familiar with the distinctive issues that arise in property management for affordable housing.  When called upon by clients, Emily has defended property management companies in fair housing matters, mold litigation, and difficult evictions involving federal regulations.  Emily is also prepared to provide compliance advice to her clients on affordable housing matters and Georgia landlord tenant law.

Emily attended Oglethorpe University and Mercer University on full scholarships.  While at Oglethorpe, she interned for Governor Sonny Perdue’s Governor’s Intern Program.  In 2010, Emily was awarded the Ruth T. West Award for Advocacy and Leadership by Mercer University.  In 2012, she was named the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professional of the Year.  Emily is a 2013 graduate of Leadership Lowndes, a 2016 graduate of Georgia Forward’s Young Gamechanger Class, and a 2017 graduate of the State Bar of Georgia’s Leadership Academy.  In 2014, Emily moved to the firm’s Atlanta office and currently resides with her husband in Roswell, Georgia.

Emily is admitted to practice in Georgia’s State and Federal Courts, including Magistrate Court, Superior Court, State Court, the Middle District of Georgia, the Northern District of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Georgia. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia’s Local Government Division, the Young Lawyers Division, and Oglethorpe University’s Stormy Petrel Bar Association. Emily also serves on the State Bar of Georgia’s iCivics committee.

Justin Scott

January 8, 2016 by

Justin Scott

Justin S. Scott is a Partner practicing in the areas of commercial real estate, real estate development, and construction law and litigation. Justin has substantial experience representing owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, architects, and engineers in connection with construction, commercial, and other business matters. Justin is a native of Woodbridge, Virginia. He received his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in English Literature from the University of Virginia in 1996. In 1999, Justin received his Juris Doctor (JD) degree cum laude from the Walter F. Georgia School of Law at Mercer University. While at Mercer, Justin was a member of the law review and upon graduation was inducted into the Brainerd Currie Honor Society. Justin is a member of the State Bar of Georgia.

Justin is Martindale-Hubbell Rated AV® Preeminent™.

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3344 Peachtree Road NE
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Phone: (770) 698-9556
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