Nicole A. Burgess-Busch
Associate
One of the most frequent complaints lawyers hear from clients is that the legal system is so complex and confusing that it may as well be a foreign language. Nicole Burgess-Busch focuses her energies on simplifying the process for the firms’ clients by constantly keeping them informed, explaining the rules of the game in plain English, and keeping them involved in the process to the extent they wish to participate. Nicole believes first and foremost in the Golden Rule: Treat every client as she would want to be treated if the client were sitting in her chair and she was on the other side of the desk. Nicole also subscribes to the old adage: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” To this end, Nicole prides herself not only in her work ethic on the task at hand, but also in guiding clients away from future legal pitfalls and teaching them common-sense measures they can take to protect themselves.
Nicole is a Senior Associate at Busch, Reed, Jones & Leeper, P.C. and focuses her practice in the following areas of the law:
- Asset Protection
- Bad Faith Litigation
- Business and Commercial Litigation
- Business Formation and Dissolution
- Commercial Collection
- Construction Litigation
- Mechanics and Materialman’s Liens
- Performance and Payment Bond Litigation
- Probate Bond Litigation
- Personal Injury and Property Damage Litigation
- Real Estate Litigation
- Surety Law
Nicole represents individuals, businesses, insurers and sureties throughout Georgia and the Southeast. She has represented clients in both State and Federal Court and assisted clients through countless alternative dispute resolution proceedings like mediation and arbitration. Nicole understands that not every case fits one mold. In addition to multi-million dollar cases that benefit from Nicole’s discernable attention to detail, Nicole has significant experience handling smaller value disputes, which require cost-sensitive strategies.
Nicole is a first-generation American on her mother’s side and speaks limited Croatian. Nicole was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. While her heart remains at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the month of May, the rest of the year she embraces the warm hearts and climates of the South. Nicole began working at a legal secretary in 1996 – a position she maintained through her graduation, summa cum laude with Honors, from Kennesaw State University in 2000. Nicole then worked as a legal assistant and paralegal while obtaining a Paralegal Certificate from Kennesaw State University’s College of Continuing Education in 2003. Subsequently, in 2007, Nicole obtained her law degree from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law. In addition to her Juris Doctor degree, Nicole also obtained a Certificate in Advanced Legal Writing, Research and Drafting, which she uses regularly in her practice to conduct diligent research, write persuasive legal briefs, and develop top-notch discovery plans. Nicole is admitted to practice law in Georgia’s state and appellate courts, as well as in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Outside of law practice, Nicole values above all spending time with her husband Jim, her family and her close friends. She also loves cooking and baking, especially desserts. Having spent her youth as a swimmer, sprinter, hurdler, cheerleader, artistic gymnast and nationally-competitive rhythmic gymnast, Nicole remains a sports and exercise enthusiast. During the spring and early summer, you will find Nicole watching Indy car races or walking through classic car cruise-ins. During the fall, Nicole enjoys watching college football, with split loyalties between the Vanderbilt Commodores (where her husband Jim played) and the University of Michigan Wolverines (where her mother and several other relatives attended school).
Education
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Mercer University, Walter F. George of Law
- J.D., 2007
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Kennesaw State University
- B.S., 2000
- summa cum laude
- Honors Scholar
Bar and Court Admissions
- Georgia, 2007
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
Professional Memberships
- State Bar of Georgia
- Cobb County Bar Association
- American Bar Association - Business Law Section, Forum on Construction Law, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice, Young Lawyers Division
Published Works
Presentations
- Speaker, Materialmen's Liens, Georgia Construction Aggregate Association Truck & Equipment Show, 2008
- Guest Speaker, Kennesaw State University, Coles College of Business, Business Law 2200 (presentation regarding contracts, why they matter, and how they impact college students), 2015
Reported Cases
- Eason v. Troon Co, LLC, 294 Ga. App. 210, 674 S.E.2d 77 (2009)
- Choate Const. Co. v. Auto-Owners Ins. Co., 779 S.E.2d 465, 2015 WL 7269584 (Ga. Ct. of App., 2015)
Experience
- Busch, Reed, Jones & Leeper, P.C., 2016-present
- Busch, Reed & Jones, P.C., 2013-2016
- Busch & Reed, PC, 2007-2013