Alumna Celeste Gaines (‘15) builds a career bridging law and technology—continuing a proud FSU family legacy.
By: Andrea Thomas
As technology continues to redefine the legal landscape, Celeste Gaines (’15) is helping lead the way for attorneys who want to merge their legal expertise with innovation. A proud double Seminole, Gaines serves as Lead Counsel of Data Privacy & Enablement at McKesson Corporation, one of the world’s largest healthcare and pharmaceutical companies. Her law degree is the seventh earned from FSU within her family.
Her father, Thomas B. Gaines Jr. (’86), also taught Contract Drafting as an adjunct at FSU Law. After beginning his career at King & Spalding in corporate and intellectual property law, he became a technology partner in 1997 and was featured in FSU Magazine’s 1999 winter issue.
"It was a remarkable experience to attend the same law school as my father and receive lectures from the professors who had taught him, Professors Stern and Ehrhardt, nearly 30 years later,” Gaines shared. “FSU Law has been a staple in the Gaines family since the 80s. My father and I have had the fortune to celebrate accomplishments both in and outside of law with individuals who were with us during our time at FSU Law or after."
Gaines initially sought a corporate practice role after graduation but began instead in litigation, defending over 100 depositions and serving as second chair in a jury trial within two years. She later joined a boutique firm focused on commercial real estate and franchise litigation, expanding her skillset and business acumen.
Her next opportunity came through FSU Law’s powerful alumni network: a fellow alumna alerted her to a technology transactions opening at McKesson and connected her to her now-mentor, the company’s Chief of Intellectual Property Law. Although she lacked a transactional background, Gaines prepared thoroughly and demonstrated how her analytical and litigation skills translated into the fast-paced world of tech law.
Today, Gaines plays a pivotal role at McKesson, serving on the Enterprise Technology + Sourcing Transactions, Cybersecurity + Technology, and Data Privacy & Enablement teams. Her work involves advising business leaders on complex state, federal, and international laws to keep McKesson at the forefront of AI, cybersecurity, and privacy compliance.
She recommends that lawyers aiming to work in technology, privacy, or cybersecurity stay informed about existing and proposed legislation, various frameworks, and emerging industry standards.
"New laws surrounding artificial intelligence are emerging and being amended, while privacy and security regulations are also shifting to address the growing use of technology,” said Gaines. “As products become more sophisticated, lawyers must not only understand the legal language but also grasp the intent, functionality, and potential unintended uses of the technologies they support."
Gaines emphasizes that technology lawyers are not expected to be engineers, but they must learn to speak the language. She recommends joining organizations like the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and following frameworks developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
"Lawyers should attend CLEs, stay informed about evolving legislation, and connect with others in the field," she advised. “Building that network and understanding the landscape—domestically and globally—are essential.”
As both a College of Business and College of Law alumna, Gaines understands the advantage of combining business and legal education. She credits the Stoops Center for Law and Business for creating opportunities that bridge disciplines and expose students to emerging practice areas.
"The FSU Stoops Center helps illuminate lesser-known legal practice areas, making them more accessible to students who may only be familiar with traditional legal roles," she said. "Exposure to legal careers outside of a traditional firm or litigation setting is crucial for broadening opportunities for students into areas of law they might not even know exist."
Gaines actively works with the Stoops Center and the Institute of Law, Technology, and Innovation as a committee member of the Frontiers in Law and Technology sector. In addition, Gaines serves as an FSU Alumni Advisor, connecting with students and graduates interested in careers at the intersection of law, business, and technology through FSU Law Connect.
Following her father’s footsteps, she also joined FSU Law as an adjunct in 2021, teaching Contract Drafting. The opportunity allowed her to give back to the students, and she says it was rewarding to teach the same skills she had found so valuable, deepening her appreciation for all professors and recognizing the challenges and rewards of teaching.
"Thank you to Dean O'Connor, Dean Benavides, Dean Utset, Professor Benson, Professor Earhart, Professor Stern, Professor Charlie Taylor, Professor Kahn, Sandra Brown, Rob Rigsby, Steve Parton, and Linda McMullen; they have had a big influence on my career and my experience in the FSU Law community."