Michael Collins

About Michael Collins

With over 35 years of experience representing clients effectively and efficiently, I have…

Experience

1. Counsel

   Troutman Pepper Locke LLP

   Oct 1978 — Present · Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, US

   I try cases. I learn the client\'s needs and goals and most importantly the case facts, and develop a strategy to obtain the best result possible. We form an appropriate team, as lean as reasonable, to minimize client cost and maximize team efficiency. We prepare cases for successful trial or hearing, which produces a position of strength should settlement talks occur. My clients have included businesses in the energy, insurance, transportation, franchise, construction and real estate, museum and nonprofit, IP, and university sectors. I have handled almost every type of substantive claim, including contract breach, business and personal torts, RICO, DTPA, class actions.I have handled successfully well over 20 major arbitrations, most involving multi-week evidentiary hearings. I was lead counsel in a Texas case establishing the standard for vacating awards on \"evident partiality\" grounds, and I was lead counsel in a class action proceeding. I am now a panel member.I defended an energy company against a nine-figure royalty claim, through jury trial and appeal. I represented a party in complicated title defect arbitrations relating to mineral interests in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. I represented a coal supplier in a multi-million dollar arbitration involving a price redetermination clause in a long term contract. I have represented a national cartage company in multiple arbitrations brought by independent contractors. I have represented a major insurance company, primarily on commercial and employment but also on bad faith claims. I have represented a major university including on tenure disputes and on discrimination and other employment claims. I have been general counsel to a museum and represented other non-profits.I served as Managing Partner of the Firm\'s London office from early 2015 to December 2017. The legal needs of many businesses are global and I can help provide guidance in a multi-jurisdictional world.

Education

• Harvard Law School

  Doctor of Law - JD

  1977

• Harvard University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA

  1971