Michael H. Collins tries cases. He personally learns the client’s needs and goals and most importantly the case facts, and develops a strategy to obtain the best result possible for the client. He forms an appropriate team, as lean as reasonable, to minimize client cost and maximize team efficiency.
Mike’s team then prepares cases for trial or hearing, which also provides a position of strength should settlement talks occur. His clients have included businesses in the energy, insurance, transportation, franchise, construction and real estate, museum and nonprofit, IP, and university sectors. He has handled almost every type of substantive and procedural claim, including contract breach, business and personal torts, RICO, DTPA, class actions.
Mike has handled well over 20 major arbitrations, most involving multi-week evidentiary hearings. He was lead counsel for TUCO in a Texas case establishing the standard for vacating awards on “evident partiality” grounds, and he was lead counsel in a AAA class action proceeding.
Mike defended an energy company against a nine-figure royalty claim, through jury trial and appeal. He represented a party in complicated title defect arbitrations relating to mineral interests in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. He represented a coal supplier in a multi-million dollar arbitration involving a price redetermination clause in a long term contract.
Mike has represented a national cartage company in multiple arbitrations brought by independent contractors. He has represented a major insurance company, primarily on commercial and employment but also on bad faith claims.
Mike has represented a major university including on tenure disputes and on discrimination and other employment claims. He has been general counsel to a museum and represented other non-profits.
Mike 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 he can help provide guidance in a multi-jurisdictional world.
Representative Experience:
- Representation of oil and gas company defending against a nine-figure royalty claim, through jury trial and appeal
- Representation of oil and gas company in multimillion dollar claims for title defects in minerals purchased in West Virginia and Pennsylvania
- Representation in arbitrations of national overnight cartage company on claims brought by independent contractors
- Represented coal company in defense of multimillion dollar claim for price increase on long-term coal supply contract
- Overturned adverse Maryland arbitration award in Texas courts, with nine figures at stake, involving contracts with railroads for transporting coal
Professional History:
- Adjunct Professor, Southern Methodist University, teaching Federal Courts (1990 – 1991)
- Law Clerk to Honorable Robert M. Hill, United States District Judge, Northern District of Texas (1977 – 1978)
Professional Affiliations :
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Education :
- J.D., cum laude, Harvard Law School, 1977
- B.A., cum laude, Harvard University, 1971
Admissions : Texas
Cost
Rate : $$$