Education

  • J.D., Boston University School of Law, cum laude, 1990
  • B.A., Fordham University, 1984

Bar Admissions

  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit

Memberships & Affiliations

New York State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Member

Brooklyn Bar Association, Member

Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA), Member

Patrick M. Collins

Partner
  • T: 212.609.6849
    F: 646.224.5555

Mr. Collins has over 20 years’ experience representing employers in all aspects of labor and employment law and workplace related disputes.  He has successfully litigated single- and multi-plaintiff disputes involving employment contracts and policies, restrictive covenants, employment discrimination, and wage and hour claims in both federal and state trial courts and argued successful appeals before federal and state appellate courts.  He regularly defends employers in investigations by and hearings before federal and state departments of labor and human rights agencies. 

A significant part of Mr. Collins's practice is devoted to traditional labor law.  He represents management clients in collective bargaining, labor arbitrations, NLRB investigations and trials, injunction actions, union organizing campaigns, strikes and illegal picketing activity, prevailing wages and claims by Taft-Hartley fringe benefits funds.  He is co-author of the Employer’s Guide to Union Organizing Campaigns (2012 edition), the preeminent treatise on the subject.

Mr. Collins regularly counsels and advises employers regarding investigations of employee misconduct, terminations, plant closings and layoffs, employment policies and handbooks, and related workplace issues.

Mr. Collins is a frequent speaker at seminars and webinars for attorneys and human resources professionals on a variety of topics, including hiring and firing, conducting effective investigations, Fair Labor Standards Act and WARN Act compliance, union organizing campaigns, and union and non-union employer obligations under the National Labor Relations Act.

Mr. Collins has been recognized as a Chambers USA “Leaders in their Field” lawyer for 2013.

Representative Matters

Gioia v. Forbes Media LLC
2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 113999 (S.D.N.Y. 2011), affirmed, 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 22689 (2d Cir. 2012) (granting summary judgment to employer and dismissing claims of disability discrimination and retaliation under state and city human rights law and interference with ERISA-protected health benefits)
Daniels v. 1710 Realty LLC
2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91902 (E.D.N.Y. 2011), affirmed, 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 20044 (2d Cir. 2012) (granting judgment to employer following trial on FLSA overtime claims)
Cohen v. National Grid USA
89 A.D.3d 1051 (2d Dep’t 2011) (reversing judgment for plaintiffs and establishing requirement that detrimental reliance be shown to prove breach of written severance plan under New York law)
Cuervo v. Opera Solutions LLC
87 A.D.3d 426 (1st Dep't 2011) (affirming dismissal of claims for unpaid commissions and claims against individual officers)
Hoops v. KeySpan Energy
822 F. Supp. 2d 301 (E.D.N.Y. 2011) (dismissing FLSA claim and requiring arbitration under collective bargaining agreement)

Speaking

06/10/09
Issues and Problems Regarding Tipped Employees
M&E Hospitality Industry Breakfast Seminar, New York, NY

Events

05/19/11