DETROIT, 2 August, 2004Read today’s legal news, law, law firm news & legal research at LAWFUEL – Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that Jeffrey G. Collins, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, will join the Firm as a partner in the Litigation Department in its Detroit office effective August 23. Collins will focus his practice on white collar defense as part of the Firm’s White Collar Defense & Corporate Compliance, General Commercial Litigation and Appellate groups.
“Building a strong national practice in white collar defense and corporate compliance is a strategic priority for the Firm,” said Ralf Boer, chairman and CEO of Foley & Lardner. “The addition of an attorney of the caliber of U.S. Attorney Collins provides us with a potent foundation to build those practices in Detroit and strengthens our existing capabilities nationally.”
Collins has an extensive background as a federal prosecutor, appellate judge and trial attorney.
Before joining Foley & Lardner, Collins was sworn in as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan by President George W. Bush in November 2001. During that time, he supervised one of the largest U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the country consisting of 99 criminal and civil Assistant United States Attorneys. Previously, Collins was appointed by former Governor
John Engler to Detroit Recorder’s Court, which later became part of the Wayne County Circuit Court, in 1994 and the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2000. In November 1998, he was named by the Michigan Supreme Court to be the presiding judge of the Criminal Division of Wayne County Circuit Court. Before his judicial appointments, Collins practiced with Ed Bell, a prominent Detroit trial lawyer, and later opened his own firm.
Collins’ experience also will complement the Firm’s national Securities Litigation, Enforcement and Regulatory, and Healthcare Payments and Compliance practices. In addition, he will be a member of the Firm’s Automotive Industry Team – based in Detroit but drawing on all of the Firm’s areas of expertise – that focuses on the needs of clients in the automotive industry.
“Foley & Lardner is the only national firm with a significant Detroit presence,” said Jon Wilson, chair of Foley & Lardner’s Litigation Department. “Jeff is the perfect complement to our national platform and will allow us to continue to integrate our white collar defense and securities litigation practices. He is an important addition to the strong cadre of former prosecutors and government officials who form the core of those practices.”
Collins is a graduate of Northwestern University and an honor graduate of Howard University School of Law. This year, he received the Founders’ Award of Outstanding Achievement from the National Black Prosecutors Association. In 2003, he was recognized in Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the nation’s top African-American attorneys and was selected Michigan Lawyer of the Year by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. He also received the Damon J. Keith Community Spirit Award given by the Wolverine Bar Foundation. He is past president of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan, and served as a criminal law and trial advocacy instructor at Wayne State Law School.
While serving as U.S. Attorney and in previous positions, Collins has been committed to community service as an active advocate for youth mentoring, child safety and education, and has been a frequent speaker to community and youth groups. For example, he is a mentor in the Man to Man program at Paul Robeson Academy. To encourage others to become mentors, he founded the Wayne County Chapter of the Michigan Association for Leadership Development.
Collins is expected to broaden Foley & Lardner’s expanding community role in the Detroit market. For example, the Firm is an active participant in Detroit redevelopment efforts through its involvement in Detroit Downtown, Inc., as well as assisting Community Legal Resources in title clearing projects in Detroit for local community groups. In addition, Foley & Lardner partner Nicole Lamb-Hale was recently appointed as a director to the State Land Bank Fast Track Authority by Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. The Authority was established under legislation signed into law to return tax delinquent and other property to productive uses.
The addition of Collins follows the opening of the Firm’s New York office on July 1. The New York office is important to the firm’s Detroit attorneys because it will enhance their ability to provide white collar defense and corporate compliance, securities litigation and capital markets services, and support the needs of the Detroit office’s clients. The new office also immediately strengthens the Firm’s bankruptcy and commercial litigation practices.
About Foley & Lardner LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP is a provider of legal counsel to global companies. The firm’s experience encompasses a full range of litigation and corporate legal services. Foley & Lardner’s nearly 1,000 attorneys understand today’s most complex business issues including corporate governance, securities enforcement, litigation, merger and acquisitions, intellectual property and IP litigation, labor and employment, and tax. The firm offers total solutions in the automotive, e-business and information technology, energy, financial services, food, golf and resort services, insurance, health care, life sciences, nanotechnology, and sports industries. Our Web site can be found at www.foley.com.
