MICHAEL K. COLLINS has a broad business litigation practice with emphasis on matters involving real estate and business litigation, construction, professional liability defense, and insurance coverage.  He has practiced continuously in the Los Angeles area for over 40 years, during which time Mr. Collins has tried more than 150 civil cases to judgment or verdict and has resolved more than a thousand others by motion, settlement or other means before trial.  Mr. Collins has tried cases in the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Orange, San Deigo and Riverside (including dozens in Riverside, Palm Springs and Indio).  He has also arbitrated dozens of business, real estate, construction and professional liability disputes.  Mr. Collins' professional liability practice is limited to the defense of attorneys and law firms. Otherwise, he represents both plaintiffs and defendants.  In addition to the areas of emphasis listed above, Mr. Collins has substantial experience in the areas of insurance bad faith, anti-SLAPP motions, golf course design and operation, patent infringement, unfair competition, CC&Rs disputes, mechanic’s lien law and everything related to the purchase, sale or development of real property.  

Michael Collins also specializes in civil appeals and extraordinary writs.  He has briefed and argued more than 100 California and federal appeals and writ of mandate matters.  In addition to scores of unpublished opinions, Mr. Collins was sole or lead appellate counsel on cases resulting in 19 officially published appellate opinions, including five California Supreme Court decisions.

Mr. Collins received an A.B. degree in 1965 from Washington University in St. Louis and pursued a year of post-graduate study in chemistry.  He received his law degree in 1969 from the School of Law at Washington University in St. Louis where he was a member of Order of the Coif and Editor-in-Chief of the law review.  Mr. Collins was admitted to the California Bar in 1970 and is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in California.  He is a long-time member of Wilshire Country Club and served as President in 2008-2009.