After more than four decades of fielding just about every tactic the government or opposing counsel could conceivably throw at a client, I have developed great confidence—both in my own abilities and the legal system itself. When facing a potential corporate catastrophe, such as a DOJ or SEC investigation or a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit, it is critical to find the trusted right person to believe in you and understand every nuance of your case. Seen-it-before experience makes all the difference. Sophisticated companies and their general counsel demand it. I have plenty of proof that I’ve got it.
In a legal career spanning the country and more than 40 years, and with a primary focus on securities and Directors and Officers defense, Bruce Collins has handled so much high-stakes and high-dollar commercial litigation that he simply doesn’t scare anymore. This is why clients hire him.
Bruce’s reputation precedes him. In a chapter about the Fairfax Financial case in a recent book, New York Times bestselling author Matt Taibbi offered a play-by-play of Bruce’s defense of his broker-dealer client, describing him as “a drawling, dark-haired hotshot corporate defense lawyer who made The Best Lawyers in America three years running,” and noting that he had seen Bruce in action before, as the lead attorney defending Ken Lay in the Enron criminal trial.
Bruce never loses sight of the fact that his job really is all about people. Disputes at this level can create stress and difficulty for even the most sophisticated general counsel, and he does everything he can to alleviate that. Whether he’s representing a CEO, a board member, or the company itself, Bruce’s goal is to understand a client’s risks and goals, remove the impediments in their way and get clients back to what they do best—running and growing their enterprise.
Experience matters. I’ve been in cases where the trial lasted for four months and I’ve seen just about every tactic the government can throw at you. When I take on something new, I do it knowing that I’ve been tested. And I passed.
Bruce W. Collins
