Partner

Sacramento

Direct: 916.945.5182

Office: 916.945.5170

kcollins@buchalter.com

Bar Admissions

California

Overview

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Kevin Collins is an experienced trial lawyer. Mr. Collins represents clients in a wide variety of areas including, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, class actions, antitrust, real estate, land use, construction, and mass torts. His clients range from small and medium size businesses to Fortune 500 companies, as well as public entities. Mr. Collins has been handling complex civil litigation matters through trial for almost 30 years.

In addition to his litigation practice, Kevin advises public agencies, businesses, and utilities on infrastructure resilience and recovery. He works with clients before, during, and after catastrophic events to address governance, operational and cyber risks, insurance and contract protections, emergency response, and complex recovery efforts involving essential public infrastructure.

Complex Litigation

  • Mr. Collins served as lead counsel for a public entity in a complex, multi plaintiff, coordinated action against PG&E arising from the Mosquito Fire, the largest wildfire in California in 2022, which resolved in an $80 million settlement, one of the largest wildfire related settlements for only two entities in California.
  • Represented multiple family member defendants in an antitrust case brought by Flannery Associates against numerous defendants for allegedly trying to fix the prices of land that Flannery was attempting to purchase. The case settled on favorable terms to Mr. Collins’ clients.
  • Mr. Collins successfully defended a company in the short-term vacation rental space in an antitrust, restraint of trade case brought by a competitor in an apparent attempt to eliminate its competition.
  • Mr. Collins settled an eminent domain matter for $2.675 million on behalf of the Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians against the State of California. Mr. Collins successfully negotiated a settlement for the Tribe that was almost $2 million more than the State initially offered.
  • Represents an original equipment manufacturer in its trade secret lawsuit against its former employees where the former employees are attempting to illegally use the client’s proprietary, trade secret information to set up an identical competing business.
  • Represented a defendant car registration company against its former member in an alleged trade secret and misappropriation of website likeness claim in Federal Court in the Eastern District of California. After filing a motion to dismiss, the parties engaged in early mediation and the plaintiff settled for a nominal sum without the need for any discovery or further motion practice.
  • Represented a large original equipment manufacturer of semi-trucks in an economic loss products liability case. The case involved allegations of structural failure of the driveline that resulted in a large explosion causing significant damage to the semi-truck and surrounding area. The case settled on favorable terms to the client.*
  • Represented one of the world’s largest generic pharmaceutical companies as local counsel in multiple wrongful death cases which alleged that a certain pain delivery system was causing overdoses resulting in the death of the patient.*
  • Represented global manufacturer of LCD panels in multi-district antitrust class actions, related opt‐out actions, numerous United States Attorneys’ General actions, and defended related prosecution by the United States Department of Justice.*
  • New Motor Vehicle Board v. Platinum Motors, LLC, et al. Represented the largest Lamborghini dealership in the United States in a proceeding against it before the California New Motor Vehicle Board attempting to revoke its dealer’s license.*
  • Elk Grove Community Services District v.City of Elk Grove. Represented the state’s largest community services district in an action by an overlapping city which was attempting to take over the community services’ park services.*

Construction

  • Represented a Northern California city in the defense of delay claims brought by a large infrastructure construction company. The City Engineer denied change orders for alleged unforeseen ground conditions and weather during the construction of roads for a large residential specific plan. After a successful pre‐litigation mediation, the parties settled prior to litigation to the satisfaction of the City.*
  • Represented a Southern California city in a construction defect case brought against one of the largest commercial contractors in the world. After destructive testing, the case settled in mediation with the city obtaining all of the relief it would have obtained if it had proceeded to trial.*
  • Represented a Northern California city in an alleged breach of warranty claim for a methane gas extraction system for a large commercial hotel. After discovery, obtained summary judgment in favor of the city and recovered the city’s attorneys’ fees and costs.*
  • Represented one of the largest resort developers in the world in a construction defect case alleging defects in the construction of condominiums at Palisades Village (formerly, Squaw Valley), California.*

Real Estate

  • Ham, et al. v. Intrawest Napa Development Company, LLC, et al. Lead counsel for Intrawest Corporation in an action alleging violations of the Federal Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act and the California Subdivision Map Act for a development in Napa, California.*
  • Solano County Transportation Authority v. Anheuser Bush, Inc. Represented Anheuser Busch, Inc. in an eminent domain action by the State of California and the Solano County Transportation Authority seeking to take Anheuser Busch’s property adjoining Interstate 80 near Fairfield, California to construct a truck scale station.*
  • Imel, et al. v. Lake Hemet Municipal Water District, et al. Lead trial counsel in a case against a municipal water district alleging numerous causes of action for personal injury, inverse condemnation, and quiet title. Plaintiff dismissed the case with prejudice after conclusion of the bench trial.*

Receivership Matters

  • National Bank of Arizona v. Kobra Associates, Inc., et al. Lead counsel in a multi‐million dollar federal receivership action enforcing loan obligations for National Bank of Arizona against the largest Jack in the Box franchise in Northern California.*
  • Represented investors in a dispute with the general partner concerning the development of a large single-family residential project in Lancaster California. Mr. Collins successfully had the general partner removed and a receiver appointed. The receiver took the project over when it was only raw land and successfully developed the project to completion for the benefit of the investors.*
  • Represented the receiver appointed by a global clothing brand because its manufacturer was making counterfeit clothing and selling it directly to retailers. The receiver took over multiple manufacturing plants, including those in foreign countries. The receiver was able to remove the management of the manufacturer, sale the excess product with the clothing brand’s consent and stabilize operations.*
  • Represented a large lending institution in a multimillion dollar receivership action. The receiver was appointed to take over the business that had been lying about its assets and using them for personal purposes. The receiver liquidated the business and paid the lending institution in full on its outstanding loans. The business owner ultimately was sentenced to prison.*
  • Represented a property investor in its purchase of a note secured by a deed of trust on a large apartment complex in Stockton, California. Mr. Collins was able to have the receiver appointed ex parte and later confirmed. Once appointed, the receiver sold the property after only 2 months securing the client a large profit on the purchased note. The Court also awarded 100% of the attorney’s fees and receiver’s fees incurred in connection with the lawsuit as part of the sale.

* Represents experience from a previous law firm.

Admissions

  • California
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
  • United States Supreme Court

Education

  • University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D., with high honors
    • Staff writer for the Legislative Law Review
  • University of Redlands, B.A., Liberal Arts and Sciences, cum laude
    • Phi Beta Kappa
    • High school teaching credential, Social Studies

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