Shawn M. Collins
The Collins Law Firm, P.C.An outstanding trial attorney, Shawn Collins is at his best in a courtroom. Shawn has extensive experience handling “high stakes” litigation in environmental contamination, toxic tort, personal injury, and commercial cases. Most recently, Shawn served as co-counsel in a case resulting in a $363 million jury verdict for a woman who contracted breast cancer after decades of exposure to ethylene oxide. He has also been instrumental in acquiring clean water and contamination-free homes for thousands of families. Shawn has recovered millions for clients, including: $34.5 million for a neighborhood contaminated with toxic vapors; $8.5 million for the family of a firefighter killed in a traffic accident; $16.9 million for families with groundwater contamination; $8.19 million for a town with vapor and groundwater contamination; $12 million for plaintiffs who contracted cancer after exposure to toxic chemicals; and $30 million for condominium owners in a property dispute. Shawn has been named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The American Trial Lawyers Association from 2005 through 2022. Shawn is also a “Leading Lawyer”, a distinction earned by fewer than 5% of all lawyers in Illinois. In addition, Shawn has been selected as an Illinois “Super Lawyer” 14 times, most recently in 2023. Shawn has also recently been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by America’s Top 100 Attorneys. Selection to this group is reserved for only 100 attorneys in each state. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame, Shawn received his law degree from The University of Chicago Law School. He is also a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois. Shawn is a member of the National Trial Lawyers and the Illinois and Chicago Bar Associations. Shawn’s cases have been covered on ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC, and he has been honored as a finalist for the Daily Herald newspaper’s “person of the year” award for his work on behalf of families in Lisle, IL.
- University of Chicago
- J.D. (1986) | Law
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- University of Notre Dame
- B.B.A. | Accounting, Philosophy
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- Honors: Summa Cum Laude
- Partner / Owner
- The Collins Law Firm, P.C.
- - Current
- Attorney
- Mayer Brown and Platt
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- Leading Lawyer
- Leading Lawyers
- Top 100 Trial Lawyer
- National Trial Lawyers
- Super Lawyer
- Super Lawyers
- AV Preeminent
- Martindale Hubbell
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- America's Top 100 Attorneys
- State Bar of Illinois  # 6195107
- Member
- Current
- Chicago Bar Association
- Member
- Current
- DuPage Bar Association
- Member
- Current
- National Trial Lawyers
- Member
- Current
- American Association for Justice
- Member
- Current
- Illinois
- Free Consultation
- Contingent Fees
- Environmental Law
- Personal Injury
- Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
- Business Law
- Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
- Nursing Home Abuse
- Medical Malpractice
- Birth Injury, Medical Misdiagnosis, Pharmacy Errors, Surgical Errors
- Products Liability
- Drugs & Medical Devices, Motor Vehicle Defects, Toxic Torts
- Real Estate Law
- Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law
- English: Spoken, Written
- Q. My mother in law has been watching my dogs they got out of the yard and bite someone. Who would be liable?
- A: In Illinois, generally, the dog’s owner is liable to pay all damages incurred by a dog bite victim, unless the dog was provoked, or the victim was a trespasser on the property of the dog’s owner.
However, it is wise to discuss the facts of your particular case with an attorney experienced in such cases before making a final decision as to what you should do.