Brendan K. Collins is Leader of the firm's Manufacturing and Consumer Products team. He represents clients in federal and state regulatory matters and litigation arising under the environmental and trade laws. He devotes his practice primarily to clients in the manufacturing, electric power, and energy sectors, and has litigated civil, criminal, and administrative matters in numerous state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He advises clients on permitting issues and regulatory matters, as well as government and regulatory affairs, where he counsels clients on current regulations, prepares comments on proposed regulations and, where necessary, litigates regulatory challenges in the appellate courts.
Brendan provides counsel to clients managing large-scale, multi-party environmental matters and regulatory proceedings. He has led and contributed to teams navigating major Superfund and remediation cases, environmental enforcement actions, and intricate permitting appeals. Brendan represents developers of both conventional and renewable energy generation facilities in permit challenges and other litigation, and defends owners of existing facilities against government investigations, enforcement actions, citizen suits, and toxic tort claims. He is active in carbon credit regulatory programs and voluntary markets, representing carbon credit developers and users in strategic, transactional, and compliance matters. He also counsels clients on extended producer responsibility laws and sustainability programs and issues, as well as advertising claims regarding environmental attributes.
Brendan regularly advises clients on trade law, providing strategic guidance and regulatory support concerning complex trade issues, including tariff programs, trade investigations, and costs imposed on the shipping industry. He is admitted to the Court of International Trade.
Representative Experience
Representative Matters
- Provided legal counsel for a major agribusiness company in high-stakes environmental litigation, managing expert witness strategy, coordinating with co-counsel and clients on trial preparation, and contributing to settlement discussions and ongoing remediation efforts. Involved complex regulatory directives and contamination matters, monitored legal developments, and oversaw the preparation and analysis of expert reports, depositions, and pretrial filings.
- Advised a subsidiary of a gourmet and organic coffee company on legal compliance and financial responsibilities related to tariff adjustments, specifically regarding International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariff refunds.
- Legal counsel to a multinational company in complex environmental litigation, focusing on settlement strategy, regulatory negotiations, expert coordination, and case management for a major river remediation matter.
Professional Highlights
Recognition & Accomplishments
Chambers USA, Environmental Law, (Pennsylvania), 2003-2017, 2019-2025
The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental (Philadelphia), 2006-2026; "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation - Environmental (Philadelphia), 2026
Law360, MVP in Environmental Law, 2014
Who's Who Legal: Environment 2014
Speaking Engagements
Moderator, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Environmental Law Forum, "Carbon Markets," 2025
Moderator, National Association of Manufacturers Legal Summit, "Balancing Compliance and Opportunity in a Shifting Regulatory Environment," 2024
Moderator, Ballard Spahr LLP 12th Annual Green Infrastructure Conference, "Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Challenges and Solutions," 2024
Publications
Frequent writer and speaker on a variety of environmental law topics, including climate change, toxic torts, underground storage tank litigation, industrial site redevelopment and lender liability
Author of articles in Journal of Environmental Regulation, Temple Environmental Law and Technology Journal, Villanova Law Review, Natural Resources & Environment, and Public Utilities Fortnightly
Contributing author, The Legal Impact of Climate Change: Leading Lawyers on Responding to Climate Change Developments and Complying with New Regulations, chapter titled "Developing Sustainability Programs that Encourage Business Growth and Environmental Compliance," published by Thomson Reuters/Aspatore
Credentials
Education
Villanova University School of Law (J.D. 1988, magna cum laude)
Editor, Villanova Law Review; Member, Order of the Coif
St. Joseph's University (B.S. 1985, Mathematics)
Languages
French
Admissions
Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of International Trade