| Ms. Collins provides employment and business litigation services to clients in state and federal courts and administrative agencies, focusing in particular on matters involving claims of employment discrimination and sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and breach of contract. She assists businesses in handling a broad spectrum of labor and employment issues, including internal investigations; discipline and termination of employees; questions on wage and hour, overtime, leave, and employee classification laws; reductions-in-force; and employment agreements, personnel policies, and employee handbooks. Ms. Collins specializes in advising education clients on matters involving faculty and staff employment, tenure, student affairs and discipline, compliance with civil rights and federal and state anti-discrimination laws, procurement and contracts, risk management, insurance, and general liability issues, data privacy and security, campus security, and research compliance. |
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Ms. Collins rejoined Bowditch & Dewey after several years as Associate Counsel in the Office of General Counsel at the University of Massachusetts where she provided advice to administration and faculty on a wide variety of higher education issues. Previously, she was an associate and partner at Bowditch & Dewey and served as a Law Clerk to the Justices of the Superior Court of Massachusetts from 1998 to 1999. In addition, Ms. Collins won a bronze medal in the lightweight women’s double rowing event at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, and was a six-time United States National Rowing Team member with four gold, one silver, and one bronze medal from the 1991, 1994-1996 and 1998-1999 World Rowing Championships.
Honors
Massachusetts Lawyer of the Year:
One of ten Massachusetts attorneys selected by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly to receive award for successful pro bono representation of female medical student in gender discrimination lawsuit against entity administering physician licensing examination for refusal to accommodate need to breastfeed.
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| Representative Experience | |
| Professional/Community Affiliations | |
- Women’s Vice President, U.S. Rowing Board of Directors (2002 – present);
- Former Vice President and President, Quinsigamond Rowing Association (2006-2009);
- Former Director, United Way of Tri-County (2006 -2008);
- Former Director, Boys & Girls Club of Worcester (2001-2005);
- Law Clerk to the Justices, Superior Court of Massachusetts (1998-1999)
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Speaking Engagements
James E. Wallace Jr. College & University Roundtable Series/2007-2008: Adjunct Faculty; Students With Disabilities: Dealing With Psychological Disabilities; Academic Malpractice and Grade Changes; College Athletics: Hazing, Harassment and Other Horribles; College Athletics: Risk Management and Other Issues
Worcester Area Chamber of Commerce/2007: Smart Hiring Strategies for Growing Companies
Publications
Human Resources Management Association/2006-2007: Legal Perspectives
Legislative Update , E-Discovery Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Why Developing A Records Management Program Should Make Your Company’s 2007 “To Do List”, Summer Happenings in State and Federal Case Law
The New USERRA Regulations: Know Your Obligations, Privacy Regulatory Changes Affecting Massachusetts Employers - The “Disposal Rule” and CORI
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| 4/18/12 | National Labor Relations Board New Posting Requirement Rule SUSPENDED | | 6/1/11 | Retaliation Restricted by Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices Act |
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| 11/28/11 | Massachusetts Legislature Approves Bill Protecting Rights of Transgender Individuals | | 10/4/11 | Employee or Independent Contractor? High Stakes and More Complications | | 9/19/11 | Discrimination Against Unemployed Job-Seekers May Soon Be Illegal | | 9/13/11 | National Labor Relations Board Issues New Posting Requirement On Rights To Organize | | 7/8/11 | Connecticut Legislature Mandates Paid Sick Leave: Massachusetts Employers Should be Wary |
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| 5/16/12 | Breakfast @ Bowditch - Social Media Issues for Employers: When is it Your Business? | | 1/26/12 | Third Annual Federal and State Employment Law Update | | 10/20/11 | Breakfast @ Bowditch - An Interactive Conversation with MCAD Chairman Julian Tynes | | 10/13/11 | Combating Sexual Violence and Harassment on Campus: Practical Implications of the U.S. Department of Education's Title IX Dear Colleague Letter | | 5/13/11 | James E. Wallace, Jr. College and University Roundtable Spring 2011 Schedule |
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| | B.A., 1991, With Honors, Trinity College | | J.D., 1998, George Washington University |
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