Matthew Collins Email & Phone Number

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Serving as the Chair of the Community Association Practice Group at Horn Williamson, Matthew C. Collins represents community associations throughout Pennsylvania. He provides his clients with expert advice so they can navigate difficult situations and resolve issues in a practical and cost-effective manner.Community associations routinely engage Matthew for assistance with: governing document interpretation and enforcement; contract negotiation and drafting; guidance through the transition process; construction defect litigation; collections; and director liability claims. Matthew is also sought after by individuals and businesses for his strategic guidance and innovative solutions on matters involving contracts, real estate and commercial disputes.Through effective risk management and creative problem-solving, Matthew regularly helps his clients avoid litigation. When litigation is necessary and unavoidable, Matthew’s clients seek his commonsense perspective and pragmatic approach to resolving serious disputes. No stranger to the courtroom, he is an effective advocate with significant experience in state and federal courts.

Greater Philadelphia Area

With a practice that focuses on community association law, construction defect litigation, commercial litigation, complex litigation and collections, my clients include condominium associations, homeowner associations, financial institutions, debt buyers, construction firms, equipment lessors and individuals. My knowledge and practical experience allow me to provide strategic guidance and day-to-day oversight over complex disputes as well as routine operations. In addition to managing client risk and guiding disputes towards favorable resolution, I assist clients by analyzing and negotiating contracts as well as interpreting complex legal documents. I am adept at conveying the practical implications of complicated legal matters to individuals and organizations with varying levels of sophistication in these matters. I have represented my clients in a myriad of issues within the area of community association law. These issues include, but are not limited to,■ Interpretation, maintenance, drafting and enforcement of governing documents■ Board governance issues■ Litigation of multi-million dollar construction defect cases■ Transition matters■ Collection of delinquent assessments and fines■ Foreclosures■ Fair Housing issues■ Analysis, negotiation and drafting of contracts covering such items as capital improvements and construction remediation■ Insurance coverage■ Association and director liability With my years of practice and my understanding of the correlation between economics and law, I have the experience to discern when issues should be resolved through alternative means of dispute resolution and when a trial on the merits is necessary. Given my experience, I am able to help my clients avoid litigation altogether through proper risk management and best practices.

Greater Philadelphia Area

Co-chair of the Community Associations Practice Group. Practiced in the areas of community association law, construction defect litigation, commercial litigation, complex litigation, lender liability and collections.

Greater Philadelphia Area

My practice focused on community association law, construction defect litigation, commercial litigation, collections and real estate matters. I served as outside general counsel to community associations located throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. In this role, I forged strategic partnerships with my clients' community managers, accountants, engineers, architects, insurance brokers and other key vendors.I was a key member of the commercial litigation department. I served as lead or co-counsel in nearly every commercial and complex litigation matter handled by the firm.

Greater Pittsburgh Area

I served as an integral member of the commercial litigation and government investigations practice groups. It is here where I grew beyond litigator to advisor and risk manager. I became adept at discovering the subtleties of client needs and aided them in making small yet critical adjustments to their business practices which allowed them to better manage their risk and avoid expensive litigation.I also provided outside general counsel to various businesses and organizations on regulatory compliance, social media policy, document retention, and e-discovery. Frequently, I assumed the primary role in settlement negotiations, mediations, and trials on cases staffed by multiple lawyers. I also was the primary coordinator for e-discovery for potential and active litigation within the firm while providing the primary oversight of the work performed by outside vendors in the areas of e-discovery, computer forensics, and data management services.

My practice focused primarily on commercial litigation, consumer protection, and criminal defense. As a managing member of the firm, my administrative duties included, but were not limited to, staff oversight and training, technology management, accounting, and marketing.

I worked in the commercial litigation and creditor’s rights practice groups. My administrative duties included interviewing, training, and supervising the law clerks.

My work focused on creditor’s rights, collections, lender liability defense, and consumer protection.I served as one of the primary trial attorneys for cases that went to trial.

Greater Pittsburgh Area

As a public defender, I served in the preliminary hearing and trial divisions. In addition to honing my courtroom skills, this is the position that solidified my desire to fight for clients. This position also instilled in me the ability to be empathetic and non-judgmental towards my clients and developed my critical listening skills to better understand my client’s needs, goals, and problems.

In this position, I was responsible for the primary draftsmanship of opinions spanning a wide array of civil and criminal cases. I researched, analyzed, and summarized appellate briefs and related submissions and conferred with Judge Popovich, judicial clerks, and Central Legal Staff regarding the resolution of appellate issues, oral argument, and precedential agreement.

Bachelor’S Degree, International Politics

Juris Doctor (J.D.)