Brendan K. Collins is Leader of the firm's Manufacturing and Consumer Products team. He is an environmental lawyer who devotes his practice primarily to clients in the electric power sector and the oil and gas industry. He 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 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 has also litigated matters involving underground storage tanks and hazardous materials transportation. Outside the energy sector, his clients include manufacturers, real estate developers, hospitals and universities.
Experience
Representative Matters
- Environmental Protection Agency, et al. v. EME Homer City Generation L.P., et al., No. 12–1182 (Sup. Ct., decided April 29, 2014)
- White Stallion Energy Center, LLC, et al. v. Environmental Protection Agency, No. 12-1100 (D.C. Cir., decided April 15, 2014)
- American Nurses Association, et al. v. Jackson, et al., Civil No. 1:08-CV-02198 (D.D.C. 2012)
- Sierra Club v. Wellington Development – WVDT, LLC, 67 E.R.C. 1618, 2008 WL 2048332 (W.D. Pa. 2008)
- Groce v. Dept. of Envtl. Prot., 921 A.2d 567 (Pa. Commw. 2007)
- Groce v. Dept. of Envtl. Prot., 2006 E.H.B. 856, 2006 Pa. Envirn. Lexis 72 (Nov. 22, 2006)
Professional Highlights
Professional Activities
American Bar Association
Vice Chair and Section Liaison (SEER), Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section; Past Chair, Environmental Litigation and Toxic Tort Committee, Section on Environment, Energy and Resources
Recognition & Accomplishments
Chambers USA, environmental law, (Pennsylvania), 2003-2017, 2019-2024
The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental (Philadelphia), 2006-2025
Law360, MVP in environmental law, 2014
Who's Who Legal: Environment 2014
Speaking Engagements
Speaker, "The Causation Life Cycle: How Some Novel Causation Theories Become Mainstream (and Others Don't)," ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section's 28th Annual Spring CLE Meeting: Toxic Torts & Environmental Law, Coronado, CA, April 2019
Moderator, "Leveraging Energy and Infrastructure as a Strategic Asset in Higher Education," Ballard Spahr webinar, September 2017
"Regulatory Update on US Toxic Substances Controlled Act - Current Interpretations and the Impact on Business," Connect Conference, InformEx, Philadelphia, May 2017
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, 2013 edition, 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