Atty. Donnell J. Collins
A shareholder in the Atlanta office and a native of Claxton, Georgia, Donnell Collins attended Morehouse College where he matriculated as a Presidential Scholar and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society following his junior year of study. Donnell graduated from Morehouse in 1993 with the highest honors ( summa cum laude ).
Profile Summary
About Donnell J. Collins at a glance
Donnell J. Collins is a Partner based in Atlanta, Georgia, practicing at Hall Booth Smith, P.C.. They have 30+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1996. Their practice focuses on medical malpractice, employment, workers comp, and education. Admitted to practice in Georgia (1996), Supreme Court of the State of Georgia (1998), Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia (1998), and United States District Court Northern District of Georgia (1998). Educated at Emory University School of Law (J.D., 1996) and Morehouse College (B.A. Banking, 1993). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of Memberships •Association of Trial Lawyers of America •Pennsylvania Bar Association •The Lawyers Club of Atlanta. Serands clients in Atlanta, GA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- A shareholder in the Atlanta office and a native of Claxton, Georgia, Donnell Collins attended Morehouse College where he matriculated as a Presidential Scholar and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society following his junior year of study
- Donnell graduated from Morehouse in 1993 with the highest honors (summa cum laude)
- He entered law school that same year at Emory University as a Merit Scholar
- While in law school, he gained considerable experience as an intern for Chief Justice Robert Benham of the Supreme Court of Georgia
- After graduating from Emory in 1996, Donnell launched his litigation career with the law firm of King & Spalding
- In 1997, he joined the law firm of Zirkle and Hoffman where he continued his civil litigation practice
- He also began an extensive insurance defense practice, specializing in the representation of self-insured employers, insurance companies, and third-party administrators in workers’ compensation matters
- Five years later, he became a Partner in the firm
- Since joining Hall Booth Smith in 2002, Donnell’s practice has also included the defense of health care professionals in medical malpractice cases and general liability claims
- He represents some of the most respected Fortune 100 companies
- In 2006, he was appointed by Attorney General Thurbert Baker as a Special Assistant to the Attorney General to represent the State of Georgia in workers’ compensation matters
- He is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated (lawyers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence) and was recognized as one of the state’s top lawyers in Georgia Trend Magazine’s 2012 Legal Elite publication, Atlanta Magazine’s 2014 Top Lawyers of Georgia, and The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Top Lawyers 2018
- Now in his third decade of practicing law, Donnell continues to do so with the recognition as one of Georgia’s top rated lawyers and an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated attorney
- Experience Aging Services Donnell has worked with long term care providers since joining Hall Booth Smith 22 years ago
- He works diligently with clients to quickly address claims efficiently and cost effectively and handles all aspects of litigation
- He has extensive experience defending assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home health entities, and community care retirement facilities against allegations of negligence and wrongful death
- Education Donnell’s practice includes the defense and representation of educational institutions and school administrators
- He provides counsel on issues related to institutional policies and procedures, school safety and security, student rights and discipline, equity and discrimination, and records management
- Donnell also represents professional educators in matters concerning their employment status, tenure, and certification
- Labor & Employment Donnell is committed to helping employers avoid, resolve, and prevail in employment disputes involving the full range of employment and labor issues
- This includes litigation in state and federal courts and the representation of employers before administrative agencies over claims including: discrimination, harassment, retaliation, accommodation, and state torts such as negligent supervision and hiring, intentional, and negligent infliction of emotional distress, defamation, invasion of privacy, and wrongful discharge allegations
- Medical Malpractice Donnell has defended physicians, nurses, hospitals, and other medical defendants in medical malpractice cases involving allegations of wrongful death, negligent care and treatment, and misdiagnosis
- He zealously represents health care professionals and entities in all phases of litigation
- Workers' Compensation Donnell has served as counsel defending workers’ compensation claims for nearly two decades
- He also serves as a Special Assistant to the Attorney General, where he represents the State of Georgia in workers’ compensation matters
- He focuses on obtaining a swift and favorable resolution to claims as well as representing his clients’ long-term business interests
- Recognition •AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell •Top Lawyers of Georgia, Atlanta Magazine, 2014 •Top Rated Lawyer in Medical Malpractice Law, The American Lawyer, 2014 •Legal Elite, Georgia Trend Magazine, 2012 •Georgia Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2009 •National TRIO Achievers Award, 1998 In the Press Partner Donnell J. Collins Receives Defense Ruling November 6, 2013 Donnell Collins, a Partner in the Atlanta office, received a defense ruling on September 20, 2013 in a workers’ compensation case he tried in May before the Trial Division of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation as counsel for Sedgwick CMS and Universal Health Services
- Judge Elizabeth Lammers issued the Award denying the employee’s claim
Practice Areas Explained
Donnell J. Collins's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Donnell J. Collins handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Medical malpractice lawyers represent patients harmed by negligent doctors, hospitals, and other providers. Free case review, no fee unless you win.
Donnell J. Collins is one of 49,086 medical malpractice attorneys indexed nationally. Browse medical malpractice attorneys in Georgia →
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Donnell J. Collins is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in Georgia →
Workers compensation lawyers help injured workers get medical care, lost wages, and disability benefits. Free consult, no fee unless you win.
Donnell J. Collins is one of 55,389 workers comp attorneys indexed nationally. Browse workers comp attorneys in Georgia →
Education attorneys for special education (IEP), school discipline, Title IX, and student rights.
Donnell J. Collins is one of 24,079 education attorneys indexed nationally. Browse education attorneys in Georgia →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Georgia
Practicing law in Georgia. Legal matters in Georgia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Atlanta are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Georgia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Georgia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Georgia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Georgia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Atlanta or all attorneys in Georgia.
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