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Mr. Collings is co-chair of the Energy & Environmental Practice Group, co-chair of the Sustainability and Environmental Services Practice Group, former chair of the Litigation Department, and a former member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. He has more than 40 years of regulatory and litigation experience in environmental law and hazardous substance issues and environmentally-affected corporate, real estate, and land use issues. A former enforcement attorney and manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mr. Collings represents manufacturing, transportation, financial services, retail and real estate businesses and others with permit needs, claims, and transactional matters involving environmental or regulatory issues. He has detailed familiarity with federal, state and local regulatory programs and their managers and tries cases in state and federal courts and administrative tribunals.

News & Publications

Community & Pro Bono

  • Water Resources Association, secretary, member of Executive Committee

Education

  • Boston College, J.D., 1977
  • Harvard University, A.B., cum laude, 1972

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania, 1977

Court Admissions

  • All Pennsylvania courts
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania
  • District of Columbia Circuit

Professional Affiliations

  • Philadelphia Bar Association (chair, Environmental Law Committee, 1986), 1984-2010
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, 1984-present
  • American Bar Association (Environment, Energy and Resources Section), vice chair, Civil/Criminal Enforcement Committee, 2003-2006

Other Distinctions

  • Rated AV® Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Member of the Law360 Environmental Advisory Board, 2016-2019
  • Listed in the Houston Business Journal’s “Who’s Who in Energy,” 2012
  • Listed in Who’s Who in American Law, 2005-present
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Environmental Law and Litigation – Environmental, 1989-2023
  • Listed in The Chambers USA Guide as among the top practitioners in Environment Law in Pennsylvania, 2004-present*
  • Noted as a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” for Environmental Law, 2004-present
  • Water Resources Association Achievement Award, 1996
  • Environmental Protection Agency Bronze Medal, 1981 and 1979

*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Further information on methodologies is available via these links.

Representative Matters

  • Mr. Collings has extensive specific knowledge in matters involving water, solid and hazardous waste and air issues
  • He has defended clients from government and private lawsuits in federal and state courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Washington and California.
  • He has conducted or supervised environmental reviews in connection with asset transactions in many states.
  • Mr. Collings is presently national coordinating counsel for environmental matters and environmental tort claims for a major international manufacturing firm.

Representative Engagements

  • Owner/operator, several lead smelters and battery plants – nationwide;
    Principal respondent, Marjol Battery site;
    Principal defendant, Drake Chemical site;
    Special counsel, experts litigation, Atlas Minerals site; and
    Former group counsel, Morgantown Ordinance Works.
  • Permit issues – major production facilities for polymers, specialty chemical producers, oil refineries, battery manufacturers, metal products, furniture industries, transportation, etc.
  • Compliance review, release reporting projects – companies involved in battery manufacturing, industrial gas production/distribution, electronics, chemical manufacturing, telecommunications