Patrick M. Collins

Patrick Collins, a member of the firm's Executive Committee, is a highly accomplished trial attorney and investigator who focuses on representing companies and individuals in complex civil and criminal matters in federal courts throughout the United States. Considered one of the highest-profile attorneys in Chicago, Patrick has tried over 20 federal cases to verdict, and prevailed in each of them. In January 2010, Patrick was selected by the Chicago Law Bulletin as one of Chicago's "Top Ten" attorneys of the last decade. 

Since joining the firm in April 2007, Patrick has established and aggressively grown the Chicago Office's Investigations and White Collar practice. Patrick has led teams conducting internal investigations for Fortune 500 companies and public entities; Patrick also has represented individuals and companies in high-profile federal court litigation and in sensitive financial probes before various U.S. Attorneys' Offices, the SEC, and the CFTC.

Drawing heavily on his experience as a nationally recognized authority in public corruption matters, Patrick has provided preventive counseling and has conducted internal investigations regarding Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters.  He also has counseled universities and top university officials on a broad range of sensitive legal issues.

While at Perkins Coie, Patrick also has been selected for numerous independent, high-profile public engagements. In September 2009, Patrick was appointed by the United States Trustee and confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court as the Chapter 11 trustee for the A & O Life Fund LLC and six related estates. In January 2009, Patrick was appointed by Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn to chair the Illinois Reform Commission, which was tasked with making recommendations for ethical reform for Illinois government. In 2007, Patrick was selected as lead trial counsel for the Indiana Attorney General's Office in a ground-breaking civil RICO case, and, in 2008, as outside counsel for Wayne County Airport Authority's investigation of its multimillion dollar Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program (DBE), which led to a Department of Justice civil settlement with airport contractors for fraudulent DBE activities.

Prior to joining the firm, Patrick was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for 12 years in Chicago, the last four of which were as a supervisor in the corruption unit for U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. During his tenure, he spearheaded the eight-year Operation Safe Road investigation and led the prosecution team in the six-month trial and conviction of former Illinois Governor George Ryan.

Patrick regularly speaks to in-house counsel and corporate audiences on a variety of white collar topics, including conducting internal investigations and responding to sensitive inquiries by government agencies.  In January 2010, following his leadership role on the Illinois Reform Commission, Patrick authored a book entitled Challenging the Culture of Corruption: Game Changing Reform for Illinois.