Leverage My Four Decades of Legal Experience
Leverage my 45+ years experience as a corporate, commercial, and business lawyer to help you achieve your business goals.
Navigate the Corporate, Commercial, And Business Legal Landscape
Rely upon my in-depth legal expertise to identify, manage, and mitigate areas of legal risk faced by your business.
Legal Solutions for Your Unique Business Needs
After having helped clients for over 45 years, I can devise legal strategies that address your unique business needs and concerns.
About John F. Collins
/civ>
With over 45+ years experience practicing corporate, commercial, and business law in corporate law departments and in private practice, John offers practical and results-oriented guidance to his clients across diverse industry segments. His experience practising law in Canada and the United States and his demonstrated track record of success speaks for itself.
More About John F. Collins
I am dedicated to providing exceptional legal services to my clients. For 11 years I practiced law with a Fortune 100 corporation (Litton Industries Inc.) where I successfully managed all legal issues associated with over $ 5 billion in aerospace, electronics, and defense system sales made by Litton Systems Canada Limited. After leaving Litton, I practiced law in California with a Fortune 500 corporation (Science Applications International Corporation). I then returned to private practice in Toronto where I practiced law with downtown Toronto law firms for 30 years. With a wealth of legal experience, I can provide comprehensive legal solutions to individuals and businesses.
From 1977 to the present date, I have been a Barrister & Solicitor licenced to practice law in Ontario by the Law Society of Ontario. For 37 years, I was also an Attorney & Counsellor at Law licensed to practice law in California by the State Bar of California. In addition, I was a Solicitor licensed by The Law Society to practice law in England & Wales for 15 years.
I specialize in general business law, offering comprehensive legal counsel to corporations doing business in various industry segments. My core practice areas encompass corporate, commercial, and business law, as well as privacy and employment law. The following are some of the legal services that I typically provide to my clients:
Corporate Matters
- Forming, organizing, maintaining, and dissolving corporations
- Negotiating and drafting shareholder agreements
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Corporate reorganizations including those involving family trusts
Commercial Matters
- Assistance with bids and proposals
- Negotiating and drafting teaming agreements
- Negotiating and drafting sales and customer agreements
- Negotiating and drafting prime contracts, subcontracts, and supplier agreements
Business Law
- Act as General Counsel to small and medium sized business on a wide variety of issues
Employment Matters
- Negotiating and drafting employment agreements
- Assistance in complying with Ontario employment legislation
Privacy Matters
- Assistance in complying with federal and provincial privacy legislation
Dispute Resolution
- Resolving customer, contract, subcontract, and supplier disputes
- Resolving shareholder disputes, including minority shareholder oppression claims
Corporate Compliance Training
- Conducting online and in-person compliance training sessions for employees, including with respect to Canada’s anti-bribery and anti-corruption legislation
While confidentiality and client privilege prevent me from disclosing specific details about my cases, I have achieved significant successes on behalf of my clients. For example, for 13 years I acted as co-leader of a trial team which obtained one of the largest judgements ever awarded against the Canadian federal government involving a public contract (Amertek v. Canadian Commercial Corporation). I also have successfully represented several minority shareholders in shareholder oppression claims. My track record also includes successfully negotiating complex business deals, purchasing and selling businesses, and securing favorable settlements on behalf of my clients.
I understand that each client has unique legal requirements. I take the time to listen and understand their specific objectives, tailoring my services to meet their legal needs effectively. I offer personalized legal advice and solutions, whether it’s for small start-ups or established corporations.
I have worked as a lawyer within major corporations and for corporations while in private practice. I am able to combine my deep legal knowledge with an understanding of the business environment to offer comprehensive and tailored legal solutions to my clients. I provide strategic advice based on insights gained from matters and transactions that I have successfully handled over the past four decades.
Media Features
John has appeared on the CBC’s “The Fifth Estate” television show, as well as on CBC’s “The National”, regarding the Amertek v. Canadian Commercial Corporation litigation. John was also interviewed and appeared in Lexpert Magazine’s March 2004 article on the Amertek case entitled: “Fronti Nulla Fides: The Amertek Litigation”.
Contact Us Today
If you have any legal inquiries or require legal assistance, please send me an email or give me a call.
