Joseph B. Collins

Attorney Collins has handled some of the state’s most complex and high-profile bankruptcy cases of the past four decades. Among his many achievements, he has been named one of the Best Lawyers in America by Woodard & White, Inc., and has been recognized as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer and Top 100 Lawyer by Boston Magazine. He served as Bankruptcy Panel Trustee for more than 40 years and is also an elected Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy.

Education

  • Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, MA (Associates Degree) 1973
  • Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA (Bachelor of Science, Political Science) 1975
  • Suffolk University School of Law, Boston, MA (Juris Doctorate)1978


Employment

  • Kamberg, Berman & Hendel, P.C. Springfield, MA, 1978 – 1982
  • Western New England University School of Law, Springfield, MA, Adjunct Professor of Bankruptcy Law, 1980 – 1991
  • Hendel & Collins, P.C., Springfield MA, 1982 – 2020
  • Fitzgerald Attorneys at Law, P.C., East Longmeadow, MA, 2020 – Present


Civic / Professional Organizations / Recognitions

  • Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy (Elected as a Fellow in 2006)
  • Martindale-Hubbell Rating:  AV
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Woodard & White, Inc., New York, New York, Bankruptcy Law (1988 ‑ Present)
  • Massachusetts Super Lawyers, Boston Magazine (2004 – Present)
  • Massachusetts Top 100 Lawyers, Boston Magazine (2006, 2008, 2009 and 2013)
  • New England Top 100 Lawyers, Boston Magazine (2008)
  • American Bankruptcy Institute Northeast Bankruptcy Conference, Advisory Board (2003 – 2008)
  • National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees Co-Chair, Education Committee for Annual Convention (2009)
  • Turnaround Management Association of the Northeast, Inc. Springfield Satellite, Chairman (2002 – 2003)
  • Worcester Satellite, Executive Committee (2004 – 2008)
  • Hampden County Bar Association Executive Committee (1982 ‑ 1983),
  • Chairman, Young Lawyers Division (1982 ‑ 1983)
  • Commercial Law League of America Chairman, New England Region (1989 ‑ 1990)
  • Vice Chairman, New England Region (1988 ‑ 1989)
  • M. Ellen Carpenter Financial Literary Program, Western Massachusetts Coordinator (2007)
  • Legatus, Western Massachusetts Chapter Founding Member (2006 – 2012)
  • Boy Scouts of America, Pioneer Valley Chapter, Troop 90 Troop Committee / Eagle Scout Court of Honor Master of Ceremonies (2002 – 2006)
  • National Conference for Community and Justice, Western Massachusetts Banquet Committee (2002 – 2004)
  • United Way of Pioneer Valley Professionals Division Campaign Coordinator (2009 – 2010)
  • Community Legal Aid Access to Justice Campaign Leadership Committee (2012 – 2014)
  • Chairman, Access to Justice Campaign Leadership Committee (2015)
  • Saint Thomas More Award, Presented by Hampden Country Bar Association, Saint Thomas More Section, 2018
  • Pro Bono Publico Award, Presented by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, 2019

 

Bar Admissions

  • United States Supreme Court, 1984
  • First Circuit Court of Appeals, 1980
  • United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, 1979
  • United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, 1980
  • United States District Court for the District of Vermont, 1983
  • Supreme Judicial Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1978

 

Trustee Appointment

  • Private Panel of Bankruptcy Trustees, Appointed by the United States Trustee for the District of Massachusetts, 1979 – present (Longest serving Panel Trustee in the United States)

 

Significant Trustee Appointments

  •  Robert N. Lupo (Boston area real estate investor) Docket No. 09-21945-JNF
  • OM Industries, Inc. f/k/a Malden Mills, Inc., Chapter 7 Trustee,   (major manufacturer of fleece apparel) Docket No. 07-40124-JBR
  • Angy’s Food Products Inc., Chapter 11 Trustee, Chapter 7 Trustee,   (manufacturer of Italian food products) Docket No. 05-60105-HJB
  • Meebak, Inc., Chapter 11 Trustee, Chapter 7 Trustee, (auction/consignment business) Docket No. 05-50496-HJB
  • Komtek, Inc., Chapter 11 Trustee, Chapter 7 Trustee,  (Worcester manufacturer of specialty steel products) Docket No. 04-44249-HJB
  • Softlock.com, Inc., Chapter 11 Trustee, Chapter 7 Trustee, (developer of software for internet publishing) Docket No. 02-42381-HJB

 

Significant Reported Decisions

  • Collins v. Greater Atlantic Mortgage Corporation (In re Lazarus), 478 F.3d 12 (1st Cir.2007)
  • In re Hildebrandt, 320 B.R. 40 (1st Cir. BAP 2004)
  • In re Leigh, 307 B.R. 324 (Bkrtcy. D. Mass. 2004)
  • Ostrander v. City of Springfield, 329 F.3d 204 (1st Cir. 2003), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 1047 (2003)
  • In re Daylight Dairy Products, Inc., 125 B.R. 1 (Bkrtcy. D. Mass. 1991)
  • Dart and Bogue Co., Inc. v. Slosberg, 202 Conn. 566, 522 A.2d 763 (Conn. 1987)
  • In re Northeast Chick Services, Inc., 43 B.R. 326 (Bkrtcy. D. Mass. 1984)