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East Meadow's Rick Collins Receives 'Leadership in Law' Award
The award recognizes work both in the legal profession and in the community that has had a positive impact on Long Island.
Rick Collins of East Meadow has been recognized with a 2013 "Leadership in Law" award.
Collins was recognized in the "partner" category and received his award at a ceremony in November at the Crest Hollow Country Club. He was one of 14 law firm partners honored with the award.
The East Meadow resident is a founding partner at the criminal defense law firm of Collins, McDonald & Gann, P.C., which he co-founded with partners Marc Gann and Robert McDonald in 1990.
The award, presented by Long Island Business News, recognizes "leaders in the legal community for the qualities of experience, dedication, hard work, skill, tenacity, excellence and compassion" and whose work both in the legal profession and in the community has had a positive impact on Long Island.
“We congratulate Rick on this recognition of his contributions to the Long Island law community,” Gann said. “Rick has made some important strides in a number of areas of the law while establishing himself as a true leader both through his legal skills as well as his philanthropic work, and we are thrilled that he has been honored with this award.”
Collins has become a legal authority on the non-medical use/abuse of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing substances, according to a press release, and has defended cases involving professional bodybuilders, BALCO, the NCAA and several professional sports leagues.
Collins also serves as co-chairman of a proposal to seal certain non-violent, low-level criminal records in New York. His proposal has been adopted by the New York State Bar Association and the Nassau County Bar Association, where he serves as a director, and has also been endorsed by Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, the press release said.
His legal abilities and ethical standards have been recognized by the Martindale-Hubbell directory of lawyers and he is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.
Collins has also raised money for cancer research through his “Leap for Life” international charity skydive event.
For a complete listing of this year’s honorees, click here.
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