A shareholder in the Atlanta office and a native of Claxton, Georgia, Donnell Collins attended Morehouse College where he matriculated as a Presidential Scholar and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society following his junior year of study. Donnell graduated from Morehouse in 1993 with the highest honors (summa cum laude). He entered law school that same year at Emory University as a Merit Scholar.
While in law school, he gained considerable experience as an intern for Chief Justice Robert Benham of the Supreme Court of Georgia. After graduating from Emory in 1996, Donnell launched his litigation career with the law firm of King & Spalding. In 1997, he joined the law firm of Zirkle and Hoffman where he continued his civil litigation practice. He also began an extensive insurance defense practice, specializing in the representation of self-insured employers, insurance companies, and third-party administrators in workers’ compensation matters. Five years later, he became a Partner in the firm.
Since joining Hall Booth Smith in 2002, Donnell’s practice has also included the defense of health care professionals in medical malpractice cases and general liability claims. He represents some of the most respected Fortune 100 companies. In 2006, he was appointed by Attorney General Thurbert Baker as a Special Assistant to the Attorney General to represent the State of Georgia in workers’ compensation matters. He is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated (lawyers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence) and was recognized as one of the state’s top lawyers in Georgia Trend Magazine’s 2012 Legal Elite publication, Atlanta Magazine’s 2014 Top Lawyers of Georgia, and The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Top Lawyers 2018.
Now in his third decade of practicing law, Donnell continues to do so with the recognition as one of Georgia’s top rated lawyers and an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated attorney.
Experience
Aging Services
Donnell has worked with long term care providers since joining Hall Booth Smith 22 years ago. He works diligently with clients to quickly address claims efficiently and cost effectively and handles all aspects of litigation. He has extensive experience defending assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home health entities, and community care retirement facilities against allegations of negligence and wrongful death.
Education
Donnell’s practice includes the defense and representation of educational institutions and school administrators. He provides counsel on issues related to institutional policies and procedures, school safety and security, student rights and discipline, equity and discrimination, and records management. Donnell also represents professional educators in matters concerning their employment status, tenure, and certification.
Labor & Employment
Donnell is committed to helping employers avoid, resolve, and prevail in employment disputes involving the full range of employment and labor issues. This includes litigation in state and federal courts and the representation of employers before administrative agencies over claims including: discrimination, harassment, retaliation, accommodation, and state torts such as negligent supervision and hiring, intentional, and negligent infliction of emotional distress, defamation, invasion of privacy, and wrongful discharge allegations.
Medical Malpractice
Donnell has defended physicians, nurses, hospitals, and other medical defendants in medical malpractice cases involving allegations of wrongful death, negligent care and treatment, and misdiagnosis. He zealously represents health care professionals and entities in all phases of litigation.
Workers' Compensation
Donnell has served as counsel defending workers’ compensation claims for nearly two decades. He also serves as a Special Assistant to the Attorney General, where he represents the State of Georgia in workers’ compensation matters. He focuses on obtaining a swift and favorable resolution to claims as well as representing his clients’ long-term business interests.
Recognition
•AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
•Top Lawyers of Georgia, Atlanta Magazine, 2014
•Top Rated Lawyer in Medical Malpractice Law, The American Lawyer, 2014
•Legal Elite, Georgia Trend Magazine, 2012
•Georgia Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2009
•National TRIO Achievers Award, 1998
In the Press
Partner Donnell J. Collins Receives Defense Ruling
November 6, 2013
Donnell Collins, a Partner in the Atlanta office, received a defense ruling on September 20, 2013 in a workers’ compensation case he tried in May before the Trial Division of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation as counsel for Sedgwick CMS and Universal Health Services. Judge Elizabeth Lammers issued the Award denying the employee’s claim
