David Collins

David Collins is an associate in the Real Estate, Land Use and Natural Resources and Environmental Practice Group in the firm's Orange County office.

Areas of Practice

David P. Collins has a unique background and a diverse  practice the encompasses land use, real estate development and transactions, corporate counseling and entity formation, intellectual property, and media and entertainment. 

David handles matters involving the purchase, sale, entitlement and development of real property; environmental due diligence; compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), local zoning and land use requirements; the formation of corporations, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships; buy-sell agreements; private offerings; and business succession. Additionally, he works with clients in music, licensing, publishing and professional athletic endorsements.

David recently co-represented the southern California rock band Supernova in its trademark infringement claim against CBS Broadcasting, Mark Burnett Productions and Rockstar Entertainment. The defendants' reality-television show "Rockstar: Supernova," sought to find a vocalist for a new band to be called Supernova and comprised of Motley Crue's drummer Tommy Lee, former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, and former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilbey Clark. Defendants were enjoined from referring to the new rock group as Supernova.

Prior to attending law school, David spent nearly seven years in the music industry working at Capitol Records and Blue Note Records, where he negotiated marketing and media content agreements, and developed Internet promotions for the labels' releases with companies such as Microsoft and Macro Media. Along with working for major labels, David was in a professional touring band, which occasionally still performs, that had releases on Atlantic Records, Sony Music, and appearances on Bill Nye.

David externed for the Honorable Gary L. Taylor of the Central District of California and the Honorable Thomas F. Crosby of the California Court of Appeal, Division 4, Santa Ana, California.

Education

• J.D., Chapman University School of Law, 2001, cum laude
• B.A., Chapman University, 1989

Admissions

• California

Honors

• Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Star, Law & Politics and Los Angeles magazine, 2007
• Recipient, Burton Award (excellence in legal writing)
• Recipient, Who's Who Among American Law Students Award
• Senior articles editor, Chapman Law Review

Memberships

• Member, Orange County Bar

Articles

• Effective Urban Fringe Planning: A Case Study of the 2007 San Diego Wild Fires, San Diego Daily Transcript, August 22, 2008

• "Internet Ambush: Using the Patent & Trademark Office to Shut  Down a Competitor's Domain-Name," Chapman Law Review (Spring 2001)

Real Estate & Construction Law Blog Articles

• "Agreements Conditioned On Subsequent CEQA Review Violate CEQA If Record Shows Agency Already Committed To Project", November 4, 2008
• "Homestead Exemption Does Not Apply to Home Owned by Single Shareholder Corporation", October 23, 2008
• "City of Rancho Palos Verdes Liable for Taking During Moratorium", October 23, 2008
• "Challenge to a Moratorium Resolution Announcing Plans for Zoning Amendments Dismissed as Not Ripe to Litigate", October 23, 2008