INDIVIDUAL PROFILE

THOMAS F. COLLINS, JR., born Newark, New Jersey, April 7, 1953. Education: College of the Holy Cross (B.A. magna cum laude, 1975) (Phi Beta Kappa); Rutgers University Graduate School (Master of City and Regional Planning 1979); Rutgers Law School (J.D. 1979). Admitted as a Member of the New Jersey Bar in 1979; admitted to the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in 1981; admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court in 1983.

Mr. Collins is recognized statewide in land use, environmental and municipal law. A substantial part of Mr. Collins' practice is devoted to land use, environmental, and real estate matters, "Mt. Laurel" cases, the New Jersey Highlands Act, and municipal law. Mr. Collins handles major environmental matters for the firm's private clients and is involved in all environmental cases for our municipal clients. Mr. Collins has extensive experience reviewing Phase I and Phase II Environmental Assessments, and in counseling clients on environmental compliance and due diligence. Mr. Collins has studied "Form-Based Codes" with Rutgers University and the Form-Based Codes Institute and is experienced with all types of zoning and land use ordinances.  Mr. Collins has extensive experience in land use and environmental law matters for licensed telecommunications companies and residential and non-residential developers.  His planning background provides an added dimension to his legal expertise in land use law. Mr. Collins is a Licensed Professional Planner. He currently serves as Municipal Attorney for the Township of Byram. He is the Planning Board attorney for Bedminster Township, Bridgewater Township, Hardyston Township and Sparta Township.  Mr. Collins served as Special Counsel for numerous municipal clients for land use and environmental litigation and administration matters.  These include Bedminster Township, Frankford Township, Hardyston Township, The Towns of Newton and Morristown.  Mr. Collins served as Attorney to the Morristown Housing Authority. In 1979 and 1980, Mr. Collins served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Attorney General of New Jersey on the Joint Federal/State Toxic Waste Task Force which investigated and prosecuted civil and criminal cases involving toxic and hazardous wastes and pollution.

Mr. Collins has extensive experience in all land use and environmental approvals and permits. He has extensive experience with State Plan, Highlands Regional Master Plan, COAH matters, NJDEP Wastewater Management Plan, and Sewer Services Area issues.

Mr. Collins was Chairman of the Land Use Section of the New Jersey Bar Association during 1991-1992 and was a Trustee of the Section. He is a member of the Institute of Municipal Attorneys in whose Municipal Law Review he published an article entitled "The Revised Chapter 199 Individual Subsurface Disposal Regulation - The State's Largest Land Use Regulator Strikes Again" (December 1989). He also co-authored Chapter 42 "Municipal Land Use Law" of New Jersey Practice, West Publishing Co., 1995. Mr. Collins is a Member of the Morris County, Sussex County, New Jersey State and American Bar Associations. Mr. Collins lectures extensively on land use, municipal, and environmental law matters, including lectures for Rutgers University and New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), The New Jersey State Bar Association, Law Seminars International, the National Business Institute, the New Jersey Planning Officials, and the Institute of Municipal Attorneys

e-mail: tcollins@vccslaw.com

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