For start-ups and emerging technology companies navigating rapidly evolving government and regulatory enforcement imperatives, Shawn Collins strikes the right balance between business objectives and  enforcement risk. With a practice centered on False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, privacy and consumer protection defense, Shawn provides proactive compliance counseling to retailers, telecommunication providers and other consumer-facing companies so they can stay ahead of the curve. And when enforcement actions or inquiries arise, clients count on his experience representing companies before the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Department of Justice, and in single or multistate regulatory enforcement actions by state attorneys general.

For novel consumer-based interactive technologies and digital platforms Shawn is helping shape the narrative around how new laws and regulations will be applied to ensure innovation is encouraged rather than penalized. Early career experience as a special assistant United States attorney with the Department of Justice and a Navy JAG lawyer informs his ability to anticipate government and regulatory concerns and guides his advice on responding to government investigations or enforcement actions. Armed with Shawn’s carefully crafted legal analyses and sound business advice, companies guard against future legal spend on regulator inquiries and litigation by positioning themselves to demonstrate good-faith compliance efforts.

Some highlights of Shawn’s career include the following cases:

  • Negotiated a favorable settlement for a broadcast satellite service provider in response to an enforcement action brought by the Wisconsin Attorney General involving a unique Wisconsin consumer protection law while simultaneously counseling the company on future compliance. 
  • Defended a skin care company in a complex investigation by the California Attorney General for alleged deceptive trade activity in its representations and labeling practices.
  • Defended an e-commerce fashion retail company under investigation by 26 state attorneys general for alleged deceptive practices. As part of their defense strategy, Shawn and his team advocated for updates to consumer protection laws to account for the rapidly changing role of social media and mobile app advertising and rising consumer demand for membership and loyalty programs.   
  • Defended a healthcare company in parallel criminal and civil actions by the Department of Justice into alleged Anti-Kickback Statute violations and False Claims Act violations. After securing dismissal of the criminal matter, Shawn and his team negotiated a favorable settlement in the civil matter.  
  • Defended a direct broadcast satellite company in a $4 billion lawsuit in which the FTC alleged deceptive advertising conduct and violation of the Restore Online Shoppers Confidence Act (ROSCA). In a case recognized as a top verdict of 2018 by The Wall Street Journal and Law360, Shawn and his team secured a motion for judgment on partial findings and the court dismissed the case with prejudice.
  • Secured a key victory for a cable television company in its first-ever putative class action involving the company’s RSN and local broadcast fees. Shawn’s motion to compel arbitration set a precedent to defend similar class action lawsuits which has avoided litigation and saved the company millions of dollars in legal fees.