Heather M. Collins

Heather Moore Collins is a civil rights and employment trial lawyer whose practice focuses on litigation involving sexual assault, sexual harassment, employment discrimination, retaliation, and constitutional violations. As the founder of HMC Civil Rights Law, she has devoted her career to representing survivors, employees, and individuals whose rights have been violated by employers, institutions, and government actors across Tennessee.

With more than twenty years of experience as lead trial counsel in state and federal courts, Heather approaches every case with the preparation, strategy, and courtroom focus necessary to pursue justice. In recognition of her advocacy and results, she was named the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association’s Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year for 2025. In 2025, Heather was part of a team securing a $28 million settlement against the City of Johnson City for failing to investigate sex‑based crimes and groundbreaking claims involving a sex‑trafficking conspiracy; she also obtained a federal jury verdict defeating an employer’s attempt to force arbitration and, secured a federal jury verdict for a disabled Sheriff’s deputy unlawfully terminated under the ADA after a leg amputation, resulting in a back pay award, an additional $250,000 for emotional distress, attorneys’ fees, and reinstatement to his job as a Sergeant.

Heather is known for meticulous case selection, relentless preparation, and a willingness to take cases to trial when that is what justice requires. She is admitted to practice in Tennessee and Florida, and before numerous federal courts, including the Sixth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. She has served on the board of the National Employment Lawyers’ Association, and the Tennessee Employment Lawyers Association, the Labor and Employment Executive Committee of the Tennessee Bar Association and she is a member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers’ Association and the Ranch Club for the Trial Lawyers College. Heather has consistently been selected Mid-South Super Lawyers® list and the Best Lawyers® list for Employment Law on behalf of Individuals and for Civil Rights Law Firm.

Ms. Collins is a third-generation attorney and Tennessee native, born and raised in Columbia. Outside the courtroom, Heather speaks, teaches, and writes on issues of civil rights, employment law, and the legal system’s response to sexual violence and workplace abuse. She lives in Middle Tennessee with her favorite people and pets. In her downtime, Heather enjoys traveling, listening to good music and prefers being outside in the trees over city life any day.