Nashville Employment Attorneys

Employment Litigation for Workers Across Tennessee

At HMC Civil Rights, we represent employees in serious workplace disputes — discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and related employment claims — with the same discipline and trial focus we bring to every civil rights case.

Heather M. Collins has spent more than two decades litigating employment matters in Tennessee state and federal courts, including cases involving sexual harassment and assault at work, discrimination based on race, sex, disability, age, religion, national origin, and retaliation for speaking up. She founded this firm out of a deep commitment to give a real voice to workers throughout Nashville, Columbia, Franklin, Murfreesboro, and across Tennessee who have been silenced, ignored, or punished for asserting their rights.

We are here to reveal the truth about what happened, support those who have been wronged, and pursue accountability that can lead to safer, fairer workplaces.

Serious Cases. Serious Counsel.

Most employment cases resolve before a jury ever hears them. But that does not mean they are simple — or that they should be treated like routine paperwork. We don’t just push cases quickly toward mediation or settlement.

Our approach is different:

• Built for trial. We investigate deeply, analyze the legal issues carefully, and prepare your case from day one as if it may need to be tried.
• Centered on you. We take the time to understand how your job, your income, your benefits, and your reputation have been affected and give candid advice about your options — whether that is negotiation, agency action, or litigation.
• Strategic with resolution. When settlement is in your best interest, we negotiate from a position of strength. When it is not, we are prepared to go to court.

We have tried employment cases in state and federal court, and our trial experience informs every step of the process — from the first demand to the final decision.

Ready to Negotiate. Ready to Try Your Case.

Many employment lawyers talk about “fighting for workers” but steer nearly every case to a quick resolution because they are not ready for trial. We believe you deserve better if the situation calls for it.

Workplace discrimination and retaliation are serious civil rights violations. You need a lawyer who is comfortable in mediation and negotiation and who can credibly put your case in front of a judge and jury when that is what justice requires.

Holding employers accountable does more than resolve one dispute. It can change how a workplace treats the next person who speaks up — and send a message that violating workers’ rights has real consequences.

Primary Areas of Employment Practice

Our employment practice focuses on representing employees in matters such as:

• Discrimination: Unlawful treatment based on race, sex, pregnancy, disability, age, religion, national origin, LGBT status, use of FMLA or other protected characteristics.
• Sexual Harassment: Hostile work environments, unwanted sexual advances, coercion, and related retaliation when employees report or resist harassment.
• Title IX & Sexual Assault (Work and School Contexts): Sexual assault and sex-based harassment in workplaces and schools, including claims involving institutional failures to respond appropriately.
  
• Wrongful Termination & Retaliation: Being fired, forced out, or punished for reporting discrimination, harassment, or other unlawful conduct.

Why Hire HMC Civil Rights for Employment Cases?

• Built for trial, not volume. We prepare cases as if a jury may ultimately decide them.
• Decades of experience. Over 45 years of combined legal experience in employment and civil rights litigation.
• Proven in state and federal court. Strong record representing employees in Tennessee courts and before agencies such as the EEOC.
• Employee‑side focus. We are devoted to representing workers, not employers.

Our Team

• Heather M. Collins – Partner
• Ashley Shoemaker – Attorney
• Lucia Izzolo – Attorney
• Erica Russell – Paralegal/Office Manager
• Shanisha Cooper – Paralegal
• Liz Schultz – Law Clerk

Contact us online or call (615) 724‑1996 to review your legal matter and help you understand your next steps. We will have your initial information quickly processed and reviewed by a member of our team. Or, go online and submit a confidential form or text us. Starting the process is easy, 24/7.