S. Collins Saint

Collins Saint advises and litigates on behalf of public and private educational institutions and school boards on an array of education law issues, including special education and disability issues, civil rights laws, and tort claims. They also represent businesses in a variety of industries to resolve disputes, litigating in state and federal court when necessary. They have a particular focus on diversity and civil rights issues, including issues related to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and religion.

A former educator, Collins represents school boards, private schools, and public and private colleges and universities in litigation in state and federal courts and administrative agencies, such as the Office of Administrative Hearings and the Office of Civil Rights. They have experience handling a variety of education law disputes, including those involving compliance with federal statutes and regulations like the IDEA, Title IX, Title VII, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the ADA. They also litigate disputes involving special education and disability issues, employment issues, and constitutional claims, such as violations against the 4th, 5th, and 14th Amendments.

Collins holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling, and uses their experience to counsel educational institutions on state and federal regulatory compliance and civil rights issues.

Collins represents employers before government agencies and in state and federal courts on numerous employment law matters, including EEOC charges and lawsuits, common law employment claims, contract disputes, and discrimination and harassment claims. Collins also counsels clients on compliance with state and federal laws, employment policies and handbooks, and employment agreements. They have particular experience with civil rights claims, representing parties on both sides of civil rights and discrimination-related lawsuits.

Collins has a particular focus on broadening awareness of diversity issues within organizations. They counsel companies, educational institutions, and other organizations on compliance with state and federal civil rights regulations, including Title VII and Title IX, the IDEA, the ADA, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Collins defends businesses and nonprofits in civil rights litigation when necessary. They have experience representing amici curiae before the North Carolina Court of Appeals and North Carolina Supreme Court, in a matter that ruled same-sex couples could receive domestic violence protective orders in cases where the couple is unmarried and does not live together.

Collins also represents individuals in obtaining favorable results related to their markers of diversity. They have experience handling disputes on behalf of trans* persons involving discrimination and obtaining legal name and gender marker changes.

Few attorneys have the depth and breadth of knowledge obtained by representing both organizations and individuals in diversity-related matters. This provides Collins with level-headed vision in counseling and advocating on behalf of clients facing legal challenges related to diversity issues.