John M. Collins
Biography
John Collins has more than 40 years experience in several areas of tax practice, including estate planning, family wealth planning, charitable organizations, and employee benefits and executive compensation matters. He has been recognized by D Magazine, D Magazine Partners, "Best Lawyers in Dallas" in trusts and estates (2010-2017, 2019-2024); Corporate Law (2023); a Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters (2003-2020); and he is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, Inc., in Employee Benefits Law and Trusts and Estates (2005-2025). John is AV® Peer Review Rated Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory.
John is a contributor to Haynes Boone's Practical Benefits Lawyer blog, which discusses issues and developments in the areas of employee benefits and executive compensation.
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- Estate and personal tax planning for individuals and families, including succession planning for closely-held businesses, establishment of charitable trusts and foundations, and family limited partnerships.
- Family wealth planning, including the numerous sophisticated strategies to minimize estate, gift and generation skipping transfer taxes.
- Representing public charities and private foundations in connection with governance issues, unrelated business taxable income (UBTI), conflicts of interest, and other tax and exemption issues.
- Employment agreements, severance agreements, code section 162(m) and golden parachute issues, and incentive bonus plans.
- Design and implementation of all types of equity compensation plans, including stock options, restricted stock, ESOPs, qualified employee stock purchase plans, phantom stock, and stock appreciation rights.
- Planning transactions involving the use of ESOPs in corporate finance and restructuring, representing and advising fiduciaries, and representing borrowers and lenders in pension plan transactions.
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- Immediate Past Chair, Methodist Health System (Dallas)
- Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
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- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, Inc., for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Trusts and Estates Law, 2025-2026
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Education
- J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 1975, with honors; Texas Law Review, 1973-1975
- B.A., Duke University, 1972, with honors
Admissions
- California
- Texas
One Big Beautiful Bill Revamps Charitable Giving Tax Rules for 2026 and Beyond
October 22, 2025
Federal Estate, Gift and GST Tax Highlights from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
July 23, 2025