Lee A. Collins
Partner
1111 Bagby Street
Suite 2100
Houston, TX 77002
Lee’s practice focuses on the representation of developers, owners, managers, and contractors involved in commercial real estate across all industry classifications in both state and federal courts. His experience extends to all types of commercial disputes that may arise during the life cycle of real estate development, from acquisition of undeveloped or improved land to...
Lee’s practice focuses on the representation of developers, owners, managers, and contractors involved in commercial real estate across all industry classifications in both state and federal courts. His experience extends to all types of commercial disputes that may arise during the life cycle of real estate development, from acquisition of undeveloped or improved land to disposition and everything between those beginning and ending life cycle markers. This includes busted acquisitions and dispositions, adjacent property owner disputes, landlord-tenant disputes across all commercial property types, enforcement of easements and restrictive covenants, deed restriction enforcement, condemnation and adverse possession matters, construction litigation, lien enforcement, and landlord-creditor representation in bankruptcy.
disposition and everything between those beginning and ending life cycle markers. This includes busted acquisitions and dispositions, adjacent property owner disputes, landlord-tenant disputes across all commercial property types, enforcement of easements and restrictive covenants, deed restriction enforcement, condemnation and adverse possession matters, construction litigation, lien enforcement, and landlord-creditor representation in bankruptcy.
Experience
Previous Professional Experience
- Shareholder, Real Estate and Litigation Groups, Houston-based law firm (1999–2026)
- Associate, Commercial Litigation Group, San Antonio office of AM Law 50 law firm (1994-1999)
Representative Matters
- Representation of one of the largest U.S. owners of shopping centers in all types of disputes with tenants;
- Representation of apartment complex owner in lawsuit with prospective buyer over busted acquisition transaction;
- Representation of commercial property owners in construction disputes with contractors and subcontractors over contract performance;
- Representation of commercial property owners in disputes with adjacent property owners concerning use and access;
- Representation of commercial property owners in disputes with brokers over commissions payable;
- Representation of commercial property owners in disputes over rights of first refusal and other “first look” contractual provisions;
- Representation of commercial property owners in lawsuits involving allegations of tortious interference;
- Representation of largest retail trade association in United States in preparing amicus brief to Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas;
- Successfully argued case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit over scope of release used for interim progress payments during construction of master-planned community;
- Representation of commercial property owners in actions for removal of recorded mechanic’s and materialmans’ liens;
- Representation of commercial retail landlords in enforcement and defense of exclusive use and radius restriction provisions.
Education
-
South Texas College of Law Houston,
JD
- South Texas Law Review, Note and Comments Assistant Editor
- The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, BBA
Admissions
- Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Practice Areas
Previous Professional Experience
- Shareholder, Real Estate and Litigation Groups, Houston-based law firm (1999–2026)
- Associate, Commercial Litigation Group, San Antonio office of AM Law 50 law firm (1994-1999)
Representative Matters
- Representation of one of the largest U.S. owners of shopping centers in all types of disputes with tenants;
- Representation of apartment complex owner in lawsuit with prospective buyer over busted acquisition transaction;
- Representation of commercial property owners in construction disputes with contractors and subcontractors over contract performance;
- Representation of commercial property owners in disputes with adjacent property owners concerning use and access;
- Representation of commercial property owners in disputes with brokers over commissions payable;
- Representation of commercial property owners in disputes over rights of first refusal and other “first look” contractual provisions;
- Representation of commercial property owners in lawsuits involving allegations of tortious interference;
- Representation of largest retail trade association in United States in preparing amicus brief to Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas;
- Successfully argued case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit over scope of release used for interim progress payments during construction of master-planned community;
- Representation of commercial property owners in actions for removal of recorded mechanic’s and materialmans’ liens;
- Representation of commercial retail landlords in enforcement and defense of exclusive use and radius restriction provisions.
Media
Recognitions
- Best Lawyers in American for Litigation – Real Estate© (2026)
- Texas Super Lawyers (2020-2025)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating
- Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star (2006-2008)
- Houstonian Magazine – Ones to Watch (1996)
Professional Activities
- Houston Bar Association
- Texas Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Texas Bar Foundation
Community
- Former Board of Directors and Board of Advisors, Trees for Houston
- Former Board of Directors, Houston Parks Board
- Former Chairman of the Board of Directors, The Park People
Leadership
- Former Chairman of the Board of Directors, The Park People
Lee’s practice focuses on the representation of developers, owners, managers, and contractors involved in commercial real estate across all industry classifications in both state and federal courts. His experience extends to all types of commercial disputes that may arise during the life cycle of real estate development, from acquisition of undeveloped or improved land to... disposition and everything between those beginning and ending life cycle markers. This includes busted acquisitions and dispositions, adjacent property owner disputes, landlord-tenant disputes across all commercial property types, enforcement of easements and restrictive covenants, deed restriction enforcement, condemnation and adverse possession matters, construction litigation, lien enforcement, and landlord-creditor representation in bankruptcy.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Previous Professional Experience
- Shareholder, Real Estate and Litigation Groups, Houston-based law firm (1999–2026)
- Associate, Commercial Litigation Group, San Antonio office of AM Law 50 law firm (1994-1999)
Representative Matters
- Representation of one of the largest U.S. owners of shopping centers in all types of disputes with tenants;
- Representation of apartment complex owner in lawsuit with prospective buyer over busted acquisition transaction;
- Representation of commercial property owners in construction disputes with contractors and subcontractors over contract performance;
- Representation of commercial property owners in disputes with adjacent property owners concerning use and access;
- Representation of commercial property owners in disputes with brokers over commissions payable;
- Representation of commercial property owners in disputes over rights of first refusal and other “first look” contractual provisions;
- Representation of commercial property owners in lawsuits involving allegations of tortious interference;
- Representation of largest retail trade association in United States in preparing amicus brief to Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas;
- Successfully argued case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit over scope of release used for interim progress payments during construction of master-planned community;
- Representation of commercial property owners in actions for removal of recorded mechanic’s and materialmans’ liens;
- Representation of commercial retail landlords in enforcement and defense of exclusive use and radius restriction provisions.
Education
-
South Texas College of Law Houston,
JD
- South Texas Law Review, Note and Comments Assistant Editor
- The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, BBA
Admissions
- Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Practice Areas
Industries
- Best Lawyers in American for Litigation – Real Estate© (2026)
- Texas Super Lawyers (2020-2025)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating
- Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star (2006-2008)
- Houstonian Magazine – Ones to Watch (1996)
- Houston Bar Association
- Texas Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Former Board of Directors and Board of Advisors, Trees for Houston
- Former Board of Directors, Houston Parks Board
- Former Chairman of the Board of Directors, The Park People
- Former Chairman of the Board of Directors, The Park People
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