Alan Collins is one of the best known and most experienced solicitors in the field of child abuse litigation and has acted in many high-profile cases, including the Jimmy Savile and Haut de la Garenne abuse scandals.
Alan has represented interested parties before public inquiries including the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry, and IICSA (Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse). He was the advocate to the People’s Tribunal which presented its report on sexual abuse to the UK Parliament (in 2016).
Internationally, Alan works in Australia, Southeast Asia, Uganda, Kenya, and California representing clients in high profile sexual abuse cases. Alan also spoke at the Third Regional Workshop on Justice for Children in East Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok hosted by UNICEF and HCCH (Hague Conference on Private International Law).
He also specialises in serious personal injury cases including head and spinal injury claims.
Due to Alan’s expertise and experience he is sought after by individuals for high profile and complex cases. These include seeking compensation for child migrants from the UK sent to Australia and Southern Rhodesia in the 1950’s and 60’s, representing the former residents of Les Chenes secure school for teenagers in Jersey in seeking redress for the abuse they suffered whilst in the school’s care, and representing and advising those affected by the widely reported and high profile Windrush scandal.
Work history
Alan joined Hugh James as a Partner in December 2014 and leads a team of specialist abuse solicitors. He qualified as a solicitor in 1990 and later became a solicitor-advocate allowing him to act for his clients in the higher courts in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. He has considerable experience of both criminal and civil litigation. Alan is also a qualified mediator.
Alan is a regular media contributor on serious personal injury and child abuse issues. He has regularly appeared on BBC and ITN news, ABC, CNN, NBC, and Sky News programmes, also BBC Radio 4’s “Today”, and “PM”; Radio 5; BBC and ITV regional television and radio, Australian radio, and US, Chinese, French, Spanish, and Danish television.
Alan is a regular speaker at conferences on legal issues including: APIL; La Trobe University; National Crime Agency; University of Wales; Law Society of Scotland; Strathclyde University; and Dyfed-Powys Police.
Alan is a fellow of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and a director for the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers (ACAL). ACAL is a support group set up by solicitors and other professionals involved in the field of obtaining compensation for victims of abuse.