Erika Collins Speaks to International Employment Lawyer About Her Trailblazing Legal Career

International Employment Lawyer (IEL) interviewed partner Erika Collins about her trailblazing legal career, how she began practicing international labor and employment law and advice for the next generation of attorneys. IEL recently named Collins “International Employment Lawyer of the Year – Private Practice” in its inaugural IEL Awards in November 2023.

In the feature article, Collins explained, “The thing about international work is that you don’t know what you don’t know. And in the world of employment law, in-house attorneys in the U.S. often have the ‘international’ part added to their job titles. And that’s unfair to them because it’s apples and oranges, for sure.”

Further, Collins said, “A lot of people in the U.S. think I pioneered this kind of work. And when you pioneer something, there are a lot of naysayers.” Regarding her practice today, she added, “I’ve developed a network of employment law specialists that spans 150 countries, and I know the lay of the land in so many countries after doing this for so long.”

Collins also shared, “Back in the day, when I was being told this wasn’t a thing, I was invited to speak at one of the first international employment law conferences in Kitzbühel, Austria. But the firm I was at didn’t see the value in me going. So, I bought a plane ticket and took a vacation to Kitzbühel. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.”

In conclusion, Collins noted, “I always tell my associates, ‘Never say no, because you just don’t know where something’s going to take you, and never be afraid to invest in your own career.’”

The full article is available for IEL subscribers.