About
About James Z. Collins
Overview
Some legal matters are just paperwork. The ones I handle rarely are. As a Chinese-speaking attorney, I focus on divorce, prenuptial agreements, and business transactions. These are the matters that reshape lives, families, and futures. I bring not just legal expertise, but genuine care to every case. My background spans a wide range of practice areas. That breadth is what allows me to serve my clients with both sophistication and heart.
Experience
My experience spans a wide range of practice areas. I’ve worked in transactional tax law at a multinational law firm. I’ve handled personal injury litigation, political lobbying, and white-collar investigations. Public-private infrastructure financing, landlord-tenant disputes, and immigration matters have all been part of my journey, too. That diverse background gives me a unique perspective. But it’s the depth in divorce and business where I’ve chosen to plant my flag. These are the areas where having the right attorney makes all the difference.
Divorce doesn’t just end a marriage — it reshapes everything: your finances, your home, your time with your children. As a Chinese-speaking divorce attorney that Boston families have trusted through some of their hardest moments, I understand what’s truly at stake. I’ve sat across from clients who are scared, exhausted, and unsure what comes next. I’ve made it my mission to make sure they don’t have to figure it out alone.
I handle every stage — from prenuptial agreements that protect both partners before the wedding, to courtroom advocacy when it matters most. Divorce often comes down to money. That’s why I bring my background as a transactional attorney to every case. The financial details never catch my clients off guard.
Building a business takes courage. Protecting it takes the right counsel. As a business formation attorney that Massachusetts entrepreneurs and business owners rely on, I advise clients on formations, acquisitions, sales, and financings — bringing the same level of care to a first-time founder as I once brought to multi-billion-dollar fund formations.
I began my legal career as a transactional tax associate at the Boston office of a multinational law firm, where I worked on public and private market transactions valued from tens of millions to several billion dollars — including mergers and acquisitions, fund formations, and renewable energy financing. That foundation shapes how I approach every transaction I touch today: no matter the size of the deal, the goal is always the same — protect what you’ve built and set you up for what’s next.
I graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law with the Order of the Coif — an honor given to the top graduates in the class — and received the Edwin S. Cohen Tax Prize. I was also a finalist and award winner across multiple moot court competitions, including the European and International Tax Moot Court.
As a published Massachusetts tax attorney, my legal scholarship has appeared in the Virginia Tax Review. That foundation in tax law shapes how I think — and ultimately, how I show up for my clients when the financial stakes are high.
As the child of a Chinese immigrant, I know firsthand what it means to navigate systems that weren’t built with you in mind — and as a Massachusetts family law attorney who serves the Boston Chinese community, I carry that understanding into every client conversation.
Language matters. Culture matters. Feeling genuinely heard by your attorney matters. Beyond my client work, I give back through pro bono advocacy for forcibly displaced children through Kids in Need of Defense, and by helping local nonprofits secure tax-exempt status. This community shaped who I am — serving it is the least I can do.
English
Chinese (Mandarin) – 普通话
Spanish
Why Choose Us?
A Genuine Passion for Advocacy
Practicing law isn’t just what I do — it’s what I’m called to do. Every client I take on receives my full attention, honest counsel, and a commitment to fighting for what matters most to them. When you work with me, you’re never just a case number.
Proudly Serving Massachusetts’ Diverse Communities
I’m deeply committed to the families that make Massachusetts’ communities so vibrant. As a Chinese-speaking attorney, I understand firsthand the language barriers, cultural nuances, and unique challenges that many Asian families face when navigating the legal system. Fluent in Mandarin (普通话), I bridge the gap between complex legal processes and the people who need them most. When you need an advocate who truly understands it — I’m here.
Resolutions Built on Peace
Family legal matters can be among the most emotionally taxing experiences of a person’s life. I don’t approach them looking for a fight — I look for solutions that protect your wellbeing, preserve important relationships where possible, and set your family up for a healthier future. Healing, not harm, is always the goal.
Personal Attention
Experience
Tax Prize
Best Brief Award
Semifinalist
Tax Moot Court
Finalist
Legal Scholar