Karen Collins

In 1993, Karen Laine Collins began her career in criminal law in Indianapolis, Indiana representing clients in both State and Federal Court. Over the last 30+ years as a dedicated criminal defense attorney, she has taken countless trials to verdict and freed clients from long periods of incarceration. Karen rose through the ranks at the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, spending years prosecuting major felonies and heinous sex crimes, honing her deep understanding of the criminal justice system. This prosecutorial experience sharpened her trial skills before she transitioned to elite defense work, where she now fiercely advocates for the accused. As a seasoned criminal defense lawyer, she has represented private clients in high-stakes criminal jury trials and complex civil matters. She now focuses her practice on major felony trial work, Section 1983 civil rights litigation, and vigorously defending clients against unconstitutional government actions. Karen is highly respected for her aggressive courtroom presence, successful trial wins, and expertise in dismissing cases under the Fourth Amendment’s protection from unreasonable searches and seizures — skills built over decades as both a former prosecutor and accomplished criminal attorney. When Karen joined Josiah Swinney in 2025 to restart her full-time criminal defense practice, multiple national news outlets reported on the two joining forces, highlighting her return to protecting constitutional rights in criminal cases. For more on her professional background as a lawyer with over 30 years of experience, view her profile on LinkedIn, where colleagues praise her trial prowess and prosecutorial insight. She holds a J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (class of 1992), where she has been recognized as a notable alumna for her extensive work as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney.