2025 Men of the Year: Cory Collins

Cory Collins believes wealth is a life measured by family and home. His dad taught him that.

“This lesson has consistently influenced my leadership approach, ensuring that those I lead are reminded of what truly matters in life,” says Collins, equity partner at Husch Blackwell LLP.

Collins didn’t go straight into law. He showed an entrepreneurial bent with a baseball card shop in high school, worked construction and owned a full-service motorcycle shop. When he did earn his law degree in 2002, Collins joined Husch Blackwell, becoming partner in just seven years.

“My roles vary but often involve development of real estate, acquisition and sales of business interests, corporate compliance and transaction together with management of high-stakes litigation,” he says. “I have also played a key role in mentoring junior associates and contributing to the firm’s growth and success through business development initiatives.”

Collins has served on several recruitment committees at Husch Blackwell and remains a member of the executive recruiting committee.

“In these capacities, I have dedicated substantial time and effort to mentoring and leading young lawyers, helping them develop their practice while emphasizing the balance of family, friendships and relationships,” he says. “My early career experiences, coupled with observing others face burnout, have driven me to continually remind young lawyers of the broader perspective.”

Over the past few years, Collins has mentored high school and college students who are interested in a law career.

“Several of these students are still on their path to a legal career, demonstrating the lasting impact of early guidance and encouragement,” he says. “Witnessing their growth and dedication reaffirms my belief in the importance of nurturing the next generation of legal professionals.”

Collins also believes in helping local organizations thrive. He has been involved with the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine to raise awareness of Shriners Hospitals for Children and he has served on the boards of the Mizzou Alumni Association and Dickerson Park Zoo. And, despite his initial discomfort with “woodsy camping and summer retreats,” Collins spent six years leading a Cub Scout Troop.

Achievements aside, Collins stresses the importance of family, which includes wife Beckie and son Corbin, 16, a professional race car driver for whom his dad manages Corbin Racing Products. Collins has helped his son create a company that funds his racing career through sponsors and partnerships.

“Guiding him through the intricate world of professional racing, ensuring he understands the importance of building and maintaining relationships and watching him evolve into a self-sufficient and proficient individual has been incredibly rewarding,” Collins says. “My role as manager has been much more than overseeing a racing career. It has been about nurturing and fostering the qualities that will serve Corbin well beyond the racetrack.”

Family: My wife, Beckie, and my son, Corbin, are the highlight of my life.

Words to live by: If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.

Dream dinner party guest: I lost my older brother, Chris, on July 10, 1993. To have one more dinner (or party) with him would be a dream come true.