The people behind the work.

Eric is a litigator with experience representing individuals, businesses, and government agencies in complex civil, administrative, health care, and criminal matters. His work includes multistate litigation involving billions of dollars, employment disputes, regulatory proceedings, and the defense of serious felony charges in both state and federal court.

Patrick Brennan is a trial lawyer and partner at Johnson Branco Brennan & Collins, LLP in Frankfort, Kentucky. He represents individuals, businesses, and public institutions in criminal cases and high-stakes civil disputes. His practice includes criminal defense, civil-rights litigation, personal injury, gaming law, business and contract disputes, oil and gas rights, and cases involving government agencies. Patrick is often called upon when a client’s liberty, livelihood, or reputation is genuinely at stake. Patrick initially developed his courtroom experience at the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, where he represented clients in both district and circuit court. Regularly working with investigators and expert witnesses, he prepared and litigated serious and complex felony cases. Patrick approaches every case from two angles. First, he closely examines the sufficiency and admissibility of evidence. Second, he gets to know the person beyond just the facts of the case, including the multi-faceted aspects of a client's life. With a full understanding, Patrick makes an individualized strategy for each case. He places emphasis on a grand jury defense to avoid criminal charges altogether. Patrick has won acquittals, won suppression rulings excluding unlawfully obtained evidence, obtained complete dismissals, and negotiated favorable resolutions in complex criminal matters. A significant part of Patrick’s practice involves federal civil-rights litigation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He represents people bringing constitutional claims against law-enforcement officers, municipalities, and other government officials. His cases have gained significant publicity and settled for substantial sums of money. When media attention affects a client’s reputation or ability to obtain accountability, he helps present the evidence clearly and responsibly. Patrick earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2019, where he received a merit scholarship and the Simms Fellowship and served as a Senior Staff Editor of the Kentucky Law Journal. His academic writing addressed warrantless blood testing and juvenile solitary confinement. Before entering practice, Patrick served as an extern with the Kentucky Innocence Project and as a judicial extern to Fayette Circuit Judge Kimberly Bunnell. Patrick also earned dual bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and philosophy from the University of Kentucky, graduating magna cum laude with departmental honors in both fields. He has professional working proficiency in Spanish. He is the current President of the Franklin County Bar Association (2026).

In 2016, Matt graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law and established The Law Office of Matthew L. Collins, PLLC in his hometown of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Since that time, he has proudly served businesses and individuals across the state in both their litigation and transactional needs, guiding them in complex civil litigation and personal injury matters, negotiating and transacting complex real estate matters, defending them in criminal matters, establishing and litigating Trusts and Estates, and assisting in a wide variety of other legal issues. Through a decade of this experience, Matt came to understand that his work in establishing and building a practice was perhaps his most valuable attribute – one which is unique in the legal community. Matt provides real-world-tested advice and solutions to the needs of his small business and institutional clients, which is balanced both by his own extensive litigation experience and that of his partners Eric and Patrick. In 2026, after ten successful years as the founder and owner of The Law Office of Matthew L. Collins, Matt joined the firm of Johnson Branco Brennan and Collins LLP as partner. The decision was an easy one. Having worked as co-counsel with Eric Branco and Patrick Brennan for years, it was clear that these partners were stronger together than apart. Today Matt provides Counsel to businesses and individuals who desire to protect and grow that which they have worked so hard to build. In the rare moments that Matt isn’t in the office, he serves on the Kentucky Bar Association’s Investment Committee, enjoys fly fishing and fly tying, and roots for his Wildcats and Tottenham Hotspur.

Legendary Kentucky Trial Attorney William E “Big Bill” Johnson is Partner Emeritus at Johnson Branco Brennan & Collins, LLP. Mr. Johnson’s numerous achievements and memberships include the following: K.B.A. Vice President (2012 - 2013) K.B.A., Board of Governors (1981-1983) Chairman of the House of Delegates (1979) Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Board of Governors (1980-1983) Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, President (1979) Franklin County Bar Association, President (1980) K.A.C.D.L., President (1990) ATLA Exchange, Chairman (1983) former member Kentucky Criminal Rules Committee former member Kentucky Civil Rules Committee former member Appellate Handbook Committee ABA Litigation Trial Practice Committee (1983-1984) K.B.A. Litigation Committee (1988) K.B.A. Ethics Committee (2000) Public Advocacy Commission (2002-2006) and former member Judicial Nominating Commission. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (1986), American Board of Criminal Lawyers (1980) and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (1994). Mr. Johnson is listed in Kentucky Super Lawyers and has been continuously listed in the Best Lawyers in America since 1984. In 1991, he was the recipient of the “War Horse” award by the Southern Trial Lawyers Association, and in 1997 he was a recipient of the E.K.U. National Alumni Association Achievement Award. Mr. Johnson was awarded the Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award by the Department of Public Advocacy in 2001. Mr. Johnson served his country as an Infantry Officer attaining the rank of Captain in the United States Army. He has tried hundreds of cases to verdict in his 60+ years as an attorney.

Collin received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Marshall University in 2019. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky and was admitted to practice in Kentucky in 2022. After law school, Collin joined the Department of Public Advocacy where he worked as a trial attorney in the Shelbyville office. During his time as a public defender he represented hundreds of clients on a variety of criminal cases ranging from traffic violations to capital offenses. As an associate with Johnson Branco Brennan & Collins, his practice now focuses on both criminal defense and civil litigation.

Sara Jackson was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. After graduating from the University of Kentucky with a BBA in Marketing and a minor in political science, Sara studied law at Salmon P. Chase College of Law. A veteran of the Kentucky Department Public Advocacy, Sara brings a results-focused attitude to her criminal and civil practice.

With more than a decade of experience in legal support and case management, Courtney Hunter brings a detail-oriented, organized, and client-focused approach to every matter. Courtney works closely with all of the firm's attorneys to support the efficient handling of cases from initial intake through resolution. Courtney is a dynamo, possessing an ability to motivate and work effectively with clients of diverse ages, cultures, education levels & professional backgrounds.