Jason Melichar is the regional managing partner of the Denver office. He has a broad legal practice defending professional liability claims, including lawyers, health care professionals, design professionals, realtors, insurance brokers, and appraisers; construction/construction defect; product liability, including toxic torts; transportation; complex aviation matters and related crisis management issues; and general liability claims. 

Leveraging the practical experience he gained in his 13 years as a volunteer firefighter/engineer in his local fire department, Jason is that much more effective in handling cases involving construction, product liability, fire and aviation claims.

Areas of Focus

Complex Tort & General Casualty and Product Liaiblity
Since 1999 Jason has defended large national and international companies as well as family businesses against construction defect, product liability and general liability claims. He has worked extensively in the defense of diacetyl and asbestos exposure lawsuits as well as other product liability claims involving debilitating personal injury and wrongful death issues. In this regard, Jason has represented dozens of product and equipment manufacturers and premises owners in both state and federal courts. Jason also has represented construction professionals involved in all phases of construction, from general contractors to the various trades of their subcontractors.

Jason’s diverse civil litigation practice includes handling general liability and transportation liability matters for large national clients. He works on a national team of Wilson Elser attorneys to handle all types of claims for these clients, including complex product liability matters and catastrophic trucking losses, necessitating a 24/7 national emergency response.

Professional Liability
Jason has extensive experience litigating professional liability claims against lawyers and other professionals, with a focus on defending lawyers, architects/engineers and health care professionals against regulatory and malpractice actions. These matters range in size from multimillion-dollar disputes to cases involving smaller exposures. He represents both litigation and transaction lawyers in cases arising from a wide variety of matters, from the simple to the technical and complex.

Architects & Engineers: A member of the firm's Design Professionals practice, Jason is experienced in the defense of architects, engineers, construction managers and design builders. He provides seminars and continuing education programs on risk management tools, risk transfer, trending claims and hot topics in the construction industry. Jason is barred and has extensive experience in defending architects and engineers in Colorado.

Aviation
Jason defends complex aviation matters, including litigation arising from product issues to catastrophic cases involving both airplane and helicopter crashes that have occurred across the country.  His trial experience and legal knowledge provides the unique ability to quickly develop a strategy and recognize issues critical for a successful defense.

Transportation
Jason defends and advises major transportation and shipping companies on a variety of matters, including catastrophic personal injury. He leads mediations, settlement conferences, depositions and trials throughout state and federal courts. As a member of the 24/7 national emergency response team that responds to catastrophic trucking losses, Jason coordinates immediate investigations to preserve key evidence and protect his clients’ interests.

    Education

    • University of Denver Sturm College of Law (J.D., 1999)
      • Denver University Law Review
    • Purdue University (B.A., 1995)
      • Dean's List

    Bar Admissions

    • Colorado

    Court Admissions

    • Supreme Court of Colorado
    • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

    Professional Affiliations

    • Colorado Bar Association
    • Denver Bar Association

    Awards & Honors

    Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2025-2026

Jason D. Melichar

Jason Melichar is the regional managing partner of the Denver office. He has a broad legal practice defending professional liability claims, including lawyers, health care professionals, design professionals, realtors, insurance brokers, and appraisers; construction/construction defect; product liability, including toxic torts; transportation; complex aviation matters and related crisis management issues; and general liability claims. 

Leveraging the practical experience he gained in his 13 years as a volunteer firefighter/engineer in his local fire department, Jason is that much more effective in handling cases involving construction, product liability, fire and aviation claims.

Jason D. Melichar

Koehler & Melichar Obtain Defense Verdict – Client Awarded Reasonable Attorney Fees and Costs Exceeding $400,000

Denver, Colorado, partners Kim Koehler and Jason Melichar obtained a complete defense verdict in Probate Court in a professional liability action brought by a former protected person against Wilson Elser’s attorney client. In the action, our client was appointed by the court as a limited conservator. After the protected arrangement was terminated, the former protected person claimed that our client had breached her fiduciary duty and requested imposition of a surcharge. The petitioner claimed significant compensatory damages of several million dollars and the estate's attorney’s fees. Kim and Jason successfully defended the client against the Petition for Surcharge, which would have severely damaged the client both professionally and monetarily had it been granted. After a week-long bench trial, the judge entered judgment in favor of the firm’s client finding the petitioner failed to prove that the client had violated her fiduciary duty. As the prevailing party under an applicable probate statute, our client was awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs exceeding $400,000 by the court.

Kim L. Koehler and Jason D. Melichar

Attorneys' Fees
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