Biography

A. Jay Koehler is the Managing Partner at Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP and is on the firm’s Executive Committee. Jay represents regional, national and international organizations in various types of construction litigation, product liability, commercial, transportation and fire and explosion litigation throughout the United States. Jay serves as chair of Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP’s Construction Practice Group.

Jay represents construction clients in binding arbitrations, mediations and litigation that involves contract disputes, delay claims, design defect claims and various construction related disputes. Jay also represents numerous national residential homebuilders in a variety of litigation including construction defect claims, contract disputes, delay claims, insurance coverage disputes, workplace injury claims, warranty disputes and subcontractor disputes. Jay’s practice includes representing various national and international corporations in personal injury and property damage claims including matters involving product defect clams, defective specifications and work, sick building cases /indoor air quality/building material claims, worker injury claims, fire and explosion claims, insurance and surety disputes. Jay provides exceptional legal representation for his clients by employing efficient, cost-effective strategies resulting in favorable business resolutions.

Recent Experience:

• Secured $12,000,000 settlement on behalf of national freight railroad company for damages sustained when its train derailed as a result of contractors’ work beneath the tracks.
• Successfully secured a $1.5 million binding arbitration award and defeated a $3.9 million claim on behalf of large exterior metal panel subcontractor against a prominent Chicago general contractor. This was following a seven-day arbitration hearing that included testimony from multiple experts.
• Successfully secured a multi-million million settlement on behalf of general contractor for an automobile manufacturing plant in Jamestown, Indiana where improper fill was used by a subcontractor and supplied by a local steel company resulting in significant property and business interruption damage claims exceeding $140 million. This included claims against subcontractors and their respective carriers.
• Successfully defended a product manufacturer in a lawsuit for alleged defective air handler design and installation in a building that supplies power across 15 U.S. states and Canada. The claim totaled $10,533,705.72.
• Successfully defended an EIFS manufacturer in largest residential home construction defect lawsuit in the United States brought by Chicago’s most recognized professional athlete.
• Successfully defended a pharmaceutical equipment manufacturer in a multi-million dollar commercial fire lawsuit.
• Successfully defeated class action suit filed against a national residential homebuilder for defective windows in 540 homes; Summary judgment affirmed on appeal.
• Successfully secured insurance coverage for multi-million dollar construction defect claim; summary judgment affirmed on appeal.
• Successfully defended a local commuter railroad in pedestrian train accident pending in Cook County, Illinois.
• Successfully appealed a multi-million dollar verdict for local commuter railroad; overturned on appeal and judgment entered in favor of commuter railroad; appellate court decision affirmed by the Illinois Supreme Court.
• Defended a product manufacturer in product liability suit involving a degloving injury to a UPS worker.
• Currently defending multiple consumer product manufacturers in mass tort benzene litigation.

Practices

Product Liability
Fire and Explosion Litigation
Construction
Commercial Litigation and Business Disputes

Memberships & Affiliations

• Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA)
• Defense Research Institute
• National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel

Awards

• Named to Crain's Chicago Business Notable Gen X Leaders In Law, 2019
• Selected for inclusion in Leading Lawyers in 2018-2023
• Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Railroad Law, 2024

Publications

• Contributing Author, “Railroad — FELA, Safety Appliance Act, Locomotive Inspection Act, Etc.,” IICLE's Tort Action 2022 Edition Handbook

News

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, St. Louis, Madison County, August 17, 2023
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to 2024 Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch Lists
Fifty-five Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys were named to the 2024 Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ lists.

Chicago, St. Louis, December 29, 2022
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Names Three New Partners
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP is pleased to announce Mehwish Aslam, Meg F. Hogan, and Jessica R. McMullen have been elevated to partner, effective January 1, 2023.

November 03, 2022
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Recognized in 2023 "Best Law Firms" Rankings
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP is thrilled to announce its inclusion in the 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers® and U.S. News & World Report "Best Law Firms" rankings.

October 10, 2022
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Contribute to IICLE's Tort Action 2022 Edition Handbook
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Partners A. Jay Koehler, Kristin Cooke, and Associate Madison Shepley have contributed to the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education's Tort Actions 2022 Edition handbook.

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, Madison County, January 11, 2021
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyers for 2021
Those designated Leading Lawyers were recommended by their peers to be among the top lawyers in Illinois.

Chicago, February 19, 2020
DRI's The Voice Highlights $1.5 Million Win in Construction Breach of Contract Case
The Voice, weekly publication of the Defense Research Institute, highlighted a recent Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP matter in its "And The Defense Wins" section.

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, Madison County, February 3, 2020
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyers for 2020
Those designated Leading Lawyers were recommended by their peers to be among the top lawyers in Illinois.

Chicago, December 19, 2019
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Win $1.5 Million in Construction Breach of Contract Case
Attorneys won a $1.5 million award and defeated a $3.9 million counterclaim following a week of oral hearings tried before the AAA Construction Industry Tribunal.