Jason D. Kolkema

Jason D. Kolkema is an attorney concentrating in the area of municipal defense litigation for a variety of governmental entities and employees.  He was admitted to practiced law in the state of Michigan in 1996, and has been practicing in the firm's Lansing office since August of 1999.  Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Kolkema primarily focused on commercial litigation and transactional matters involving real estate transfers and development.  Since 1998, Mr. Kolkema has routinely attended and completed hearing officer training sponsored by the Michigan Department of Education.   Mr Kolkema has been involved in defense of tax forfeiture/foreclosure cases in the Michigan Court of Claims.

Contact Information

Lansing Office
Phone: (517) 886-3800
Fax: (517) 886-9154

Practice Areas

Experience / Expertise

  • Trial and motion practice in Michigan courts, as well as the United States District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Michigan
  • Appeals before the Michigan Supreme Court, the Michigan Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • Service as neutral special education hearing officer presiding over administrative due process hearings by mutual agreement of School Districts and parents, and through appointments by the Michigan Department of Education

Education

  • University of Detroit Mercy Law School, JD 1996
    Law Review, Senior Staff Member
  • Michigan State University. BA, with honors, 1992

Professional Activities / Memberships

  • State Bar of Michigan, Real Property Law Section
  • Ingham County Bar Association
  • Michigan Department of Education, Special Education Hearing Officer, 1998 to Present
  • Shiawassee County Circuit Court, Case Evaluator, 2002 to Present
  • Ingham County Circuit Court, Case Evaluator, 2003 to Present

Community Activities / Involvement

  • City of East Lansing, Zoning Board of Appeals, 2003 to Present
  • Autism Society of Michigan, Board of Directors, 1998 to 2002

Publications / Presentation

  • Federal Policy of Indian Gaming on Newly Acquired Lands and the Threat to State Sovereignty, University of Detroit Mercy Law Review, Vol. 73, 1996, No. 2.