Ohnstad Twichell, P.C.

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Updated 1/2/2009

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P.O. Box 458
901 13th Av. E.

West Fargo, ND 58078-0458

Phone: (701) 282-3249

Fax: (701) 282-0825

Contact Us

View other locations »Other websites associated with this firm:http://www.ohnstadlaw.com

Summary

Law Firm Overview

  • Your life.  Your law firm.
  • Ohnstad Twichell has the unique distinction of having seven of its members serve as judges in various jurisdictions, including the North Dakota Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court and various state courts.  The law firm of Ohnstad Twichell is located in the Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota.  It was established in 1939 by Manfred R. Ohnstad, and is the second largest law firm in North Dakota.  There are 18 attorneys in our firm who provide a broad range of legal services to individuals and businessclients throughout North Dakota and Minnesota.  We have three offices staffed full-time in West Fargo, Hillsboro and Mayville.  We also have offices in Page, Hope, Finley and Hatton, ND.

    Ohnstad formed a partnership in 1949 with Arthur W. McCauley (now deceased). In 1955, Ohnstad formed a partnership with Daniel R. Twichell. Twichell continued to practice with the firm until he retired on December 31, 2006. He currently serves in an "of counsel" capacity.

    Former U.S. Attorney Ralph B. Maxwell joined the firm in 1958, and resigned in 1968 to become a district judge of the First Judicial District, Cass County, North Dakota. During his tenure with the West Fargo firm it was known as Ohnstad, Twichell & Maxwell.

    Duane R. Breitling, now a senior member of the firm, served as an attorney with the Legislative Research Council of the State of North Dakota in Bismarck prior to joining the firm in 1967. He continued to practice at the West Fargo location, primarily in civil litigation and family law. Duane retired at the end of 2006.

    Robert E. Rosenvold, previously an attorney with the Estate Tax Division of the Internal Revenue Service, became a member of the firm in 1975, followed by David L. Wanner in 1977. Wanner joined the firm with extensive experience in the estate and trust areas, having worked in the trust department of First National Bank and Trust Company, Fargo. Both attorneys have worked at Ohnstad Twichell, P.C., for over 30 years. Rosenvold works primarily in estate planning and estate administration. Wanner works primarily in real estate, probate and estate planning.

    Two attorneys who had served as judicial law clerks joined the firm in 1978. Michael D. Nelson served under Chief Judge Paul Benson of the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota, while Brian D. Neugebauer served under Chief Justice Ralph Erickstad of the North Dakota Supreme Court. They have both been with Ohnstad Twichell, P.C., for over 25 years. Nelson works in commercial litigation; Neugebauer works in municipal and bonding law.

    Mary Muehlen Maring, who had been a law clerk for Judge Bruce E. Stone of the Hennepin County District Court, Minneapolis, joined the firm in 1982 after practicing law for eight years in Minneapolis. In 1996, Mary Muehlen Maring was appointed to the North Dakota Supreme Court.

    Ralph R. Erickson joined the firm in 1984. Erickson left the firm in 1991 and was subsequently elected Cass County District Judge in 1994 and appointed U.S. District Judge in 2003.

    On January 1, 1987, the firm merged with the Hillsboro law firm of Berg & Juelson, composed of Bradley W. Berg and John A. Juelson, both 1976 graduates of the University of North Dakota School of Law. Juelson continues to maintain the office at its Hillsboro location. He works primarily with estate administration, estate planning, real estate, corporate law, taxation, and municipal law.

    In August of 1987, Steven E. McCullough, a graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Law, joined the firm. In 2004, he was elected as a District Judge of the District Court for the East Central Judicial District (North Dakota). He took office on January 1, 2005.

    On January 1, 1990, the firm merged with the Mayville law firm of Vinje & Engelman, composed of S. Lee Vinje and Jerald L. Engelman. Vinje continues to maintain his practice at our Mayville location. Vinje works primarily with estate administration and probate, estate planning, real estate, taxation, and municipal law.

    On January 1, 1991, Robert G. Hoy, a graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Law, joined the firm. He was appointed Cass County State's Attorney in 1981 and elected for two terms through 1990, when he went into private practice with Ohnstad Twichell, P.C. Hoy continues his practice at the West Fargo office, primarily in the areas of civil and criminal litigation.

    On January 1, 1994, Ross V. Keller, a University of North Dakota graduate, joined the firm as an associate attorney. He worked at the North Dakota Legislative Council from 1991 until 1994. He became a shareholder in 2002. Keller maintains his practice at the Hillsboro location, primarily in the areas of real estate and agricultural law, probate and estate administration, estate planning, guardianships, conservatorships, and corporate law.

    On December 15, 1994, Marshall W. McCullough, CPA, joined the firm as an associate attorney. He graduated from the University of Denver College of Law. From 1987-1994, Marshall was a tax manager at Price Waterhouse in San Francisco. He is currently a shareholder in the firm and works at the West Fargo location, primarily in the areas of business law and estate planning.

    In 1995, the former Brudvik Law Office merged with Ohnstad Twichell, P.C. William J. Brudvik, a University of Minnesota graduate, continues to maintain his practice at the Mayville location. Brudvik works primarily in the areas of civil and criminal litigation, family law, estate planning, real estate, and municipal law (including school districts).

    Sara K. Sorenson joined the firm in 2003 as an associate attorney in the Fargo office. She was a judicial law clerk for U.S. District Judge Rodney Webb.  Sara concentrates her practice in criminal and civil litigation and works in the West Fargo office now.

    Sean M. Fredricks joined the firm in 2004 as an associate attorney in the West Fargo office. He became a shareholder in the corporation on January 1, 2007. Sean practices in the areas of construction and commercial law as well as water law.

    Susan L. Ellison merged her law firm with Ohnstad Twichell and became a shareholder on July 1, 2005. She was a judicial law clerk for the East Central Judicial District Court in Fargo.  Susan offices in West Fargo and practices in the areas of employment law, divorce/family law, and elder law.

    John T. Shockley and Brett A. Brudvik joined the firm on August 1, 2005, as associate attorneys. John offices in the West Fargo location and practices in the area of municipal law; Brett offices in Mayville and practices in multiple areas of law.

    Erin A. Muldoon Haug joined the firm as an associate attorney in June 2006. She offices at the West Fargo location and concentrates her practice in the areas of family law and real estate law.

    Christopher M. McShane joined the firm in August of 2006. He offices in West Fargo and concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation and real estate law.

    Most of the attorneys are licensed to practice in North Dakota and Minnesota, and serve communities including West Fargo, Fargo, Moorhead, Mayville, Hillsboro, Page, Hope, Finley, Hatton, Valley City, Jamestown, Minot, Wahpeton, Barnesville, Harwood, Tower City, Casselton, Leonard and Mapleton, and other surrounding communities.  Areas of practice include, but are not limited to:

  • Administrative Law
  • Agricultural Law
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Basic Probate Procedure
  • Business Organization/Corporate Law
  • Construction Law
  • Elder Law
  • Employment Law
  • Employee/Employer Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Ethics and Professional Responsibility
  • Family Law/Divorces/Child Custody/Visitation/Child Support
  • General Litigation, including arbitration and mediation; commercial; insurance defense; medical negligence; personal injury; products liability
  • Government Contracts
  • Litigation and Appeals
  • Municipal Bonding/Municipal Law
  • Personal Injury Law
  • Probate Law
  • Real Estate, Residential and Commercial Law
  • Taxation
  • Trusts, Salary Continuation Plans, Etc.
  • Water Law.
  • The attorneys possess high academic credentials, maintain strong community ties, are committed to the pursuit of excellence, communicate effectively, and demonstrate the strictest personal and professional ethics as well as the utmost concern for our clients.  We utilize state-of-the-art technology and cost-effective metehods to provide services in a timely, and professional environment.  Our approach focuses on each client's background, needs, and goals.

    50% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

    West Practice Categories

    Administrative Law, State & Municipal Bonds & Financing, Business & Commercial Law, Business Organizations, Collections, Construction Law, Criminal Law, Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills, Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Family Law, Government Contracts, Health & Health Care Law, Insurance Law, Labor Law, Litigation & Appeals, Water & Riparian Rights, Personal Injury -- Defense, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Probate & Estate Administration, Estate Administration, Products Liability Law, Real Estate Law, Land Use & Zoning, State, Local & Municipal Law, Municipal Corporations, Municipal Employment, Municipal Liability, State Government, Taxation Law, Corporate Taxation, Estate & Gift Taxation, Income Taxation, Toxic Torts, Aviation

    Fees

    Office Information

    Address

    P.O. Box 458
    901 13th Av. E.
    West Fargo, ND 58078-0458

    Phones

    (701) 282-3249

    Faxes

    (701) 282-0825

    Emails

    Contact Us

    Websites

    http://www.ohnstadlaw.com
    http://ohnstadlaw.lawoffice.com

    Other Offices

    HATTON OFFICE
    Goose River Bank, 1009 Dakota Avenue, Hatton, North Dakota 58240
    OHNSTAD TWICHELL PC
    P.O. Box 220, 510 West Caledonia Avenue, Hillsboro, North Dakota 58045
    (701) 636-5700
    OHNSTAD TWICHELL PC
    PO Box 547, 12 Third Street SE, Mayville, North Dakota 58257-0547
    (701) 788-3251

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