Firm Overview

The law firm of Ohnstad Twichell, P.C., West Fargo, North Dakota, was founded on August 1, 1939, by Manfred R. Ohnstad, as a sole practitioner, and is located in the Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota.  There are currently 19 attorneys practicing with the law firm, providing a broad range of legal services to individuals and business clients throughout  North Dakota and Minnesota.  We currently have offices in Hillsboro, Mayville, Page, Hope, Finley, and Hatton, North Dakota.

Our firm is a full service law firm, representing and advising clients in the areas of Administrative Law, Agriculture Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Banking & Finance Law, Basic Probate Procedure, Business Organization, Construction Law, Elder Law, Employment Law Employee/Employer, Environmental Law, Estate Planning, Ethics & Professional Responsibility, General Litigation, Government Contracts, Litigation & Appeals, Municipal Bonding, Municipal law, Personal Injury, Residential & Commercial law and Water Law. Our attorneys represent clients in every level of state and federal courts.

Our 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 methods to provide services in a timely, client-oriented manner and ethical, friendly, and professional environment. Our approach focuses on each client's background, needs, and goals, and we are committed to responding promptly to telephone calls, to reporting on cases regularly, and to minimizing and eliminating risk by informing clients of significant changes in the law.

Our dedication to quality, understanding of the law, trust, and respect are the   Ohnstad formed a partnership in 1949 with Arthur W. McCauley (now deceased).  In 1955, Ohnstad formed a partnership with Daniel R. Twichell.  Twichell has continued to practice with the law firm since that time and remained as a senior member until he retired on December 31, 2006.  He currently serves in an "of counsel" capacity. 

Former U.S. Attorney Ralph B. Maxwell joined the law 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 continues to practice at the West Fargo location, primarily in civil litigation and family law.  Duane retired at the end of 2006, but is working as a consultant for another year.

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 in Bismarck and Fargo, North Dakota, 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 (Fargo, 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 still 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 the Ohnstad Twichell law firm.  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, North Dakota, office.  She 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 the Ohnstad Twichell law firm on July 1, 2005.  She offices in West Fargo and practices in the areas of employment law, 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 joined the law firm as an associate attorney in June 2006.  She will office at the West Fargo location and concentrate her practice in the areas of family law and real estate law.

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

Lukas D. Andrud joined the firm in October 2008 and will maintain a general practice of law, but concentrate his practice in the areas of water law, real estate law, and municipal. He will work in the West Fargo office.

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, Mapleton, and other surrounding communities.

Ohnstad Twichell, P.C.
901 13th Avenue East, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 458
West Fargo, ND 58078-0458
Phone (701) 282-3249
Fax (701) 282-0825
Toll Free: (800) 568-2407