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Passion. Experience. Diligence.
We at Olson & Burns know that finding the right attorney to represent you is a choice not to be taken lightly. That’s why we offer consultations to walk you through your needs, the scope of your goals, and your budget. Please consider contacting a member of our team.
Richard P. Olson
Richard P. Olson was born in Minot, North Dakota. He engages in general commercial practice regularly representing more than 40 North Dakota banks and other financial institutions in litigation, bankruptcy, transactional, regulatory matters.
Education
CONCORDIA COLLEGE
B.A. cum laude, 1971
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
J.D., 1974
Career Highlights
1974 Admitted to Bar, State of North Dakota
1982 U.S. Claims Court
1984 U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
Ward County (President 1977-1978)
Northwestern (President 1979-1981)
American Bar Association (Member, Sections on Business Law and Economics of Law Practice)
State Bar Association of North Dakota (Member, Board of Governors, 1979-1981)
Local Bankruptcy Rules Committee (Chairman, 1991-1996)
Federal Practice Committee (Chairman, 1992-1996))
Eighth Circuit Advisory Committee (through 2019)
American Bankruptcy Institute
Conference on Consumer Finance Law
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (from 1987 to 2020) in the areas of corporate law, business litigation, and bankruptcy.
Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, and Litigation - Banking and Finance.
Selected Great Plains Super Lawyer since 2007.
Defense Research Institute
International Association of Defense Counsel
Chief Editor Community Banker’s Advisor
(Bi-monthly legal publication of Independent Bank of North Dakota since 1993)
North Dakota State Counsel - Financial Solutions Network (since inception - 1978)
Achieved top ranking by Chambers USA in the areas of Bankruptcy / Restructuring and Corporate / Commercial.
Contributor to ABA Commercial Lending Law First and Second Editions and ABA Guarantee Law
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Mary P. Burns
Mary P. Burns was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ms. Burns graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1971 where she obtained her B.A. Ms. Burns obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota in 1974. Ms. Burns is admitted to practice before the North Dakota Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court, District of North Dakota.
Ms. Burns practices primarily in the areas of real estate, estate planning, probate, contracts, business entities, and loan documentation.
Ms. Burns has been practicing law with Olson & Burns, P.C. since 1985.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA – B.A., 1971
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA – J.D., 1974
Career Highlights
1974 Admitted to Bar, State of North Dakota
Civilian Attorney at the Minot Air Force Base (1976-1985)
City of Minot Civil Service Commission (Chairman, 1985-1997)
1984 U.S Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
Ward County (President 1977-1978)
Northwestern (President 1979-1981)
American Bar Association
Labor & Employment Law Section
Real Property
Trust & Estate Law Section
State Bar Association of North Dakota
Contact
Jessica L. Klein
Jessica L. Klein (f/k/a Merchant) was born and raised in Minot, North Dakota. Ms. Klein graduated from Bishop Ryan High School in 1999. Ms. Klein obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in History from the University of North Dakota in 2003 (cum laude), and her Juris Doctorate degree (cum laude) from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in 2007, and was admitted to the North Dakota Bar in 2007.
Ms. Klein has a general practice, but is primarily engaged in practice in the areas of civil litigation, oil and gas, real estate (including minerals), estate planning, probate, contracts, commercial transactions, banking, and business organizations.
Jessica is married to Travis and has three daughters Ava, Ella and Addison
Education
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA – B.S. History, cum laude, 2003
THOMAS M. COOLEY SCHOOL OF LAW – J.D., cum laude, 2007
Career Highlights
2007 Admitted to Bar, State of North Dakota
Ward County Bar Association (past President)
Minot Sunrise Rotary Club (past President)
Minot Area Chamber of Commerce (past President)
American Bar Association (Member)
State Bar Association of North Dakota (Member)
Minot Area Chamber of Commerce (Current Board Member)
Rated a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
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Wanda L. Fischer
Wanda L. Fischer was born in Harvey and was raised on the family dairy and wheat farm south of Drake, North Dakota, one of seven children. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in English from Minot State University, taught high school English for several years, and obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1993. While in law school, she was Note Editor of the Law Review and was employed by Central Legal Research where she researched and wrote legal memoranda for judges, prosecutors, and court-appointed attorneys.
Ms. Fischer joined Olson & Burns, P.C. upon her admission to the North Dakota State Bar in 1993, and has extensive experience in the areas of commercial law, UCC issues, banking operations, creditor’s rights, and as an appellate specialist.
In her spare time, she enjoys family activities, reading, time with her Great Pyrenees rescue, and flower gardening. She and her husband have three children.
Education
MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY – B.S., cum laude, 1987
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA – J.D., with distinction, 1993
Career Highlights
1993 Admitted to Bar, State of North Dakota
1993 U.S. District Court, District of North Dakota
1993 U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
North Dakota Supreme Court
Note Editor, North Dakota Law Review
Central Legal Research
State Bar Association of North Dakota
Ward County Bar Association
Contributor to North Dakota’s chapter in the American Bar Association’s Commercial Lending Law Jurisdiction-by-Jurisdiction guide, 1st and 2nd Editions.
Contributor to North Dakota’s chapter in the American Bar Association’s Jurisdiction-by-Jurisdiction guide to Guaranty Law accolade
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Nici Meyer
Nici Meyer is a lifelong resident of North Dakota who grew up farming and ranching throughout western and central North Dakota. Her law career began as the elected North Dakota State’s Attorney, in addition to working as a sole practitioner with a general practice focused on real estate transactions and title, probate law, collections, and civil litigation. Ms. Meyer has extensive experience in contract drafting, review, and negotiations, as well as risk management.
Prior to joining Olson & Burns, P.C., Ms. Meyer served as Assistant Attorney General in the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office with the Civil Litigation and Natural Resources Division working on the regulation of oil and gas production, civil litigation, and various administrative law cases.
In addition to her law degree, Ms. Meyer has continued her passion for ranching alongside her husband and partnering with her parents in a cow/calf operation. In her spare time, Ms. Meyer enjoys training and working with her horses and rodeoing with her family; she also enjoys hunting and a friendly game of golf.
Education
MOORHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY – B.S., Political Science, 1998
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA – J.D., 2001
Career Highlights
2001 Admitted to Bar, State of North Dakota
Judicial Clerk, Southwest Judicial District
Elected State’s Attorney for Bowman & Slope Counties
Meyer Law Office – Sole Practitioner
KLJ Engineering – Division Manager and Assistant In House Counsel
Assistant Attorney General in North Dakota – Civil Litigation and Natural Resources Division
North Dakota
South Dakota
Minnesota
Contact
Ryan G. Quarne
Mr. Quarne has a general practice, but focuses in the areas of oil and gas law, real estate law, estate planning, probate, litigation, landlord tenant law, and contracts. He also has experience in mineral title examination, including assisting with the preparation of division order title opinions, as well as supplemental division order title opinions.
Ryan G. Quarne was born and raised in Williston, North Dakota. He graduated from Williston High School in 2003, and is a second generation University of North Dakota graduate. Mr. Quarne obtained his degree from the University of Minnesota in 2012. Before joining Olson & Burns, P.C.,
Mr. Quarne practiced for a firm in Williston, ND working on general practice matters, but focusing on the area of mineral title examination and curative work.
Ryan enjoys reading and assisting on his family’s farm in Williston. He is married to Bethany Quarne. Ryan and Bethany have four children.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA – B.A., English, 2008
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA – J.D., magna cum laude, 2012
Career Highlights
2012 Admitted to Bar, State of Minnesota
2013 Admitted to Bar, State of North Dakota
Ward County Bar Association – Past President
North Dakota National Association of Royalty Owners – board member
Kiwanis of Minot – past board member
North Dakota
Minnesota
Contact
Clay Froseth
Clay Froseth was born and raised in Kenmare, North Dakota. Mr. Froseth graduated from
Kenmare High School in 2017. Mr. Froseth obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in
Sociology from the University of North Dakota in 2021, and his Juris Doctorate degree from the
University of North Dakota in 2024. Mr. Froseth was admitted to the North Dakota Bar in 2024.
As a new attorney, Mr. Froseth has a general practice with no specific focus as he hopes to
continue to gain experience in many areas of law to assist the community.
In his spare time, Mr. Froseth enjoys spending his time golfing, fishing, hunting, and family
activities such as walking/hiking with his Red Heeler, Mac.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA – B.A., Sociology, 2021
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA – J.D., 2024
Career Highlights
2024 Admitted to Bar, State of North Dakota
North Dakota