Our Team
Passion. Experience. Diligence.
Our team
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.
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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, and regulatory matters.
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)
America 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
Mary P. Burns
Mary P. Burns was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ms. Burns graduated from University of Minnesota in 1971 where she obtained her B.A. Ms. Burns obtained her Juris Doctor 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 worked as a civilian attorney at Minot Air Force Base from 1976 to 1985, and has been practicing law with Olson & Burns, P.C. since 1985. Ms. Burns was the Chairman for the City of Minot Civil Service Commission from 1985 to 1997.
Ms. Burns is a member of the American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section , Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section, and is a member of the State Bar Association of North Dakota.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
B.A., 1971
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
J.D., 1974
Jessica L. Merchant
Jessica L. Merchant was born and raised in Minot, North Dakota. Ms. Merchant graduated from Bishop Ryan High School in 1999. Ms. Merchant obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in History from the University of North Dakota in 2003 (cum laude), and her Juris Doctor degree (cum laude) from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in 2007, and was admitted to the North Dakota Bar in 2007.
Ms. Merchant is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar Association of North Dakota, the Ward County Bar Association (past President), the Minot Sunrise Rotary Club (past President), and Minot Area Chamber of Commerce (past president and current board member).
She has been rated a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Ms. Merchant 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 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
Wanda L. Fischer
Wanda L. Fisher was born in Harvey and was raised on the family dairy and wheat farm south of Drake, North Dakota, one of 7 children. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in English from Minot State University (cum laude), taught high school English for several years, and obtained her Juris Doctorate degree (cum laude) from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1993. While in law school she was Note Editor for the North Dakota Law Review and was employed by Central Legal Research where she researched and wrote legal memoranda for judges, prosecutors, and cort-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. She is a member of the State Bar Association of North Dakota and the Ward County Bar Association, and is admitted to practice before the North Dakota Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court, District of North Dakota, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
In her spare time, she enjoys family activities, reading, time with her two Golden Retrievers, and flower gardening. She and her husband have three children.
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
Note Editor, North Dakota Law Review
State Bar Association of North Dakota (member)
Ward County Bar Association (member)
Education
MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY
B.S., cum laude, 1987
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
J.D., with distinction, 1993
Ryan G. Quarne
Ryan G. Quarne, was born and raised in Williston, North Dakota. He graduated from Williston High School in 2003. He then obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of North Dakota in 2008, and his Juris Doctor degree (magna cum laude) from the University of Minnesota School of Law in 2012. He was admitted to the Minnesota Bar in 2012, and the North Dakota Bar in 2013.
Before joining Olson & Burns, 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.
Mr. Quarne has a general practice, but focuses in the areas of oil and gas law, real estate law, estate planning, probate, litigation 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 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
Joshua J. Wolfe
Joshua J. Wolfe is a native of rural Esmond, ND. He grew up on his family farm, which instilled a strong work ethic in him. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from North Dakota State University in 2009. From the time Josh first read To Kill a Mockingbird, he knew practicing law was the career for him. He followed his dream and attained his Juris Doctorate degree in December of 2014 from the University of North Dakota.
Mr. Wolfe joined Olson & Burns, P.C. upon his admission to the North Dakota State Bar in May of 2015. He has an expanding general practice, including areas of real estate law, contract law, civil litigation, commercial transactions, and estate planning. Mr. Wolfe is also trained in areas of Civil Mediation and Family Law Mediation.
In his spare time, Josh enjoys spending time outdoors doing various activities like, mountain biking at local state parks, kayaking, and hunting. He also won’t turn down the opportunity to watch a good ballgame.
Education
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
B.A., political science, 2009
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
J.D., 2014
Loni Bryantt
Attorney Loni Bryantt is a Minot native and is pleased to return to practice law in her hometown. Ms. Bryantt obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications in 2017. In May 2020, she received her Juris Doctorate from the University of North Dakota School of Law and earned an Indian Law Certificate, which recognizes those students who take at least 15 credits in Indian Law and Tribal Law.
Ms. Bryantt has broad experience in legal research, legal writing, and courtroom procedure and protocol. While in law school, she participated in Moot Court, was the Ou tside Articles Editor for the North Dakota Law Review, worked as a legal intern on the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs with Senator John Hoeven, worked as a law clerk for a Grand Forks law firm, and served as a judicial law clerk for the Northeast Central Judicial District Court.
Education
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
B.A., Journalism and Mass Communication, 2017
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
J.D., with Indian Law Certificate, 2020
Nici Meyer
Nici Meyer is a lifelong resident of North Dakota who grew up farming and ranching throughout western and central North Dakota. Ms. Meyer graduated from Rugby High School and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Moorhead State University in 1998, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2001. Her law career began in southwest North Dakota where Ms. Meyer served as the elected state’s attorney for both Bowman and Slope Counties, 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 also has extensive experience in contract drafting, review, and negotiations, as well as risk management.
Prior to joining Olson and Burns P.C., Ms. Meyer served as an Assistant Attorney General in the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office within the Civil Litigation and Natural Resources Division where she worked on the regulation of oil and gas production, civil litigation, and various administrative law cases.
In addition to her law career, 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.
Ms. Meyer is licensed in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
Education
MOORHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY
B.S., Political Science, 1998
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
J.D., 2001