A North Dakota Business Law Firm That Knows More Than Business

North Dakota is our home. Our families have been here for generations. Kennelly Business Law of Fargo focuses on business law and a select group of other areas of law. We can assist business owners in forming their companies, writing contracts, preparing for mergers and acquisitions, real estate purchases and sales, and litigating disputes. And although business law is in our name, we also represent hundreds of clients in estate planning matters.

Our Practice Areas

The core of our business includes working with clients in the following areas:

Business Law

Legal business matters remain the backbone of our law firm. We have guided numerous North Dakota businesses in achieving their goals whether it be formation…

Real Estate Law

Real estate matters almost always represent a substantial investment whether it is the lease of the space for a new business or a purchase of property…

Estate Planning

The importance of estate planning cannot be understated. If you want your assets and property distributed according to your wishes, it’s essential to have an estate…

Civil litigation

Contracts are the lifeblood of a business. A successful company relies on contracts to take advantage of opportunities, avoid disputes, complete agreements…

Through the years, hundreds of clients have retained us as we’ve helped them form business entities. Many of those relationships continue as our clients have come back to us because of our reliability, trustworthiness, knowledge and empathy. Our lawyers come from business backgrounds, so we know the challenges you face.

Meet our Team

Our Attorneys Practice In North Dakota And Minnesota

Kennelly Business Law has a team of attorneys with a combined experience of more than 40 years. We hail from North Dakota, a state we are proud to call home. As multigenerational North Dakotans, we take pride in our work in assisting people and their businesses in North Dakota and Minnesota. To learn more about our backgrounds, follow the links below.

Chris M. Kennelly

Attorney

Chris M. Kennelly: Attorney Chris Kennelly, also born and raised in Fargo, focuses his legal practice on business, real estate, and estate planning. He has helped hundreds of business owners structure their companies, negotiate and draft contracts, and navigate complex transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions. Chris earned his bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of North Dakota before attending Gonzaga University School of Law, where he earned a certificate of excellence for achieving the highest grade in contract law in his class. Outside Kennelly Business Law, Chris also owns and serves as president of the Frontier Title Group, which operates title companies such as FM Title, Richland Title, Barnes Title, and Stutsman Title.

Jeff Gunkelman

Attorney

Jeff Gunkelman: Attorney Jeff Gunkelman, a native resident of Fargo, ND, comes from a long line of business owners, with his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father all founding and running businesses during their careers. With an undergraduate education in banking and financial economics, Jeff focused his law school studies on business and tax laws at the University of North Dakota School of Law. Jeff graduated in the top ten percent of his class, earning his law degree cum laude with distinction. Today, Jeff focuses his practice on helping individuals and companies start and grow their businesses.

Ben Williams

Attorney

Ben Williams: Attorney Ben Williams grew up in Moorehead, a fourth-generation resident of the Fargo–Moorhead region. Growing up with parents who owned small businesses, Ben developed a desire to help other business owners. He focuses his legal practice on commercial litigation, including contract, real estate, construction, and other business disputes. Ben graduated cum laude with distinction from the University of North Dakota School of Law, where he ranked in the top ten percent of his class. In law school, Ben served as the Outside Articles Editor for the North Dakota Law Review, with his published article winning the North Dakota Bar Foundation’s award for Most Outstanding Student Article.

We have the experience, we have the knowledge, and we know the region. We can provide guidance in all matters related to business law. In addition, we have broad client base in the practice areas of real estate law, estate planning matters and civil litigation. Kennelly Business Law also has an office in Valley City.

Kennelly Business Law’s Award-Winning Reputation

Our lawyers have earned numerous recognitions for their work on behalf of our law firm’s clients. Attorney Chris Kennelly has received selections for the North Dakota Super Lawyers list for 2023 through 2025. He has also earned the highest AV Preeminent rating from the peer-rating service Martindale-Hubbell. Attorney Jeff Gunkelman also earned selection to Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars list for North Dakota for 2022. Attorney Ben Williams also earned inclusion in the Rising Stars list for 2021 through 2024.

The awards our attorneys have received reflect our dedication to achieving successful results for clients and our drive to provide outstanding service. Our primary goal is to relieve the anxiety and stress of legal issues for business owners and individuals in Fargo and across eastern North Dakota and northern Minnesota.

Who We Work With

The attorneys at Kennelly Business Law have extensive experience working with business owners across all industries in the Fargo–Moorhead region and in eastern North Dakota and northern Minnesota. We regularly represent small- and medium-sized businesses, assisting the owners of medical practice firms, construction companies, real estate development firms, and financial institutions. However, we welcome owners and managers from all industries.

Our law firm assists companies with legal matters such as business formation, contract drafting and negotiation, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, and business litigation. We also assist business owners and individuals with an array of other legal matters, including real estate transactions, estate planning, and probate/estate administration. We have our main office in Fargo with another full-time office in Valley City.

Our firm regularly assists clients from communities throughout the eastern ND and northern MN region, including:

Fargo, ND–Moorhead, MN
Valley City and Wahpeton
Grand Forks
Detroit Lakes, MN, region

Contact A Connected North Dakota Law Firm

Kennelly Business Law of Fargo, North Dakota, understands business law, but that’s not all we practice. Our attorneys have more than 40 years of combined experience and practice real estate law, estate planning and civil litigation. If you’re looking for a knowledgeable and effective law firm that will guide you, contact us. We can assist and are eager to work with fellow North Dakotans. We want to represent you. Please call our lawyers for a consultation at 701-478-4900 or contact us online.