About our Firm

Located in western North Dakota, and nestled in the plains just north of Theodore Roosevelt's Badlands, south of Lewis and Clark's Missouri River and east of the early mountain men's Yellowstone River, Watford City, the county seat of McKenzie County is the home of Johnson & Sundeen, Ltd. An inland island of grazing cattle, wheat, oil and gas, and an abundance of wildlife is the reputation of McKenzie County, whose history is rich in colorful characters including cowboys of the old west.

Johnson & Sundeen, Ltd. had its origins in 1980 when Dennis Johnson following law school returned to the home of his grandparents and parents to McKenzie County to open his law practice. Lured by the beauty of the West, and a thirst for the rugged Badlands, Ross Sundeen joined the firm in 1993.

With determination to give you quality legal service, Dennis and Ross offer quality legal skills with small town service and price. The motto of the firm is: "Small town lawyer doesn't mean small town practice."

While a large part of their practice focuses on basic legal service, including real estate, collections, and probates (domiciliary and ancillary), Dennis and Ross have extensive experience in litigation from simple to complex, including products liability, patent infringement, serious personal injury and professional negligence (malpractice) cases. Dennis also has extensive experience with complex commercial law and oil and gas law cases.

In 1991, Dennis successfully completed a multi-million dollar oil and gas lawsuit against the Federal Government that resulted in a continuous stream of income to McKenzie, Billings and Golden Valley Counties. Both Dennis and Ross have appeared before the North Dakota Supreme Court on a variety of issues, and work hard to address the needs of their clients.

Both Dennis and Ross have roots that let them know how people want to be treated. Dennis grew up on a cattle ranch in western North Dakota. Ross grew up on a grain farm in eastern North Dakota. Neither is a stranger to, or afraid of, hard work or long hours.

These two "farm kids" are no country bumpkins. Dennis is the current North Dakota Trial Lawyer's State Delegate to the American Trial Lawyers, and is also past president of the North Dakota Trial Lawyers. Ross, a member of the National Eagle Scout Association, was a board member for the Young Lawyer's Executive Council to the North Dakota State Bar Association, and currently serves on the State Bar Association's fee arbitration panel.

Dennis and Ross have gained the reputation of "tough but fair" litigators who put their respective client's interest first. The "dueling pistols" logo of the firm represents the modern day lawyer's code of the west --- ethical conduct and fair play, while zealously advocating for their clients.

At Johnson & Sundeen, Ltd., we strive to provide you high quality legal service and advice for a fair and reasonable fee.