Tripp County Lawyers

Kristi has been with Davenport Evans since 1995. Her practice is focused upon representing employers and insurers in all stages of workers’ compensation and employment matters. She regularly provides advice to clients on compensability issues and defenses involved with workers’ compensation claims before litigation is commenced, but also continues to assist them by defending litigated claims before the Department of Labor and on appeal. Employers also look to her for guidance and the aggressive defense of Title VII cases involving claims of harassment and discrimination, claims involving other laws that impact employers, such as the ADA and FMLA, as well...

South Dakota lawyer Brendan Reilly joined Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP in 1998. Brendan’s practice encompasses a wide area but he works most frequently in general corporate law, from the formation of new legal entities to the merger or purchase of existing companies. Brendan also focuses on a variety of real estate and land use matters, and assists clients with matters related to health care, intellectual property, and general contract preparation and negotiation.

Brendan enhanced his practice and gained invaluable business experience as COO and General Counsel for a large national executive search firm prior to rejoining Davenport Evans as...

I have over 30 years experience helping people with difficult problems. I am a former public defender and later a prosecutor. I have had numerous jury trials. My experience enables me to help you in cases from personal injury/automobile accidents to criminal and DUI defense as well as family law. My family law practice includes divorce, custody, child support, adoption, guardianship and conservatorship matters. I also handle bankruptcy cases for people looking for a new start financially.

Rebecca Wilson founded Wilson Legal Planning after practicing in the field of estate planning and elder law for 18 years. Rebecca’s practice throughout her career has been focused on estate planning, elder law, probate and trust administration. She enjoys working with her clients to help them understand their options and choose the best fit for their family. Rebecca received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Yale University with distinction. She graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School. Rebecca is a member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, the Sioux...

Bret Merkle has been representing injured people since 1991. Bret is a trial attorney specializing in the area of bodily injury and insurance claims. He graduated with a law degree and an MBA degree, and is a staff instructor with the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College. Bret has obtained justice for his clients through negotiated settlements, mediation, arbitration, court trials and jury trials for hundreds of people over the years. Bret and his staff are personable and easy to work relieving the stress from tragic accidents and losses.

Russ Janklow specializes in personal injury and civil litigation, wherein he has tried over 100 jury trials in South Dakota, including several appearances before the South Dakota Supreme Court. Russ has been distinguished as one of the top personal injury trial attorneys in South Dakota and has repeatedly been acknowledged by his peers for his personal approach, diverse skills and his outstanding accomplishments. A tenacious litigator, Russ is recognized annually by Best Lawyers in America, a recognition he’s received since 2010. He was also awarded the “2014 Lawyer of the Year” in Sioux Falls for plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation, an...

Born and raised in Parker, South Dakota lawyer Drew Duncan graduated from Parker High School in 1994. From there he went to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and then got his law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law. After a year as a clerk for the 5th circuit judges of South Dakota he joined Zimmer, Duncan and Cole. At Zimmer, Duncan and Cole he has specialized in governmental affairs law and civil litigation. Drew is married to his beautiful wife Carrie and they have two children together Olivia and Bennett. Drew loves outdoor activities and...

Mark Krogstad is a Trusts and Estates attorney practicing in South Dakota and Minnesota with Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP in Sioux Falls, SD. A Willmar, Minnesota native and Augustana University graduate, Mark joined the firm after practicing in Minnesota and receiving his Master’s Degree in Taxation from the University of Florida. He practices in the areas of estate planning, business succession planning, tax planning, charitable gift planning, and estate and trust administration. As a part of his practice, Mark assists clients in: *Drafting wills, durable powers of attorneys, and trusts, such as revocable...

Stephen Demik specializes in complex civil and criminal litigation, and trials of all types. He is an experienced trial attorney, practicing in state and federal courts for nearly 15 years. He speaks Spanish proficiently. A graduate of University of California, Hastings College of the Law and a faculty teacher at the Trial Lawyers College, Stephen Demik has a wide background in many areas– from civil plaintiffs work to criminal defense, from tribal court to immigration law, from juvenile court to Guantanamo Bay. For over 14 years, he has tried cases in both state and federal court, in both South Dakota and...

Mark Ekse - Registered Patent Attorney and Member of the State Bar of South Dakota. Mark’s practice focus includes licensing, trademark and copyright law. He also represents clients involved in patent disputes, infringement cases and intellectual property cases. Mark represents clients needing legal guidance with registering and protecting software and computer technology, electronic commerce and digital enterprise, as well as trade secret protection and disputes. Mark is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Mark currently serves as an adjunct professor of Patent Law and Intellectual Property at the University of South Dakota. He received his undergraduate...

South Dakota lawyer Matt Van Heuvelen is a partner in the business law section at Davenport Evans. Matt, who is licensed to practice in South Dakota and Iowa, focuses his practice on dynasty trusts and trust administration, business transactions, estate planning, probate, tax planning and fiduciary litigation. Clients he represents include individuals, families, trustees, bank trust departments, trust companies, financial advisors, businesses and charitable organizations. Matt is a member of American Bar Association, the State Bar of South Dakota, the Iowa State Bar Association and the Sioux Falls Estate Planning Council. While in law school at the University of Iowa,...

Mark J. Welter was born and raised in Yankton, South Dakota; and Mark has lived in South Dakota his whole life. Mark earned a business degree at the University of South Dakota, and his law degree at the University of South Dakota School of Law. Mark then worked two years as a law clerk for John B. Jones, U.S. District Judge, District South Dakota, Southern Division. Mark then worked for 15 years as an insurance defense personal injury trial lawyer and worker’s compensation lawyer for Woods, Fuller, Schultz & Smith P.C. in Sioux Falls, defending clients against...

My commitment to each client is to achieve results that exceed expectations by providing high quality, personalized legal services. My commitment to each small business client is to provide high quality, creative, and results-oriented legal services and to serve as a primary resource in all aspects of the client's growth and development througout the formation, operations, and termination stages of the business life cycle.

David L. Ganje is a commercial law and commercial litigation attorney and also maintains a natural resources practice. He has grounded his legal experience as a practicing attorney, a former commodity arbitrator, a member of the board of directors of an S&L and an adjunct professor to hone his skills in these areas of practice. Born and raised in Aberdeen, South Dakota, David handles matters related to mineral law, oil and gas law, energy law and water law in his natural resources practice. The practice includes representation before local and federal regulatory bodies. In his commercial law and commercial litigation practice, David...

Robert E. Hayes is a Financial Services lawyer at Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP in Sioux Falls, SD. Bob has long been recognized for his expertise in the field of creditors rights law, a fact reflected not only by his having served for years on the State Bar’s Debtor Creditor Committee but accumulating nearly a decade as chair of that committee. Bob has received an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, for the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. He was also selected by Best Lawyers® in the areas of...

Horn Law Office is owned and operated by Garrett Horn, J.D. Mr. Horn has been practicing law since 2001 in Yankton South Dakota where he started his own firm, Horn Law Office, in 2006. Horn Law Office, fighting for you.

Beau joined the Den Herder Law Firm in 2019 with several years of experience practicing in a variety of civil litigation matters, real estate transactions, and debtor-creditor negotiations. Beau serves as the municipal attorney for the town of Mission Hill, South Dakota. Beau graduated from the University of South Dakota Law School in 2014. During law school Beau served as Lead Articles Editor for the South Dakota Law Review and was a member of the Trial Team.

Beau has been a member of the South Dakota Bar Association since 2014 and is also admitted to practice before the United States District...