Tom Kading has been involved in the entrepreneurial community in the North Dakota-Minnesota area for nearly ten years. At heart, Kading is an entrepreneur participating in many successful start-up ventures.

Kading has been involved in numerous legal transactions and resolutions. He found that many attorneys struggle to bridge the gap between the needs of business and the advice attorneys provide.  

When Kading sold his business interests, he was inspired to start a law firm that offered valuable solutions for inventors, investors, and entrepreneurs.  

With an extensive list of subject matter experience, Tom Kading alongside his team at Fargo Patent & Business Law, are here to help you navigate every step of the process.

Austan L. W. Wellman is a proactive lawyer, who has experience in helping ambitious and innovative clients properly plan for their business’s future. He has experience working with a wide range of clients, both individuals, and well-established companies in various industries. His vision is to provide all clients with the advice and knowledge necessary to navigate their business in a proactive manner that reduces exposure to liability. He possesses an exceptional ability to analyze a client’s needs and collaborate with them to find effective solutions. Austan is a born-and-raised North Dakotan, whose goal is to give back to the communities and people that have given him so much.

Martin is a California Licensed Attorney, California Real Estate Broker, and has over 18 years of utility operations and supervisory experience for Fortune 200 energy utility clients, training institutes, and government regulating bodies. This experience spans across interdisciplinary competencies comprising of energy engineering, law, regulated utilities, small business, real estate, consumer protection, and higher education. Martin serves as one of California’s energy efficiency professional experts who has extensive knowledge of California’s energy markets, regulations, and industry trends.

Martin also sits on the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council where he represents his congressional district as a point of contact to oversee issues relating to regulatory reform and issues related to energy and the environment including energy costs, the Clean Air Act, fostering clean technology, and promoting high-technology businesses. Martin has a proven record of guiding and bringing to market new and emerging technologies that thoughtfully balance innovative growth opportunities with consumer ratepayer protection mandates.

 He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology and his MBA from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Martin also obtained his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the University of California, Irvine, is a Certified Water Efficiency Professional, and completed his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Trinity Law School.

Stephanie received her undergraduate degree from the University of Manitoba before obtaining her J.D. from the University of North Dakota School of Law. While in law school, Stephanie was the President of the Law Women’s Caucus, the Canadian Law Student’s Society, and Vice President of the Sports Law Student Association. Presently Stephanie serves on the board as Treasurer of the Cass County Bar Association and is a member of the American Inns of Court, Ronald N. Davies Chapter here in Fargo. Stephanie was selected as a 2022 Great Plains Rising Star and 2023 Great Plains Rising Star award by SuperLawyers.com.

During her free time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to the lake, playing soccer, and taking her chocolate lab, Boone, on walks.

Sebastian Ertelt, the firm’s Patent Director in Colorado Springs, brings a wealth of experience to our team. With a blue-collar background, Sebastian gained a BS in Mechanical Engineering along with an MBA in Management. He has accumulated 18 years of invaluable experience across various engineering disciplines, primarily at Bobcat Company, where he gained insights into the entire product development lifecycle including overseas sales and patents. His expertise spans design, manufacturing, and quality, covering everything from raw material acquisition to product shipment, including products in the process control, compact construction, HVAC, and agricultural equipment industries. Sebastian’s legislative experience further enriches his qualifications, making him a valuable member of the FPL team, focused on enhancing quality control, elevating customer service standards, and optimizing operational efficiency for the benefit of our clients.

North is the firm’s Office and Marketing Manager. He is originally from the Fargo Moorhead Area and attended college at Augustana University. He completed his undergraduate degree from Augustana in 2021, majoring in business administration and marketing. In 2022, he received his Master’s in Business Administration from Augustana.
North moved back to Fargo in 2022, and has experience in customer service, sales, and marketing. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis and spending time with friends. He looks forward to working with many of the great business leaders in the area!