About Us

The team at Atlas Legal Services is dedicated to helping our clients achieve their goals by providing practical, proven solutions to today's most challenging business transition needs.

We pride ourselves on our responsive approach and the strong working relationships we develop with our clients.

Atlas Legal Services, PLLC is a Fargo, N.D.-based business law firm specializing in Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and business transition services. As an experienced ESOP business attorney, we provide guidance on the establishment, compliance, and management of ESOPs for companies nationwide. Our approach combines the personalized service of a local firm with the reach and expertise of a national practice. Clients range from small businesses to large corporations across the United States.

Our team is led by ESOP attorney Bart McIlonie, who founded Atlas Legal Services in 2019 after 13 years of practicing business, ESOP, and corporate tax law.

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Contact our team of ESOP attorneys to discuss your situation

Meet the team

Bart McIlonie

Bart McIlonie is our lead ESOP attorney and is the President and Founder of Atlas Legal Services. He has provided business ownership transition and ESOP advisory services for privately held clients throughout his career. Prior to forming Atlas Legal Services, PLLC, he was a member and shareholder of a nationally recognized ESOP consulting and law firm. He has represented ESOP plan sponsors and ESOP trustees in transactions establishing ESOPs as well as shareholders selling to an ESOP in transactions ranging in value from $3M - $90M.

Bart is a member of the National Legal and Regulatory Committee of the ESOP Association and has presented at both National Center of Employee Ownership (NCEO) and ESOP Association national and regional conferences. He advises clients on a variety of issues including corporate finance, executive compensation, ESOP operations, ESOP sustainability and general compliance. In addition to his law license he also holds a North Dakota CPA certificate.

Danielle J. Foster is an ESOP and tax attorney and Vice President of Atlas Legal Services. Danielle advises companies, trustees, and shareholders on the design, implementation, and administration of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and other ownership transition strategies. She combines technical tax and ERISA knowledge with practical transaction experience to help clients navigate complex employee ownership structures and corporate transactions.

Prior to joining Atlas Legal Services, Danielle gained specialized tax consulting experience at Deloitte Tax LLP, where she advised clients on federal, state, and local tax matters, transaction structuring, and compliance.

Danielle regularly represents ESOP plan sponsors, ESOP trustees, and selling shareholders in ESOP transactions. Her experience includes advising on ESOP feasibility and structuring, leveraged ESOP transactions, fiduciary and governance matters, plan compliance and administration, and regulatory considerations under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. She assists clients with corporate governance issues, shareholder transitions, and mergers and acquisitions (involving ESOP-owned companies and non-ESOP-owned companies), including coordinating due diligence, transaction structuring, and post-transaction compliance.

Danielle is actively involved in the employee ownership community. She serves on the Board of Directors for the North Dakota Center of Employee Ownership and frequently presents at national and regional ESOP conferences. She is a member of the North Dakota Bar Association, The ESOP Association’s Legal and Regulatory Committee, and the National Center for Employee Ownership.

A native of Minot, North Dakota, Danielle graduated cum laude from Minot State University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, where she competed four years on the women’s golf team. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law. During law school, Danielle was a member of the Dakota Venture Group, the nation’s first student-run venture capital fund, where she gained experience evaluating and investing in early-stage companies. She also served as an extern to the North Dakota Legislative Council during the 2019 legislative session.

Outside of her legal practice, Danielle is passionate about expanding opportunities for women and girls through golf. She founded the Medora Girls Golf Camp in 2023, which provides middle and high school girls with instruction focused on both golf development and leadership skills. She also established a scholarship program supporting participants’ post-secondary educational goals.

Austan Wellman

Austan Wellman is an associate attorney at Atlas Legal Services, PLLC, specializing in ESOPs and business law. He leverages extensive experience with startups and emerging technology companies, advising clients on entity formation, capital raising, corporate governance, contract negotiation, and intellectual property. Austan has represented a wide range of businesses, from software providers to unmanned aerial systems and professional service firms, with a strong focus on helping technology companies secure venture capital funding.

A native of Devils Lake, ND, Austan earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, graduating magna cum laude from North Dakota State University. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law, where he was the President and Founder of the Aviation Law Society and served as treasurer of the Sports Law Society.

Austan's notable representations include $1.3M Series Seed equity financing for a technology company; $100K SAFE financing for a technology company; and $50K SAFE financing for a drone-tech company.

Stephanie P. Arniel

Stephanie P. Arniel is an attorney at Atlas Legal Services, PLLC, specializing in ESOPs and business law. She has an extensive background in intellectual property—specifically trademarks and copyrights—business law, contract negotiations, entity formation, and general transactional matters. In addition, Stephanie is a licensed mediator, providing clients with practical solutions to navigate complex business and legal challenges.

A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Science in Textile Sciences with a Minor in Sociology, focusing on Criminology, from the University of Manitoba. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law, where she served as President of the Women’s Law Section, President of the Canadian Law Students Association, and Vice President of the Sports Law Society.

Stephanie is an active member of the North Dakota Bar Association, serving as President of the Cass County Bar Association and President-Elect of the Women’s Lawyer Section.

B Missy Woessner

B Missy Woessner, RP is a PACE® Registered Paralegal with over 30 years of successful experience assisting business attorneys with the implementation and facilitation of employee stock ownership plans. She also brings a wealth of experience in corporate, tax, and estate planning law to Atlas Legal Services.

Missy holds a bachelor’s degree and associate degree in Paralegal Studies and is a member of the NE Chapter of the ESOP Association, the Vermont Paralegal Organization, National Federation of Paralegal Associations and Vermont Bar Association.

Carrie A. Roberts

Carrie A. Roberts, CEBS is our Compliance Specialist & Paralegal who has been assisting ESOP companies with qualified plan compliance for nearly 30 years. Carrie enjoys helping clients set up their ESOPs, manage ongoing compliance as well as the termination process, draft participant communications, regulatory notices and legal documents. She has prepared hundreds of plan documents, amendments, IRS determination letter filings, and qualified domestic relations orders.

Carrie has a B.A. from the University of Chicago, where she graduated with honors in Public Policy. Carrie obtained the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation, which delivers benefits expertise supported by research-based best practices with a curriculum developed by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and administered by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

Kayla Koehmstedt

Kayla Koehmstedt is the Marketing Director at Atlas Legal Services. She has extensive experience working with professional service firms that operate in the ESOP community, and understands the unique structure of ESOPs, transaction design, mergers and acquisitions, and more.

Prior to joining the team at Atlas, Kayla spent over four years at a public accounting firm where she worked with her team to build their ESOP practice from the ground up. She brings this knowledge and experience to our team developing overall marketing strategy and ensuring clients are connected and cared for.

Originally from Rugby, North Dakota, Kayla graduated magna cum laude from North Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. She participated in the United Way of Cass-Clay’s 35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program and is involved with various community organizations. In addition, she also holds an active Certified Personal Trainer certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.