Toll Free (800) 316-2324
Office Location in the Flint Hills
The Attorneys of Morrison, Frost, Olsen, Irvine & Schartz, LLP
A firm of six attorneys, dedicated to providing you with legal advice and assistance.
James W. Morrison | William L. Frost | Rodney C. Olsen
P. Bernard Irvine | Kitra R. Schartz | Craig N. Olsen
James W. Morrison
Partner
Jim is a native of Kansas. He attended and graduated from Manhattan schools and Kansas State University. Jim was awarded his juris doctorate from Washburn University in December 1970 and was admitted to the bar in Kansas in February 1971. Jim served four years in the Riley County Attorney’s Office, two years as County Attorney and, upon completion of his term in 1975, started the practice with William L. Frost. With nearly 40 years of experience in areas such as estate planning, business law, domestic law, criminal law, Jim has had an expanding practice that consists of substantial litigation.
Jim has been involved and recognized as a community leader. Jim is a member of the Riley County and Kansas Bar Associations and is active in numerous community organizations. He is a founder and past president of Manhattan Retirement Foundation, an ecumenical retirement facility in Manhattan; the Flint Hills Breadbasket; the Manhattan-Ogden Public School Foundation, where he is an original organizer and current president; and was an organizer and past president of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. He is a leader within his church.
Jim is admitted to practice in all Kansas courts, including the U.S. District Court of Kansas and the U.S. Supreme Court.
William L. Frost
Partner
Bill has practiced law in Manhattan and the surrounding area since 1975. He is recognized as one of the most experienced attorneys in the area regarding municipal law, including condemnation and zoning matters. He has represented the City of Manhattan for over 30 years. Bill also is experienced in complex litigation.Bill graduated from Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University) in 1968. After spending four years in the Navy, he returned to law school at Washburn University, graduating with his juris doctorate in 1975.
Bill is admitted to practice in all Kansas courts, including the U.S. District Court of Kansas.
Rodney C. Olsen
Partner
Rod is an alumnus of Kansas State University (1970) and Hastings College of Law, University of California (1973). After graduating from law school, he served as a Judge Advocate for the United States Air Force for four years.
Rod returned to start his private practice of law, joining Jim Morrison and Bill Frost in 1979. Rod is admitted to practice in all Kansas courts, the U.S. District Court for Kansas, the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals. He is an active member of the Kansas, Riley County and Pottawatomie County Bar associations, and an inactive member of the California bar. Rod is also a member of the Kansas Association for Justice.
Rod is a former member of the Urban Area Planning Board and an active member of the First United Methodist Church. He has participated in various community organizations.
Rod's wife, Susie, is a preschool director at the First United Methodist Church, and they have three adult children, Brian, Sarah and Craig. Rod enjoys many sports, including hiking, rafting and an occasional golf outing.
P. Bernard Irvine
Partner
Bernard began his legal career in 1993. He has developed considerable courtroom and trial experience in a wide variety of practice areas. Bernard regularly represents businesses in real estate matters, including negotiating transactions, drafting lease and sales agreements, preparing construction agreements, and litigating disputes in those areas. Bernard also helps individuals form businesses through incorporation, and he represents businesses in contract preparation and the collection of bad debts.
Having served as a prosecutor for several years, Bernard has a strong background in the area of criminal law. He currently represents individuals charged with all levels of offenses, ranging from simple misdemeanors to serious felonies.
Bernard also has broad experience in agricultural law. He presently teaches Agricultural Law and Economics at Kansas State University, and has represented farmers and ranchers on a wide range of legal issues. His understanding in this area is aided by his continued involvement in his family’s agricultural business.
Bernard graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor's degree in business management in 1990. In 1993, he received his juris doctorate from the Washburn University School of Law. Bernard is admitted to practice in all Kansas Courts, including the U.S. District Court of Kansas. He is also admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Riley County and Kansas Bar Associations. He is active in the Riley County Bar Association, serving as president in 2004. He is currently a member of the Riley County Bar Ethics Committee, having served as the chairperson from 2003 to 2010, and he has served as a trustee of the Riley County Law Library.
Bernard is active in local civic affairs, having served on the United Way Board of Directors and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Board of Directors. Bernard is a lifelong member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church, where he is involved in various activities, including the Knights of Columbus.
He is married to Emily, a homemaker, with whom he has six children: Emma, Elizabeth, Paul, Benjamin, Nathaniel and Eleanor.
Kitra R. Schartz
Partner
Kitra received her bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, in English Literature from Washburn University and her law degree from Washburn University, graduating with Dean's Honors.
From August 2001 until December 2006, Kitra was employed as an attorney for Kansas Legal Services, Inc., where she represented individuals in divorce and other family law matters. In January 2007, she went into private practice and continues to focus in the area of family law. Beyond divorce, Kitra has expertise in paternity actions, child custody, child support, and adoptions. Family law cases often involve very personal issues and Kitra is committed to providing each client the individual attention that he or she needs.
Kitra is admitted to practice in all Kansas courts, including the U.S. District Court of Kansas, and is also licensed to practice in Missouri and the Western District of Missouri. She is a member of the Riley County, Kansas, and Missouri Bar Associations. She currently serves on the Kansas Legal Services, Inc. Board of Directors.
Kitra is married to Joe Schartz, a teacher and coach at Manhattan High School. They have three children.
Craig N. Olsen
Partner
Craig graduated with honors from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2006. He received his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the spring of 2009 as a member of the Dean’s List. During law school, he clerked for the Douglas County District Court in Lawrence, Kansas.
Craig is admitted to practice in all Kansas courts, including the U.S. District Court of Kansas. He is a member of the Riley County and Kansas Bar Associations. He assists in a variety of practice areas.
After his educational endeavors in the state of Missouri, Craig returned, in 2009, to his hometown of Manhattan. He is married to Katie Olsen, a faculty member at the Kansas State University School of Journalism & Mass Communications.