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The Attorneys of Knopp and Biggs:

JOE KNOPP

Joe engages in the general practice of law assisting families and businesses. These matters range from divorce and estate planning to real estate development, zoning and corporate organization. He has been involved in litigation for personal injury and commercial transactions.

Born in Junction City Kansas in 1952, Joe grew up on their family farm south of Chapman Kansas. He attended Kansas State University, where he was student body president and earned a B.S. in 1974. Joe received his J.D. from the Washburn University School of Law in 1977 and has been practicing law in Manhattan since 1978.

For over 15 years, taught Engineering Law at Kansas State University. Joe is a past president of the Solo and Small Firm Section of the Kansas Bar Association and in addition serves on the legislative affairs committee of the Kansas Bar Association.

In addition to his law practice, Joe served in the Kansas Legislature from 1980-1988. He served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, the Chairman of the House -Senate Committee on Medical Malpractice and as House Majority Leader.

Joe was president of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce in 1995. Joe is a member of the Manhattan Sunset Zoo Trustees, Friends of McCain Auditorium, Advisor to the Delta Upsilon Fraternity at K-State and member of the First United Methodist Church.

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JOE KNOPP
CHRIS BIGGS

CHRIS BIGGS

Chris has extensive experience in lengthy, complicated, and high-stakes jury trials to include homicides, securities fraud and public corruption cases. He received the Outstanding Prosecutor Award from the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association in 1988.

He has both prosecuted and defended capital criminal cases. He also serves as a regular instructor in trial advocacy programs and as a lecturer on trial organization and skills.

Chris handles all types of trial work but focuses on criminal defense in state and municipal courts, appellate practice, family law and construction cases. 

Chris, a Manhattan native, is a Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Kansas State University and is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law. He is member of the Kansas Bar since 1983 and is also admitted to practice before the Federal District Court and Supreme Court of the United States.  He served as Kansas Securities Commissioner, Kansas Secretary of State, Geary County Attorney (14 years), Assistant Shawnee County District Attorney, and as a Public Defender.

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Julie Ehler, Associate

Born in Manhattan, Kansas in 1973, Julie attended Kansas State University where she earned a B.A. in 1994, and was awarded her Juris Doctor in 2000 from Regent University School of Law. She was admitted to the bar in Kansas in 2002.

During law school and immediately after, Julie interned in the Office of Senator Sam Brownback, Just Law International, P.C., and the Office of Representative Jim Ryun.

Julie worked for the state of Kansas for 15 years, first with the Kansas Department of Agriculture as a staff attorney from 2002 until 2010, and then as the program manager of the state meat and poultry inspection program. In 2014, she transitioned to the Kansas State Department of Education in the area of special education law, working with parents and schools to ensure that students with disabilities have the services they are entitled to. Julie recently returned to Manhattan and joined Knopp & Biggs, P.A. in 2020, and has a general practice.

Julie is a member of the Kansas Bar Association and Riley County Bar Association.

Julie has mentored girls through a group home, taught English in Romania, been a licensed foster home, and adopted from foster care.

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