Grant Killoran and Christa Wittenberg of O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong and Laing’s Litigation Practice Group recently presented at the State Bar of Wisconsin’s “Annual Constitutional Law Symposium 2018” in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.

Attorney Killoran was the Chair of the Symposium and authored an article and presented at the seminar on “The Current State of the Second Amendment.” Attorney Wittenberg authored an article and presented at the seminar on “Freedom from Litigation: Personal Jurisdiction and Sovereign Immunity.”

Attorneys Killoran and Wittenberg presented along with attorneys and professors from around Wisconsin and the country on various constitutional topics and issues.

Grant is a shareholder with the law firm and is the Chair of its Litigation Practice Group. He has significant and diverse trial experience representing clients in Wisconsin State and Federal Courts, and courts around the country, focusing on complex business, health care and employment law disputes. Grant also devotes a portion of his practice to arts and entertainment law, with an emphasis on the music industry.

Christa is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She assists businesses and individuals with prosecuting and defending a variety of civil litigation matters, including complex contract disputes, trademark and copyright claims, inheritance disputes, class actions, personal injury cases, and fraud and conspiracy claims. As a former federal district court law clerk, Christa is intimately familiar with litigation and procedures in federal court. She has also litigated matters in state court, as well as resolved cases through mediation prior to litigation. Christa is well-versed in a wide range of legal issues, and especially enjoys litigating cases with disputes involving personal and subject-matter jurisdiction, testamentary capacity and undue influence, constitutional law, debt collection laws, contract formation and enforcement, and procedural and evidentiary rules.

In the spirit of the holiday season, the attorneys and staff at O’Neil Cannon recently collected items to be donated to The Women’s Center in Waukesha. The mission of the Women’s Center is to “provide safety, shelter, and support to empower all impacted by domestic abuse, sexual violence, child abuse, and trafficking.”

The services offered by The Women’s Center include emergency shelter for abused families, transitional living, counseling, child abuse prevention programming, legal advocacy and employment counseling. It also provides Hispanic outreach, community education programs, information and referral services, and a 24-hour hotline. If you are interested in donating or learning more about this amazing community organization, you can visit here to find more information.

Best wishes for the holiday season.

On November 29, 2018 Dean Laing spoke on the topic of “Procedural Issues in Litigation” at a seminar presented by the State Bar of Wisconsin on “Trending Topics in Business Litigation 2018.” The panel consisted of some of the top civil litigators in Wisconsin, and the seminar was very well attended. Mr. Laing spoke on various subjects, including the use of errata sheets following depositions, sequestration of persons from depositions, and use of general objections in discovery responses.

Mr. Laing has been a speaker at over 30 legal seminars, authored over 40 journal articles and book chapters, and been involved as counsel in over 75 published/reported decisions. Over the years, Mr. Laing has received numerous recognitions for his legal work, including being selected four times as one of the “Top 10 Lawyers” in Wisconsin by Super Lawyers; three times as “Lawyer of the Year in Wisconsin” by The Best Lawyers in America; and one time as a “Leader in the Law” by the Wisconsin Law Journal.

Mr. Laing can be reached at 414-276-5000 or dean.laing@wilaw.com.

O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong and Laing S.C. has been awarded recertification in Meritas, a global alliance of independent business law firms. O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong and Laing S.C. joined Meritas in 2012 and, as a condition of its membership, is required to successfully complete recertification every three years.

Meritas is the only law firm alliance with an established and comprehensive means of monitoring the quality of its member firms—a process that saves clients time validating law firm credentials and experience. Meritas membership is selective and by invitation only. Firms are regularly assessed and recertified for the breadth of their practice expertise and client satisfaction. The organization’s extensive due diligence process ensures that only firms meeting the tenets of Meritas’ unique Quality Assurance Program are allowed to maintain membership. Firm performance and quality feedback are reflected in a Satisfaction Index score, which is made available online.

“We greatly appreciate the many benefits of being a  member of the Meritas network and look forward to continuing our relationship with Meritas for years to come,” said Pete Faust, a member of the Board of Directors at O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong and Laing S.C. “Meritas’ Quality Assurance Program is not just valuable for our clients seeking legal expertise around the world; it also provides us with a framework to consistently monitor and enhance the quality of our services.”

The recertification process includes exacting self-assessment, peer review by other law firms and client feedback. It examines such factors as timeliness and quality of a firm’s client service, professional conduct and adherence to Meritas policies including acknowledgment of Meritas firm or client correspondence within 24 hours.

“Businesses trust the Meritas alliance of law firms for top-tier quality, convenience, consistency and value,” said Tanna Moore, president and CEO of Meritas. “O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong and Laing S.C. has demonstrated its commitment to world-class client service, and therefore has successfully earned its recertification in Meritas.”

Attorneys from O’Neil Cannon argued three cases before the Wisconsin Supreme Court this Fall term.

On September 7, 2018, Dean Laing argued the case of Koss Corporation v. Park Bank, Appeal No. 2016AP636, which involves the issue of a bank’s liability under the Uniform Fiduciaries Act.

On November 7, 2018, Mr. Laing argued the case of J. Steven Tikalsky v. Terry Stevens, Appeal No. 2017AP170, which involves the issue of the circumstances under which a constructive trust can be imposed against an innocent party.

A law firm having three arguments before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a two-month period is a rare feat. O’Neil Cannon is appreciative of the opportunity.

O’Neil Cannon has been ranked in the 2019 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list in 15 practice areas.

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Construction Law
• Corporate Law
• Family Law
• Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Municipal Law
• Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
• Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Real Estate Law
• Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Tax Law
• Trusts and Estates Law

Firms included in the 2019 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.

Earlier this month, for the third consecutive year, O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong and Laing S.C. proudly sponsored the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) reception at the Wisconsin Club, downtown Milwaukee. Attendance was the highest it has been in years, making the event one of the most successful that CRS has ever held in Milwaukee.

Catholic Relief Services is one of the largest international aid organizations in the world. It is also one of the most efficient and effective, with 97% of its expenditures going directly to programs that benefit individuals overseas. CRS works to alleviate suffering and provide assistance to more than 100 million people in need who live in some of the most impoverished places in over 100 countries.

O’Neil Cannon is honored to have been a part of such a meaningful event.
Read more about CRS >>

O’Neil Cannon is pleased to announce that Attorney Dean Laing was recently selected as the 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation–Defendants in the Milwaukee area. This is the third time that Best Lawyers has recognized Dean as the “Lawyer of the Year.” In 2016 he was selected for the honor in Product Liability Litigation–Defendants, and in 2012 he was selected for the honor in Personal Injury Litigation. Dean is believed to be the only attorney in Wisconsin to receive “Lawyer of the Year” as both a plaintiff’s attorney and a defense attorney.

Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer-review assessments.

Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.

In addition to the Lawyer of the Year award, Attorney Laing was also listed in the 2019 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in three categories: Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation–Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation–Defendants.

Since the list was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Attorney Jessica K. Haskell, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, has joined the Milwaukee law firm O’Neil Cannon Jessica will join the firm’s Banking and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group. Jessica comes to us after clerking for the Honorable G. Michael Halfenger of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Her experience is a welcomed addition to the firm’s  Banking and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group, which provides legal services for court-appointed receivers, secured and unsecured creditors, financial institutions, and corporations in a wide range of state and federal court matters. We are very pleased to have Jessica join OCHDL.

O’Neil Cannon, founded in Milwaukee in 1973, is a full-service legal practice that primarily focuses on providing business law and civil litigation services to closely-held businesses and their owners. The firm represents corporations, institutions, and partnerships at all stages of the business life cycle, helping them start, grow and transition from one generation to the next. We also assist business owners with their personal legal needs including tax and estate planning, family law and litigation—including personal injury litigation.

O’Neil Cannon is pleased to announce that 20 lawyers have been named to the 2019 Edition of Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession.

Best Lawyers has published their list for over three decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in over 75 countries.

“For more than a third of the century,” says CEO Steven Naifeh, “Best Lawyers has been the gold standard of excellence in the legal profession.” President Phil Greer adds, “We are extremely proud of that record and equally proud to acknowledge the accomplishments of these exceptional legal professionals.”

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise, and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

O’Neil Cannon would like to congratulate the following attorneys named to the 2019 Best Lawyers in America list:

• Douglas P. Dehler – Litigation – Insurance
• James G. DeJong – Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Corporate Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Seth E. Dizard – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Peter J. Faust – Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Corporate Law
• Robert R. Gagan – Municipal Law
• John G. Gehringer – Real Estate Law, Construction Law, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law
• Joseph E. Gumina – Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Dennis W. Hollman – Trusts and Estates, Corporate Law
• Grant C. Killoran – Litigation – Health Care
• Dean P. Laing – Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Gregory W. Lyons – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Insurance
• Gregory S Mager – Family Law
• Patrick G. McBride – Commercial Litigation
• Thomas A. Merkle – Family Law
• Chad J. Richter – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
• Steven J. Slawinski – Construction Law
• John Schreiber – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy

Additionally, Attorney Dean P. Laing has been named the 2019 Milwaukee Lawyer of the Year in Product Liability Litigation–Defendants.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey. Over 54,000 leading attorneys cast more than 7.3 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”