20 OCHDL Attorneys Named 2019 Best Lawyers in America

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.”


Seventeen Attorneys Named Super Lawyers

Each year, Super Lawyers surveys the State’s attorneys and judges, seeking the State’s top attorneys. The lists for 2017 were recently published and, once again, a large number of our attorneys are included thereon.

Dean Laing was named one of the Top 10 attorneys in Wisconsin for the third time. He was also named one of the Top 50 attorneys in Wisconsin for the twelfth straight year. In doing so, he is one of only six attorneys out of over 15,000 attorneys in Wisconsin—and the only commercial litigator in Wisconsin—to make the list all twelve years. Dean was also named one of the Top 25 attorneys in Milwaukee.

Seth Dizard and Patrick McBride were also named among the Top 50 attorneys in Wisconsin. This is the fifth time that Seth has made the list. Seth was also named one of the Top 25 attorneys in Milwaukee.

Doug Dehler, Jim DeJong, Pete Faust, Bob Gagan, John Gehringer, Joe Gumina, Greg Lyons, Greg Mager, Joe Newbold, Chad Richter, John Schreiber, Jason Scoby, and Steve Slawinski were also named Super Lawyers, a recognition given to the top 5% of attorneys in Wisconsin. Jim DeJong, Pete Faust, John Gehringer, and Greg Lyons have made the list for the past 10 or more years.

Erica Reib was also named Rising Stars, which is limited to 2.5% of the young attorneys in Wisconsin.

We are extremely proud of these recognitions, but even more proud of the quality of service we provide to our clients.


Nineteen Attorneys Named Super Lawyers

Each year, Super Lawyers surveys the State’s attorneys and judges, seeking the State’s top attorneys. The lists for 2016 were just published and, once again, a large number of our attorneys are included thereon.

Dean Laing was named one of the Top 10 attorneys in Wisconsin for the second time. He was also named one of the Top 50 attorneys in Wisconsin for the eleventh straight year. In doing so, he is one of only seven attorneys out of over 15,000 attorneys in Wisconsin — and the only commercial litigator in Wisconsin — to make the list all eleven years. Dean was also named one of the Top 25 attorneys in Milwaukee.

Seth Dizard and Patrick McBride were also named one of the Top 50 attorneys in Wisconsin. This is the fourth time that Seth has made the list. Seth and Patrick were also named one of the Top 25 attorneys in Milwaukee.

Doug Dehler, Jim DeJong, Pete Faust, Bob Gagan, John Gehringer, Joe Gumina, Greg Lyons, Greg Mager, Joe Newbold, Chad Richter, John Schreiber, Jason Scoby and Steve Slawinski were also named Super Lawyers, a recognition given to the top 5% of attorneys in Wisconsin. Jim DeJong, Pete Faust, John Gehringer and Greg Lyons have made the list for the past 10 or more years.

Megan Harried and Erica Reib were also named Rising Stars, which is limited to 2.5% of the young attorneys in Wisconsin.

In total, we had 19 of our attorneys named to the lists by Super Lawyers, representing more than 50% of our practicing attorneys, which is more than 10 times in excess of the 5% statewide standard.

We are extremely proud of these recognitions, but even more proud of the quality of service we provide to our clients.


Recognized as One of the Top Law Firms in Wisconsin by Super Lawyers

O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong and Laing is pleased to be selected for inclusion in the 2015 Super Lawyers Business Edition. The Top firms were chosen based on the number of attorneys within the firm who were selected to the 2014 or 2015 Super Lawyers list in business practice areas, as well as a combination of metrics indicating the quality of those attorneys. Quality factors that were considered included the number of years selected to the list, inclusion on a top list, and their average blue ribbon panel scores.

The following attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers and featured in the 2015 Annual Directory of the nation’s top attorneys in business and transactions practice areas include:

  • James G. DeJong – Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Seth E. Dizard – Creditor Debtor Rights
  • Peter J. Faust – Mergers and Acquisitions
  • John G. Gehringer – Real Estate
  • Joseph E. Gumina – Employment and Labor
  • Gregory W. Lyons – Business Litigation
  • Patrick G. McBride – Business Litigation
  • Joseph D. Newbold – Business Litigation
  • Chad J. Richter – Business/Corporate
  • John R. Schreiber – Creditor Debtor Rights
  • Jason R. Scoby – Mergers and Acquisitions


Twenty Attorneys Elected to the Wisconsin Super Lawyers Lists

O’Neil Cannon is proud to announce that the following sixteen attorneys were selected for inclusion on the Super Lawyers list, which is limited to 5% of all Wisconsin attorneys, as published in the December 2015 Edition of Milwaukee Magazine and the Wisconsin Super Lawyers Magazine:

  • Douglas P. Dehler
  • James G. DeJong
  • Seth E. Dizard
  • Peter J. Faust
  • John G. Gehringer
  • Joseph E. Gumina
  • Dean P. Laing
  • Gregory W. Lyons
  • Gregory S. Mager
  • Patrick G. McBride
  • Joseph D. Newbold
  • Chad J. Richter
  • John R. Schreiber
  • Jason R. Scoby

In addition, the following four attorneys were selected for inclusion on the Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list, which “recognize[s] the top up-and-coming attorneys in the state—those who are 40 years old or younger, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less:”

  • Melissa S. Blair
  • Megan O. Harried
  • Erica N. Reib
  • Timothy M. Van de Kamp

The Firm is proud to further announce that Dean Laing, Seth Dizard, and Peter Faust were selected by Super Lawyers as “Top 50 Attorneys” in Wisconsin and “Top 25 Attorneys” in the Milwaukee Area. Dean is one of only 10 attorneys out of over 15,000 attorneys in Wisconsin—and the only commercial litigator—to be selected to The Top 50 list for all 10 years.

Super Lawyers is a national rating service that rates attorneys in all 50 states. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. As part of its process, Super Lawyers surveyed more than 15,000 attorneys and judges in Wisconsin, looking for the best attorneys in the State.

The New Jersey Supreme Court recently upheld the findings of a Special Master who made the following determinations about Super Lawyers:

“[T]he selection procedures employed by [Super Lawyers] are very sophisticated, comprehensive and complex.

It is absolutely clear… that [Super Lawyers does] not permit a lawyer to buy one’s way onto the list, nor is there any requirement for the purchase of any product for inclusion in the lists or any quid pro quo of any kind or nature associated with the evaluation and listing of an attorney or in the subsequent advertising of one’s inclusion in the lists.”


Super Lawyers Recognizes OCHD&L Among the Top Wisconsin Law Firms

O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong and Laing is pleased to be selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers Business Edition.  Top firms were chosen based on the number of attorneys within the firm who were selected to a 2013 or 2014 Super Lawyers list in business practice areas, as well as a combination of metrics indicating the quality of those attorneys. Quality factors that were considered included the number of years selected to the list, inclusion on a top list, and their average blue ribbon panel scores.

The following attorneys recognized as outstanding in the business and transactions practice group and featured in the Super Lawyers Business Edition include:

  • James G. DeJong – Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Seth E. Dizard – Creditor Debtor Rights
  • Peter J. Faust – Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Chad J. Richter – Business/Corporate
  • John R. Schreiber – Creditor Debtor Rights
  • Jason R. Scoby – Mergers and Acquisitions


More Honors for Our Attorneys

O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong and Laing S.C. is proud to announce that the following nine attorneys were selected for inclusion on the Super Lawyers list, which is limited to 5% of all Wisconsin attorneys, as published in the December 2012 edition of Milwaukee Magazine:

  • James G. DeJong
  • Seth E. Dizard
  • Peter J. Faust
  • John G. Gehringer
  • Dean P. Laing
  • Gregory W. Lyons
  • Patrick G. McBride

The Firm is proud to additionally announce that the following six attorneys were selected for inclusion on the Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list, which “recognize[s] the top up-and-coming attorneys in the state—those who are 40 years old or younger, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less:”

  • Joseph D. Newbold
  • Laura J. Now
  • Chad J. Richter
  • John R. Schreiber
  • Jason R. Scoby
  • Timothy M. Van de Kamp

The Firm is proud to further announce that Dean Laing was selected by Super Lawyers as one of the “Top 10 Attorneys” in Wisconsin, regardless of practice area.  Of the over 15,000 attorneys in Wisconsin, Dean was the only commercial litigator selected to the list.  He was also selected by Super Lawyers as one of the “Top 25 Attorneys in the Milwaukee Area.”

Super Lawyers is a national rating service which rates attorneys in all 50 states.  The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.  As part of its process, Super Lawyers surveyed more than 15,000 attorneys and judges in Wisconsin, looking for the best attorneys in the State.

The New Jersey Supreme Court recently upheld the findings of a Special Master who made the following determinations about Super Lawyers:

“[T]he selection procedures employed by [Super Lawyers] are very sophisticated, comprehensive and complex.

It is absolutely clear… that [Super Lawyers does] not permit a lawyer to buy one’s way onto the list, nor is there any requirement for the purchase of any product for inclusion in the lists or any quid pro quo of any kind or nature associated with the evaluation and listing of an attorney or in the subsequent advertising of one’s inclusion in the lists.”


Attorney Richter Receives Outstanding Leadership Award

On December 6th 2012, Chad Richter received the 2012 Outstanding Leadership Award from MBBI.  The award was presented at MBBI’s annual Private Equity Connection held at the Milwaukee Athletic Club, which included over 20 different Private Equity firms and approximately 150 attendees.

MBBI is one of the largest organizations of M&A advisors and professionals in the Midwest, and is comprised of brokers, intermediaries, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, commercial bankers, individual buyers, and private equity groups, all assisting businesses on transactions with a value in the $1M-$30M range.


More Honors for our Attorneys

The new lists of Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars are out and O’Neil Cannon is proud to announce that 12 (approximately 40%) of our lawyers made the lists. The lists are published in the December 2011 edition of Milwaukee Magazine. Our lawyers making the list are:

Super Lawyers

Rising Stars

The lists of Super Lawyers and Rising Stars are limited to 5% and 2.5%, respectively, of the lawyers practicing in Wisconsin.

Milwaukee Magazine also published lists of the Top 50 Lawyers in Wisconsin and the Top 25 Lawyers in the Milwaukee area, and both Mr. Laing and Mr. Faust made those lists as well. This is the sixth consecutive year that Mr. Laing has made the list of the Top 50 Lawyers in Wisconsin, making him the only commercial litigator in Wisconsin to have done so.

As described in the Milwaukee Magazine article, the process used for assembling the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists is as follows:

First, we ask lawyers across the state to name the top attorneys they’ve personally observed in action. We also perform our own research to find outstanding attorneys who may have been overlooked by their peers. Once we have our candidate pool assembled, we access the background, credentials and experience of each lawyer. Specifically, we look at 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement—things like experience, verdicts and settlements, transactions, clients, honors and awards.

The lawyers are then evaluated by a blue ribbon panel of peers within their primary area of practice. Before final selections are made, we divide the lawyers by firm size and chose the top lawyers from each group until we have a list that represents 5 percent of the lawyers in the state (Rising Stars lists are limited to 2.5 percent).

The list of Top 50 Lawyers in Wisconsin is comprised of the 50 lawyers in Wisconsin receiving the highest point totals in the nomination, research and blue ribbon review process. The list of Top 25 Lawyers in the Milwaukee area consists of the 25 lawyers in the Milwaukee area receiving the highest point totals in that same process.


Over 50% of O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong and Laing Attorneys Recognized on Super Lawyers 2010 List

Fifteen attorneys from O’Neil Cannon have been selected for inclusion on the Wisconsin Super Lawyers 2010 list.

Super Lawyers is a peer-nominated award that recognizes the top 5% of outstanding attorneys across the state of Wisconsin. The Super Lawyers are selected using a rigorous, multiphase rating process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research, and each candidate is evaluated based on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Super Lawyers:

  • James G. DeJong
  • Seth E. Dizard
  • Peter J. Faust
  • John G. Gehringer
  • Dean P. Laing*
  • Gregory W. Lyons
  • Patrick G. McBride
  • Steven J. Slawinski

Rising Stars:

  • Timothy C. Caprez
  • Gregory S. Mager
  • Chad J. Richter
  • John R. Schreiber
  • Robert J. Tess

*Top 50 Super Lawyers Recipient