Each year, Super Lawyers surveys the State of Wisconsin’s 15,000 attorneys and judges, seeking to recognize the State’s top attorneys. Recently, Super Lawyers published its lists for 2025, which include the Top 10 Attorneys in Wisconsin, Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin, Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee, Super Lawyers (consisting of the top 5% of attorneys in Wisconsin), and Rising Stars (consisting of attorneys who are 40 years old or younger or who have been in practice for 10 years or less).

Super Lawyers, who previously referred to the firm as “the Milwaukee mid-sized powerhouse,” recognized twenty-eight of our attorneys.

Those attorneys are the following:

• Dino Antonopoulos:
  • Super Lawyer
• Nick Chmurski:
  • Rising Star
• Doug Dehler:
  • Super Lawyer
• Jim DeJong:
  • Super Lawyer
• Seth Dizard:
  • Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee
  • Super Lawyer
• Maura Falk:
  • Rising Star
• Pete Faust:
  • Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Super Lawyer
• John Gehringer:
  • Super Lawyer
• Joseph Gumina:
  • Super Lawyer
• Jessica Haskell:
  • Rising Star
• Mike Kennedy:
  • Rising Star
• Grant Killoran:
  • Super Lawyer
  • Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee
• JB Koenings:
  • Super Lawyer
• Dean Laing:
  • Top 10 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee
  • Super Lawyer
• Trevor Lippman:
  • Rising Star
• Greg Lyons:
  • Super Lawyer
• Patrick McBride:
  • Super Lawyer
• Jason Meehan:
  • Rising Star
• Joe Newbold:
  • Super Lawyer
• Erica Reib:
  • Rising Star
• Chad Richter:
  • Super Lawyer
• Ryan Riebe:
  • Rising Star
• John Schreiber:
  • Super Lawyer
• Jason Scoby:
  • Super Lawyer
• Steve Slawinski:
  • Super Lawyer
• Kelly Spott:
  • Rising Star
• Christa Wittenberg:
  • Rising Star

Super Lawyers is a national rating service that rates attorneys in all 50 states. The selection process utilized by Super Lawyers is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. One court recently had this to say about Super Lawyers:

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

We are proud to be one of the few firms in Wisconsin with more than 50% of its attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers.

O’Neil Cannon is pleased to announce that attorneys Dino Antonopoulos, Jessica Haskell, and Ryan Riebe have been elected as shareholders of the firm.

Antonopoulos is a member of the firm’s Business and Real Estate Practice Groups. With nearly 20 years of experience, Antonopoulos has established a strong reputation as a corporate and real estate transactional attorney. Known for his exceptional communication skills, dedicated client advocacy, and proven track record of success, he continues to deliver favorable results. Learn more about Antonopoulos.

Haskell is a member of the firm’s Banking, Receivership, and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group. In addition to her legal work, she serves as Chair of the Milwaukee Bar Association’s Bankruptcy Section and is a board member of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Creditors’ Rights Section and the Wisconsin Network of the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation. Learn more about Haskell.

Riebe is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. He advises individuals and businesses on a wide range of litigation matters, representing clients in state and federal courts as well as in mediation and arbitration. Learn more about Riebe.

We are proud to welcome these attorneys to our shareholder group and look forward to their continued contributions to the firm’s success.

Each year, Super Lawyers surveys the State of Wisconsin’s 15,000 attorneys and judges, seeking the State’s top attorneys. Recently, Super Lawyers published its lists for 2024, which include the Top 10 Attorneys in Wisconsin, Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin, Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee, Super Lawyers (consisting of the top 5% of attorneys in Wisconsin), and Rising Stars (consisting of attorneys who are 40 years old or younger or who have been in practice for 10 years or less).

Thirty of our attorneys were recognized by Super Lawyers, which has referred to the firm as “the Milwaukee mid-sized powerhouse.” Those attorneys are the following:

• Emily Behn:
  • Rising Star
• Nick Chmurski:
  • Rising Star
• Doug Dehler:
  • Super Lawyer
• Jim DeJong:
  • Super Lawyer
• Seth Dizard:
  • Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee
  • Super Lawyer
• Pete Faust:
  • Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee
  • Super Lawyer
• John Gehringer:
  • Super Lawyer
• Joseph Gumina:
  • Super Lawyer
• Jessica Haskell:
  • Rising Star
• Mike Kennedy:
  • Rising Star
• Grant Killoran:
  • Super Lawyer
• Dean Laing:
  • Top 10 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee
  • Super Lawyer
• Trevor Lippman:
  • Rising Star
• Greg Lyons:
  • Super Lawyer
• Patrick McBride:
  • Super Lawyer
• Jason Meehan:
  • Rising Star
• Britany Morrison:
  • Rising Star
• Joe Newbold:
  • Super Lawyer
• Erica Reib:
  • Rising Star
• Chad Richter:
  • Super Lawyer
• Ryan Riebe:
  • Rising Star
• John Schreiber:
  • Super Lawyer
• Jason Scoby:
  • Super Lawyer
• Steve Slawinski:
  • Super Lawyer
• Kelly Spott:
  • Rising Star
• Christa Wittenberg:
  • Rising Star

Super Lawyers is a national rating service that rates attorneys in all 50 states. The selection process utilized by Super Lawyers is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. One court recently had this to say about Super Lawyers:

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

We are proud to be one of the few firms in Wisconsin that had more than 50% of its attorneys receive recognition by Super Lawyers.

Each year, Super Lawyers surveys the State of Wisconsin’s 15,000 attorneys and judges, seeking the State’s top attorneys. Recently, Super Lawyers published its lists for 2023, which include the Top 10 Attorneys in Wisconsin, Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin, Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee, Super Lawyers (consisting of the top 5% of attorneys in Wisconsin), and Rising Stars (consisting of attorneys who are 40 years old or younger or who have been in practice for 10 years or less).

Twenty-nine of our attorneys were recognized by Super Lawyers, which has referred to the firm as “the Milwaukee mid-sized powerhouse.” Those attorneys are the following:

• Nick Chmurski:
  • Rising Star
• Doug Dehler:
  • Super Lawyer
• Jim DeJong:
  • Super Lawyer
• Seth Dizard:
  • Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee
  • Super Lawyer
• Pete Faust:
  • Super Lawyer
• John Gehringer:
  • Super Lawyer
• Joseph Gumina:
  • Super Lawyer
• Jessica Haskell:
  • Rising Star
• Mike Kennedy:
  • Rising Star
• Grant Killoran:
  • Super Lawyer
• Dean Laing:
  • Top 10 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee
  • Super Lawyer
• Trevor Lippman:
  • Rising Star
• Greg Lyons:
  • Super Lawyer
• Patrick McBride:
  • Super Lawyer
• Britany Morrison:
  • Rising Star
• Joe Newbold:
  • Super Lawyer
• Erica Reib:
  • Rising Star
• Chad Richter:
  • Super Lawyer
• Ryan Riebe
  • Rising Star
• John Schreiber:
  • Super Lawyer
• Jason Scoby:
  • Super Lawyer
• Steve Slawinski:
  • Super Lawyer
• Kelly Spott:
  • Rising Star
• Christa Wittenberg:
  • Rising Star

Super Lawyers is a national rating service that rates attorneys in all 50 states. The selection process utilized by Super Lawyers is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. One court recently had this to say about Super Lawyers:

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

We are proud to be one of the few firms in Wisconsin that had more than 50% of its attorneys receive recognition by Super Lawyers.

Each year, Super Lawyers surveys the State of Wisconsin’s 15,000 attorneys and judges, seeking the State’s top attorneys. Recently, Super Lawyers published its lists for 2022, which include the Top 10 Attorneys in Wisconsin, Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin, Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee, Super Lawyers (consisting of the top 5% of attorneys in Wisconsin), and Rising Stars (consisting of attorneys who are 40 years old or younger or who have been in practice for 10 years or less).

Twenty-five of our attorneys were recognized by Super Lawyers, which has referred to the firm as “the Milwaukee mid-sized powerhouse.” Those attorneys are the following:

• Nicholas G. Chmurski:
  • Rising Stars
• Douglas P. Dehler:
  • Super Lawyer

• James G. DeJong:
  • Super Lawyer

• Seth E. Dizard:
  • Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee
  • Super Lawyer

• Peter J. Faust:
  • Super Lawyer

• John G. Gehringer:
  • Super Lawyer

• Joseph E. Gumina:
  • Super Lawyer

• Jessica K. Haskell:
  • Rising Stars

• Grant C. Killoran:
  • Super Lawyer

• Dean P. Laing:
  • Top 10 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin
  • Top 25 Attorneys in Milwaukee
  • Super Lawyer

• Trevor C. Lippman:
  • Rising Stars

• Gregory W. Lyons:
  • Super Lawyer

• Patrick G. McBride:
  • Super Lawyer

• Britany E. Morrison:
  • Rising Stars

• Joseph D. Newbold:
  • Super Lawyer

• Erica N. Reib:
  • Rising Stars

• Chad J. Richter:
  • Super Lawyer

• John R. Schreiber:
  • Super Lawyer

• Jason R. Scoby:
  • Super Lawyer

• Steven J. Slawinski:
  • Super Lawyer

• Kelly M. Spott:
  • Rising Stars

• Christa D. Wittenberg:
  • Rising Stars

Super Lawyers is a national rating service that rates attorneys in all 50 states. The selection process utilized by Super Lawyers is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. One court recently had this to say about Super Lawyers:

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

We are proud to be one of the few firms in Wisconsin that had more than 50% of its attorneys receive recognition by Super Lawyers.

Attorney Jessica K. Haskell was recently selected as the new chair of the Bankruptcy Section of the Milwaukee Bar Association. The Bankruptcy Section of the Milwaukee Bar Association is focused on providing continuing legal education seminars and engaging section members. Jessica is a member of O’Neil Cannon’s Banking, Receivership, and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group. She represents court-appointed receivers, secured and unsecured creditors, financial institutions, and corporations in state and federal court. Jessica is pleased to be selected as the new chair and looks forward to being involved with the Bankruptcy Section in her new role.

Attorney Jessica K. Haskell has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Creditors’ Rights Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2022. The Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Creditors’ Rights Section seeks to inform its members about developments in bankruptcy and collection law and to serve the judiciary and the public. Specifically, members work on developing the law, increasing communication between practitioners, and improving the standards of the profession.

Jessica is a member of O’Neil Cannon’s Banking, Receivership, and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group. She represents court-appointed receivers, secured and unsecured creditors, financial institutions, and corporations in state and federal court. Jessica is pleased to be elected and looks forward to being involved with the Board in her new role.

On Saturday, President Biden signed into law the COVID-19 Bankruptcy Relief Extension Act of 2021. This act extends the $7.5 million debt limitation under the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (SBRA) for another year, until March 27, 2022.

Last year, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to provide emergency assistance for individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act temporarily increased the debt limitation under the SBRA from $2,725,625 to $7.5 million. The SBRA, which took effect on February 19, 2020, created Subchapter V of the Bankruptcy Code to provide a more streamlined and cost-effective reorganization option for small businesses. The $7.5 million debt limitation increase under the CARES Act was set to expire on March 27, 2021.

The COVID-19 Bankruptcy Relief Extension Act of 2021 extends the bankruptcy relief provisions of the CARES Act, which most notably includes the $7.5 million debt limitation under the SBRA, until March 27, 2022. As a result, small businesses with debts between $2,725,625 and $7.5 million will continue to be eligible for Subchapter V for another year.

For further information regarding the COVID-19 Bankruptcy Relief Extension Act of 2021 or insolvency concerns relating to bankruptcy or receivership, please contact attorney Jessica K. Haskell.

Yesterday, the Trump administration announced an order temporarily halting certain residential evictions until the end of the year. The eviction moratorium, which is being enacted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pursuant to its authority under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 264 et seq.), seeks to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. The nationwide moratorium could apply to as many as 40 million residential tenants.

Despite its reach, the moratorium is not a blanket protection for all residential tenants. To qualify for protection under the moratorium, a tenant must expect to earn no more than $99,000 this year (or no more than $198,000 if filing a joint tax return), or not have been required to report any income in 2019 to the IRS, or have received a stimulus check under the CARES Act. Further, a tenant must provide a sworn declaration to his or her landlord indicating that (1) the tenant has used best efforts to obtain government assistance, (2) the tenant is unable to pay full rent because of a loss of household income or extraordinary medical expenses, (3) the tenant is using best efforts to make partial rent payments, and (4) eviction would cause the tenant to be homeless or live with others in close quarters.

The moratorium does not relieve a tenant of his or her obligations to pay rent, and a landlord may continue to charge applicable interest, penalties, and fees under the lease for nonpayment of rent. Landlords also may still evict tenants for reasons besides not making rent, such as criminal activity, threatening the health and safety of other tenants, damaging property, and violating other provisions under the lease. Landlords who violate the order may face criminal penalties.

The order does not apply to commercial leases, nor does it apply in any state or local area that already has a moratorium on residential evictions that provides the same or greater level of protection. Nothing in the order precludes states or local authorities from imposing additional requirements.

O’Neil Cannon remains open and ready to help you. For questions or further information relating to the eviction moratorium, or insolvency concerns relating to bankruptcy or receivership, please contact the authors of this article, attorneys Jessica K. Haskell and Nicholas G. Chmurski.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provides much-needed assistance to small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to providing forgivable loans of up to $10,000,000, the CARES Act more than doubles the debt limitation under the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (SBRA) for a one-year period commencing March 27, 2020. This change will allow more small businesses to reorganize under the newly created Subchapter V of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019

Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code governs business reorganization. In amendments to the Bankruptcy Code in both 1994 and 2005, Congress distinguished small businesses and attempted to provide for a streamlined small business reorganization process. Unfortunately, these efforts have largely proved unworkable for most small businesses as the amendments were tightly confined within the strictures of Chapter 11.

For many small businesses, a Chapter 11 reorganization is not practical because the traditional proceedings are expensive and cumbersome. The SBRA, which took effect on February 19, 2020, created an entirely new subchapter of Chapter 11—Subchapter V—which eliminates some of the procedural barriers and costs of a traditional Chapter 11 proceeding in an attempt to make reorganization more viable for small businesses. Subchapter V includes the following provisions:

• The court must hold a status conference within 60 days of the petition date to discuss the “expeditious and economical resolution of the case,” and the debtor must file a report 14 days before the conference detailing how it is attempting to obtain a consensual plan of reorganization;
• The debtor has the exclusive right to propose a plan of reorganization and it must be filed within 90 days of the petition date;
• There is no committee of unsecured creditors unless the court orders otherwise for cause;
• No disclosure statement is required unless the court orders otherwise for cause;
• The debtor is excused from paying quarterly U.S. trustee fees;
• The court may confirm a non-consensual plan of reorganization if the plan does not “discriminate unfairly” and is “fair and equitable” as to each class of impaired creditors that has not accepted the plan; and
• The absolute priority rule is eliminated, which makes it easier for owners to retain their stake in the business.

Cases filed under Subchapter V have similarities to cases under Chapters 12 and 13.

A trustee is appointed to investigate the financial affairs of the debtor, help administer claims, and act as a conduit for the debtor’s payments under its confirmed plan. The debtor remains in possession of its property and continues to operate the business. And a plan can be confirmed without the acceptance of a class of creditors if it treats creditors within the class fairly and the debtor commits all of its projected disposable income to making payments under the plan over the course of a three- or five-year period.

To be eligible under the SBRA, a small business must be engaged in commercial or business activities and cannot have more than $2,725,625 of secured and unsecured debt. Additionally, 50% of the pre-petition debt must have been generated from commercial or business activities. A small business is ineligible if its primary activity is owning single-asset real estate. Thus, whether a business qualifies as a small business debtor largely depends on its debt threshold.

Debt Limitation Increase Under the CARES Act

While Subchapter V appears to have created a more workable framework for small business debtors looking to reorganize their financial affairs, it remains inaccessible to many businesses that might otherwise qualify because of the debt threshold proscribed in the SBRA. The CARES Act represents a significant step toward expanding the scope of Subchapter V by increasing the debt limitation under the SBRA from $2,725,625 to $7,500,000. This increase, however, is only temporary and will sunset on March 27, 2021, unless further action is taken by Congress. Some proponents of the SBRA, such as the American Bankruptcy Institute, lobbied Congress for a debt threshold of $10 million before the SBRA was signed into law. While it remains uncertain whether Congress will permanently extend or increase the new debt limitation under the SBRA, it is clear that a much greater number of small businesses will be able to take advantage of Subchapter V over the next year.

For further information regarding the SBRA, the impact of the CARES Act on your business, or insolvency concerns relating to bankruptcy or receivership, please contact attorneys Jessica K. Haskell and Nicholas G. Chmurski.