About Us: Firm History

In 1962, new lawyer William Fitzhugh Fox opened a general practice business law firm in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. He was soon joined by Bruce C. O’Neill, a veteran of the Milwaukee District Attorney’s office, who became the head of the firm’s commercial litigation and family law practices. Thomas P. Shannon joined the firm in 1973, becoming the head of the firm’s corporate and real estate law divisions, and giving the firm a vital presence in the Illinois courts.

To buttress its extensive litigation and appellate practice, the firm recruited lawyers with appellate judicial clerking experience. William R. Soderstrom joined the firm in 1979, and Diane Slomowitz in 1981, after concluding year-long full-time clerkships with Wisconsin Court of Appeals judges in Milwaukee and Madison. Mr. Soderstrom’s practice now focuses on business affairs and real estate, and Ms. Slomowitz specializes in appeals, legal research and legal writing.

In 1986 and 1989, respectively, the firm solidified its tax and estate planning practices by hiring Allan T. Young and Gregory J. Ricci to head those practice areas. Both Mr. Young and Mr. Ricci are certified public accountants as well as attorneys, and both worked at former “Big 8” accounting firm Arthur Andersen & Co. for many years before joining the firm.

Francis J. Hughes joined the firm in 1988, specializing in real estate, business matters and employment relations. Providing commercial, personal injury and civil litigation services, Michael J. Hanrahan joined the firm in 1997.

Eric J. Pagels graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2007 and joined the firm shortly thereafter. Mr. Pagels provides services in the areas of business, real estate and tax law.