Mr. O’Neill’s Practice
Bruce C. O’Neill specializes in civil commercial litigation and complex family law matters. His litigation practice routinely includes complex federal and state court business trials and “save-the-company” lawsuits.
Mr. O’Neill has obtained several high profile, multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements during years of litigation practice. He played a major role in an initial judicial interpretation of Wisconsin’s Fair Dealership Law, establishing the law as a useful vehicle for aggrieved Wisconsin dealers.
Mr. O’Neill has obtained successful client results in all areas of business law. He has successfully litigated business theft, trade secret, restrictive covenant, dealership, securities, interference, unfair sales, contract, discrimination, wrongful discharge, defamation, and non-dischargeability claims.
Mr. O’Neill has appeared and argued before, among others, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. His practice is national in scope, and he has appeared in trial and appellate state and federal courts throughout the country. He has routinely applied and argued the laws of states outside of Wisconsin and its federal counterparts.
When representing a client in a lawsuit, Mr. O’Neill conducts and directs all aspects of the case, from counseling clients in pre-litigation strategy, through discovery and pre-trial motions, through trial and through any subsequent appeal.
In addition to his civil litigation practice, Mr. O’Neill has a substantial, high net worth, family law practice. He has handled referrals from many high profile law firms of their family law matters. He frequently represents partners in divorces involving complex business and stock valuation issues. Several of his cases have resulted in published appellate decisions, including a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision clarifying the law regarding changed circumstances and shared placement evaluations.
Primary Practice Areas
- Commercial litigation
- Appeals
- Family law
Professional Summary
A Notre Dame and Marquette University Law School graduate, Bruce was Lead Article Editor for Marquette University Law School Review, and a member of Alpha Sigma Nu. Upon receiving his law degree from Marquette University Law School in 1967, he was law clerk to Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice George Currie and Justice Robert Hansen, in 1967-1968. Mr. O’Neill then served as an assistant district attorney for Milwaukee County, before joining Fox, O’Neill & Shannon, S.C. in 1969. Mr. O’Neill has been a Milwaukee County Court Commissioner since 1995. His litigation expertise has been recognized in Milwaukee Magazine, which has named him a Super Lawyer each year since 2005.
Bar Admissions
- State of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and Trial Bar for that court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
- Pro Hac Vice Admission in multiple state and federal courts
Biography
Mr. O’Neill is very active in the Milwaukee community. He sits on the Marquette Law School Advisory Board, and serves as counsel for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. His volunteer work also has included membership on the Adoption Resources of Wisconsin (past president), Catholic Social Services, Harambee House and Historic Milwaukee boards of directors; co-chairing the Marquette University High School Auction; and a term as president of the St. Sebastian’s Parish Home and School Association.
Mr. O’Neill’s wife, Peppy, was the Special Events Director for the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Alumni Association. They both bleed black-and-gold and enjoy Panther activities to the fullest. Their children’s families also continue to make life interesting if not sublime.
Mr. O’Neill enjoys baseball, poetry, and hoping for spring.