James G. DeJong - O'Neil Cannon

Leading the Way

Jim is the firm’s Chairman Emeritus and a member of the Business Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Groups. Jim’s business law practice is diverse. He is experienced in successfully guiding clients through a wide variety of matters from forming and financing business entities to negotiating and documenting complex business transactions. He frequently represents buyers and sellers of businesses. Jim also has extensive experience working with clients on corporate governance matters.

Jim Assists Clients With

Purchasing and selling businesses
Private equity, venture capital and debt financing
Contract negotiation and preparation
Business development issues including: entity formation, growth, and exit strategies
Corporate governance matters
Private offerings of debt and equity securities

Experience/Representative Client Work

Represented the purchaser in its acquisition of a leading manufacturer of highly technical plastic injection molded components.
Represented a manufacturer of products for the worldwide foodservice industry in its acquisition of a well-known line of foodservice products.
Represented a leading provider of peripherals for AC and DC drives in a private equity-backed management buyout.
Regularly represents a Wisconsin-based private equity group in its merger and acquisition activities.
Represented a manufacturer of heat transfer products with multi-state manufacturing facilities in a private equity-backed management buyout.
Represented the owners of a company which provides goods to health care facilities in their sale to a private equity-backed management buyout.
Represented a management group in its acquisition of a controlling interest in a large wholesale beverage distribution business.
Represents the board of directors of a mutual insurance company in corporate governance related matters.
Represented the management group of a large, regional electronic component distribution business in their purchase of the business from a publicly owned buyer.
Represented the controlling shareholders of a family-owned, multi-state manufacturing and distribution business in resolution of a dispute with a minority shareholder.
Served as lead attorney representing a multi-national corporation in negotiating and preparing agreements relating to a $400 million project.
Lead attorney for a telecommunications company in connection with obtaining more than $100 million in venture capital financing.

Awards/Distinctions

Recipient of the 2019 P.E. MacAllister Distinguished Alumnus Award, presented by Carroll University
Named one of “Milwaukee’s Leading Lawyers” in 2013, 2014, and 2015–Business, M Magazine
Selected for inclusion in Wisconsin Super Lawyers in 2005–2023 Law and Politics and Milwaukee Magazine
Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in 2010–2024–Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law
Recipient of an AV Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5.0 rating by Martindale-Hubbell®

Articles/Presentations

“Update on the Applicability of Sarbanes-Oxley to Private Companies”–Lauber CFOs Roundtable Conference
“Strategies to Minimize Legal Risk”–Select Circle of Contracting Excellence Customer Business Conference
“Current Status of the Law Regarding Non-Compete and Confidentiality Agreements”–Lauber CFOs Roundtable Conference
“The Due Diligence Process in Business Acquisitions”–WICPA
“What Every Business Owner Should Know About Anti-Trust Laws and Restraints of Trade”–Select Circle of Contracting Excellence Customer Business Conference

Community Involvement

Member, Association for Corporate Growth, Wisconsin
Ordained Elder, Crossroads Presbyterian Church
Former Chair of the Board of Trustees, Carroll University
Former Board member, Friends of Art of the Milwaukee Art Museum
Former Board member, Milwaukee Repertory Theater

Attorney Jim DeJong was featured in an article appearing in the 2013 Summer Edition of the Marquette Lawyer Magazine. Read the article about Jim here.

In The News