Matt O’Neill’s practice focuses on commercial litigation, arbitration, and appellate work. Matt has tried or arbitrated dozens of cases to verdict, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Matters included shareholder disputes, contract disputes, employment litigation, property disputes, probate matters, and personal injury defense. Matt has argued many cases before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, and Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Matt has a robust campaign finance and election law practice. Matt has successfully helped run several election recounts, represents campaign committees before the Wisconsin Ethics Commission, and Wisconsin Election Commission.
Matt has been involved in many high-stakes cases including the reversal of a $100 million verdict against a local utility and a recount of a $1 billion referendum. In most matters Matt strives to achieve a cost-effective resolution for his clients.
Represented minority shareholder in protracted derivative and direct litigation, including multiple trials and appeals.
Represented minority shareholder in federal trial regarding fair value of stock.
Argued two leading cases before Wisconsin Supreme Court involving minority shareholder rights.
Represented utility in appeal reversing $100 million punitive damages verdict.
Obtained $120,000 jury verdict for pro bono clients, including punitive damages, against major self-storage company.
Represented the spouse in divorce action against CEO of publicly traded corporation.
Obtained verdict clearing title and awarding damages in a property dispute between family members. Successfully defended verdict on appeal and thwarted attempted bankruptcy by obtaining ruling that the judgment was non-dischargeable.
Represented the ex-spouse in judicial dissolution case against former spouse to sever jointly owned business.
Obtained $900,000 arbitration award for wrongly terminated independent consultant.
Successfully litigated non-competition dispute on behalf of multinational industrial engineering company.
Obtained $2.1 million arbitration award for defrauded investor.
Successfully represented Board of Canvassers and defended recount of $1 billion school spending referendum.
Defended local ambulance company in personal injury case.
Leader in the Law, 2020
Designated as Super Lawyer since 2006, recently named Wisconsin Top 50, Milwaukee Top 25
Received Legal Action of Wisconsin Exceptional Pro Bono Advocacy Award
State Bar of Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society
Past-President of Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association
Law Clerk, 1991-92, Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan S. Heffernan (the best!)
Testified regarding election law before United States Congress, Wisconsin Senate and Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (now Wisconsin Ethics Board)
Selected, The Best Lawyers in America©
Board Member, Legal Action of Wisconsin
Board Member, Uptown Crossing Business Improvement District 16
Member, Serjeants Inn
Member, Thomas E. Fairchild Inns of Court
Fellow, Wisconsin Law Foundation
Member, Milwaukee Bar Association
Former Board Member, ALS Association of Wisconsin
Former Editor, Washington Heights quarterly newsletter, The Highlighter
Former Trustee and Secretary, Woodlands School Board of Trustees
Admitted, Wisconsin Supreme Court and all lower state courts
Admitted, United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts
Admitted, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Admitted, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Admitted, United States Supreme Court
J.D., Marquette University Law School, 1991, magna cum laude
B.A., University of Notre Dame, 1988, cum laude
Matt was born and has lived in Milwaukee most of his life. He was paperboy for the Milwaukee Sentinel, rising early to deliver the news and Brewers box scores to a six-block stretch of 50th street. He later painted houses and raised colonies of moths in a microbiology lab.
Matt is known for giving entertaining speeches (some in costume), running historic fantasy football leagues, and hosting epic vacations every 10 years. His 40th birthday party unfolded at a castle in Ireland, and his 50th birthday celebration at a palace in Italy (highlights available at www.matts50th.com). His upcoming 60th will return to Ireland, at Blackwater Castle, where his ancestor the 9th Viscount of Fermoy resided in the mid 1600’s (so sayeth ancesty.com). Matt sidelines as a trophy artist, with more than a dozen utterly unique trophies circulation around the state.
Matt is happily married with three interesting, diversely artistic daughters. Matt enjoys nuts, cooking, travel, golf, crossword puzzles, and spending time with his dogs.
© 2025 Fox, O'Neill & Shannon, S.C..
