Atty. Peter J. "Pete" Faust
Peter J. Faust is the President and Managing Shareholder of the law firm of O'Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing S.C., a 40-attorney firm headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Profile Summary
About Peter J. "Pete" Faust at a glance
Peter J. "Pete" Faust is a business and m&a attorney based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, practicing at O'Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing SC. Admitted to practice in Wisconsin, State Bar of Wisconsin. Educated at Marquette University (J.D., 1994). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Corporate Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus: (2026). Serands clients in Milwaukee, WI and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
Peter J. Faust is the President and Managing Shareholder of the law firm of O'Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing S.C., a 40-attorney firm headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Pete assists buyers, sellers, borrowers, lenders, and investors with a wide range of business law matters: including, mergers and acquisitions, formation and organization of new businesses, and contract negotiations. Pete has successfully closed hundreds of mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions involving public and private companies.
Pete Assists Clients With
- Mergers, acquisitions, and recapitalizations of businesses
- Private equity and venture capital financing
- Private offerings of debt and equity securities
- Securities laws issues
- Complex contractual matters and negotiations
- Business financing and loan documentation for borrowers and lenders
- Formation of new businesses and exit strategies
- Covenants not to compete and confidentiality agreements
- Corporate governance issues
- Tax-exempt organizations
Professional Associations & Affiliations
- Member, American Bar Association, Mergers and Acquisitions Committee
- Member, American Bar Association, Private Equity and Venture Capital Committee
- Board Member, State Bar of Wisconsin, Business Law Section
- Member, State Bar of Wisconsin, Business Law Section’s Chapter 180 Former Subcommittee (which reviews and revises Wisconsin’s Business Corporation Law: Chapter 180 of the Wisconsin Statutes)
Awards/Distinctions
- Named 2022 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Mergers & Acquisitions Law
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® –Corporate Law and Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2013–present
- Rated a 10.0 out of 10.0 by Avvo, a national attorney rating service which uses a mathematical model to rate attorneys based on experience, professional achievements, industry recognition and professional conduct
- Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™–AV Preeminent, reflecting an attorney who has reached the height of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity
- Selected for inclusion in Wisconsin Super Lawyers in Law & Politics and Milwaukee Magazine, 2005–present
- Selected as one of the “Top 25 Lawyers” in Milwaukee by Law & Politics and Milwaukee Magazine
- Selected as one of the “Top 50 Lawyers” in Wisconsin by Law & Politics and Milwaukee Magazine
- Editor-in-Chief, Marquette Law Review
- Named one of "Milwaukee's Leading Lawyers" in Corporate/Incorporated by M Magazine in 2014 and in Securities Offerings in 2015. Only 2-5% of the top ranked attorneys published by Avvo for each category, were recognized
Articles/Presentations
- Speaker, Meritas Capability Webinar, “Transactions in a COVID-19 Environment” (2020)
- Speaker, Private Client Breakfast–HNI “Liability Protection” (2019)
- Speaker, ACG–Wisconsin Next Gen “Trends and Takeaways from the ABA Private Target Deal Points Study” (2019)
- Quoted in, Marquette Lawyer Magazine, “Practicing Business Law at the Speed of Change: How technology is changing the practice of business law” (2019)
- Speaker, Park Bank Business seminar, panel discussion “Working on Your Business” (2015)
- Speaker, O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing, Hot Topics for Small Firm and Solo Practitioners seminar, panel discussion “The Drafting of Business Documents: Perspectives from Transactional and Litigation Attorneys” (2014)
- Speaker, O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing, Hot Topics for In-House Counsel seminar, panel discussion “Legal Ethics Issues Relating to the Media & Dealing with the Media” (2013)
- Speaker, BizTimes Business Strategy seminar, “Preparing Your Business for Sale: A Legal Perspective” (2011)
- Panelist, MBBI Conference on Deal Momentum (2009)
- Speaker, Corprate Practice Institute seminar, “The Enforceability of Employment-Related Covenants Not to Compete”
- Speaker, Lorman Education Services seminars, “Noncompete Covenants in Other Agreements” (Sale of Business, Shareholder, Franchise, etc.)
Education
- Marquette University Law School (J.D., magna cum laude)
- University of Wisconsin (B.A.)
Practice Areas Explained
Peter J. "Pete" Faust's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Peter J. "Pete" Faust handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Peter J. "Pete" Faust is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Wisconsin →
Peter J. "Pete" Faust is one of 49,731 m&a attorneys indexed nationally. Browse m&a attorneys in Wisconsin →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Wisconsin
Practicing law in Wisconsin. Legal matters in Wisconsin are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Milwaukee are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Wisconsin state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Wisconsin brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Wisconsin courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Wisconsin attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Milwaukee or all attorneys in Wisconsin.
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