Billie Jean Smith

Danny is an equity shareholder and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. Danny represents public and private manufacturers of products on a national basis in both commercial and product liability litigation and regulatory compliance. In addition, Danny represents construction companies and contractors in liability litigation. In this capacity, he defends wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and significant property damage cases, whether arising from fires and explosions, roll-overs...

James Barton is the founding shareholder of Barton Legal S.C. Mr. Barton was formerly a partner at Hansen Reynolds LLC—a premier litigation boutique with offices in three states. Prior to his time at Hansen Reynolds, Mr. Barton was an associate in the litigation practice group at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, one of Wisconsin’s oldest and largest law firms. Mr. Barton concentrates his practice on aggressively litigating complex commercial disputes venued in state and federal c...

Nancy Bonniwell is a Shareholder focusing her practice on estate, business succession and marital property planning, estate administration and business law. She is a frequent presenter on the subjects of estate planning, business succession planning and charitable giving.

Dean P. Laing has been with O'Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing S.C., a 40-plus attorney law firm headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for over 40 years since graduating cum laude from Marquette University Law School in 1983. He was on the firm’s Board of Directors from 1990 to 2023, and was the firm's President from 2015 to 2020. Mr. Laing has repeatedly been recognized by members of the bar as one of Wisconsin’s top trial attorneys. Throughout his legal career, in whic...

Dan Welytok is a Shareholder and Chair of the Tax Section at von Briesen & Roper, s.c. Dan’s practice focuses on helping management achieve practical results in all aspects of business. He assists clients nationally and internationally with business development, tax issues, acquisitions and divestments, capital structuring, financing, corporate governance, information technology, licensing and distribution, regulatory and compliance issues, labor and employee benefits matters, and d...

Andrew Wier is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Andrew, who practices law in Kenosha, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Douglas Swanson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Douglas, who practices law in Waukesha, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Douglas is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joe is the chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. He manages a variety of complex cases involving software, class actions, real estate, products liability, banking, and intellectual property matters. He has extensive experience representing both large and small plaintiffs and defendants in challenging civil litigation. He has been selected as a member of Wisconsin Super Lawyers for eleven years in a row. Prior to joining O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing S.C., Jo...

Christine Bestor Townsend is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Christine, who practices law in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

I have been practicing law for more than 35 years on behalf of Wisconsin individuals and families who have suffered a loss caused by the carelessness of others. Prior to joining GCW I founded Laufenberg Law Group in 2000, and decided to join GCW because we share many of the same professional principles and standards which have guided me through my career .Over the years I have been an active developer of Wisconsin tort law, appearing before state and federal appellate courts in numerous cases...