Works at
O'Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing SC

19 Best Lawyers awards

O'Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing SC logo

Biography

Christa is a commercial litigator in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who represents businesses and individuals in disputes involving business relationships, contracts, and other commercial matters. She also serves on the Board of Directors of O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing SC.

Christa approaches each matter with careful attention to detail. She particularly enjoys addressing procedural issues, analyzing large sets of data, and developing practical strategies for complex disputes. Whether a client seeks to pursue litigation or resolve a matter through settlement, Christa provides thoughtful, candid advice based on the facts, applicable law, and the client’s objectives.

Christa Assists Clients With

  • Commercial litigation
  • Complex contract disputes
  • Health care litigation
  • Indemnification claims
  • Trademark and copyright infringement claims
  • Distributorship and franchise terminations
  • Shareholder disputes
  • Debt collection practices and consumer protection claims
  • Inheritance disputes
  • Class action and whistleblower litigation
  • Fraud and conspiracy claims
  • Federal and state lawsuits
  • Mediations and arbitrations
Works at
O'Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing SC

19 Best Lawyers awards

O'Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing SC logo

Locations

Education

  • The University of Michigan Law School, graduated 2012
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association
  • Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Bar

Court Admissions

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
  • United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois

Affiliations

  • Association for Women Lawyers - Member
  • Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association, Board of Directors - Member
  • American Bar Association - Member

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 for work in:
  • Commercial Litigation
Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America from 2021-2026 for work in:
  • Commercial Litigation - 2026
  • Commercial Litigation - 2025
  • Commercial Litigation - 2024
  • Commercial Litigation - 2023
  • Commercial Litigation - 2022
  • Commercial Litigation - 2021
Awards:
    • Selected for inclusion on The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch list, 2021–2024
    • Selected for inclusion in 2020–2023 Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Law & Politics and Milwaukee Magazine
    • 2019 Winner of the Terence T. Evans Humor and Creativity in Law Competition
    • Order of the Coif, honorary scholastic society for law students
    • Phi Beta Kappa, academic honor society for undergraduates
    • Certificate of Merit awards for highest grade in class in Contracts and Evidence courses at University of Michigan Law School
    • Production Editor, Michigan Journal of Race & Law, 2011–2012
    • Executive Editor, Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law, 2011–2012

Additional Information

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Case History

Cases
  • Experience/Representative Client Work
  • Successfully defended large publicly traded corporation against trade secret claims by former vendor and pursued counterclaims for breach of contract and fraud that resulted in multi-million-dollar settlement payment to client
  • Pursued breach of contract claims on behalf of health care provider in arbitration against large health insurance company involving slow payment on thousands of claims, resulting in favorable settlement
  • Prevailed on appeal, defending the results of a jury trial that awarded client damages for trespass and unjust enrichment for use of its property, Mid-America Steel Drum Props., LLC v. Container Life Cycle Mgmt. LLC, Appeal No. 2021AP1603
  • Recovered funds for health care provider in multiple disputes with health insurance companies and other payors for non-payment and under-payment of commercial and Medicare Advantage claims
  • Defended petition to cancel client’s trademark pending before Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, resulting in petitioner voluntarily dismissing claim
  • Successfully defended HVAC subcontractor against indemnity claims by performance contractor for school facility upgrades, obtaining summary judgment in client’s favor with award of attorneys’ fees and costs in Columbus School District v. Cooperative Educational Service Agency 10, Case No. 17-CV-121 (Columbia County, Wisconsin), affirmed on appeal, Appeal No. 2020AP1152
  • Prevailed at summary judgment to defeat claims that financial institution violated Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) in Ball v. Landmark Credit Union, Case No. 22-cv-69 (Eastern District of Wisconsin)
  • Successfully defended health care provider from fraud and other tort claims, prevailing on motions to dismiss
  • Defended director of publicly traded corporation against breach of fiduciary duty claims by stockholder, prevailing on a motion to dismiss in SPI Solar, Inc. v. Analytics Plus, LLC, Case No. 19-CV-599 (Waukesha County, Wisconsin)
  • Successfully represented mortgage company pursuing claims in arbitration against multiple former employees who diverted business and misused employer’s trade secrets and confidential information; defended officer and director against breach of fiduciary duty claims
  • Part of litigation team achieving favorable settlement after pursuing claims against former officer of company who left to start competing venture and other individuals violating or assisting in violating restrictive covenants
  • Successfully represented small business in dispute with software vendor through litigation and mediation
  • Assisted client with developing strategy and preparation of lawsuit and motion for temporary restraining order after former salesperson violated non-competition clause and other restrictive covenants in employment agreement, resulting in pre-suit settlement
  • Successfully represented multiple financial services companies and other businesses against Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Wisconsin Consumer Act claims for debt collection activities, including putative class action claims, in the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin and in Wisconsin and Illinois state courts
  • Assisted in obtaining dismissal of breach of contract and promissory estoppel claims against construction subcontract bidder in connection with the construction of a downtown Milwaukee high-rise office building on summary judgment, affirmed on appeal: C.G. Schmidt Inc. v. Permasteelisa N. Am., 825 F.3d 801 (7th Cir. 2016)
  • Successfully represented clients in certified class action alleging that health plan administrators breached fiduciary duties by failing to administer health claims in a manner consistent with employee health plan language covering “usual, customary and reasonable” charges for out-of-network services in George v. CNH Health & Wealth Benefit Plan, Case No. 16-CV-1678-JPS (Eastern District of Wisconsin)
  • Obtained favorable summary judgment ruling in dispute between former business partners over trademark use and alleged fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and defamation in EastStar Solutions, Ltd. v. Owens, Case No. 16-CV-1551 (Eastern District of Wisconsin)
  • Successfully represented small business pursuing claim against financial advisors for recommendation of ineffective tax strategy
  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of insured property owner in coverage dispute with title insurance company
  • Successfully represented employer by obtaining early dismissal of false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims by disgruntled former employee
  • Brought in to handle, assist with, or consult on numerous appeals
  • Successfully represented architect defending against numerous claims related to home remodel project
  • Assisted clients on many occasions with evaluating, responding to, and challenging subpoenas to minimize cost and risk and maximize protection of information
  • Investigated and litigated false claims act cases
  • Successfully represented numerous clients in personal injury matters, both through pre-suit settlements and through litigation
  • Represented family members involved in estate disputes, including in court cases in Wisconsin and in Illinois
  • Forced removal of scam website mimicking client’s website and infringing copyright and trademark rights
  • Served as active local counsel in numerous complex cases in state and federal courts in Wisconsin

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