About JB
JB leads O’Neil Cannon’s Business Law Practice Group and is a United States Air Force Veteran. He works with and advises clients on a wide range of business law matters, including form of entity selection and initial capitalization, raising funds through private equity offerings, securities compliance and broker/dealer matters, mergers and acquisitions, contract preparation and negotiation, and software, technology, and IP matters.JB Assists Clients WithMergers, acquisitions, and recapitalizations of businessesPrivate equity and venture capital financingPrivate offerings of debt and equity securitiesEmployee equity compensation plansSecurities laws issuesComplex contractual matters and disputesSoftware, technology, and data privacy/security mattersIntellectual property, proprietary rights, and confidentiality agreementsShareholder, partner, and member agreements and disputesCorporate governance mattersGeneral business mattersExperience/Representative Client WorkJB’s start up clients have raised over $30,000,000 through private offerings.Represents companies and founders raising debt and equity capital through private offerings and advises on Regulation D and other private securities offering exemptions at the state and federal levelsRegularly assists clients with choosing the right form of entity for their new ventureAdvises clients on 1202 and qualified new business venture stock requirements and planningTailors his client’s governing documents to their equity and capitalization planAdvises clients on equity and synthetic equity incentive compensation plans and the various tax and securities rules and regulations surrounding such plansRepresents investors evaluating an investment in a private company or fund offeringJB represents Buyers and Sellers in Mergers and Acquisitions across the country.Represents clients buying and selling businesses in all market sectors from software and technology to manufacturing and retailExperienced in M&A deals of all sizes, ranging from small sole proprietorships to complex multi-national transactions involving both private and publicly held companiesRepresents both minority and majority owners in sale proceedings and exits, including partial salesExperienced in complex multi-state mergers and tax-based reorganizations in addition to equity and asset dealsJB regularly advises clients on complex contracts including software, technology, and custom manufacturing agreements.Represents software and technology clients with all forms of license agreements, development agreements, master services agreements, work-for hire agreements, and intellectual property protection agreementsNegotiates and advises on complex custom manufacturing agreements with large public and private companiesExperienced with joint ventures both as contractual arrangements and as new business formationsJB offers advice on a multitude of general business matters.Assists clients with entity formation and ongoing corporate governance mattersExperienced with creating multiple classes of equity in both corporations and LLCsDrafts and negotiates buy-sell, voting, and other equity holder agreements such as shareholder agreements, partnership agreements, and operating agreementsAssists clients with resolving shareholder, partner, and member disputesRepresentative Client WorkAssists clients with entity formation and ongoing corporate governance mattersRepresented local and regional founders, startups, emerging growth companies, and established businesses in raising funds through private offerings and in recapitalization projects ranging from under $1,000,000 to over $150,000,000.Represented numerous local, regional, and national based businesses in acquisition and sale transactions ranging from under $1,000,000 to over $300,000,000.Represented a regional Dental practice in an acquisition of its 7th practice location.Represented a Family Office in a capital raise to purchase the business assets of a national online retailer of fitness equipment.Represented two Wisconsin manufacturing companies in combined sale of the business assets of both entities to a private equity company.Represented a local Dentist Practice in the sale of its business to a national Dental Services Organization.Represented a local entrepreneur in acquiring several bars and restaurants via equity and asset transactions.Represented a large privately held company in an acquisition of an industrial painting and supply company.Represented a large regional dental service provider in its sale to a national dental service organization.Represented a local plumbing company in an equity sale of the business to a key employee.Represented a Wisconsin Community Bank in the sale of its wealth management division.Represented an Insurance Technology Services Company in its sale to a national insurance broker.Represented a Wisconsin marine supply company in an outside equity and recapitalization transaction.Represented a Wisconsin dental practice in its sale to a national dental service organization.Represented a holding company in the complex redemption of multiple shareholders.Represented a Wisconsin CPA group in their formation and capitalization of a new business venture.Represented a newly formed entity in its acquisition of a local metal fabrication and welding business.Represented a key employee in their full acquisition, in an equity sale, of a regional commercial painting and flooring company.Represented a national bovine genetics company in its Acquisition of a bovine genetics distributor.Represented a group of founders in a startup recapitalization with a national private equity firm.Represented a regional property management company in its acquisition of a local property management company.Represented a website referral business in its sale to a national company.Represented a regional endodontist practice in its sale to a national dental services organization.Represented a refrigeration system design and consulting company in its sale to a regional corporation.Represented an employee benefits company in the sale of its business via an equity sale to a national benefits firm.Represented a regional controls and automation company in the acquisition of a Wisconsin controls and automation installation company.Represented a Wisconsin engineering firm in its sale of business via an asset purchase transaction.Represented a group of investors, buying a controlling interest in a regional controls and automation entity.Awards/DistinctionsEditor-in-Chief, Marquette Law ReviewSelected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® –Corporate Law, 2021–presentSelected for inclusion in 2020–2023 Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Law & Politics and Milwaukee MagazineProfessional Associations & AffiliationsAmerican Bar AssociationState Bar of WisconsinMilwaukee Bar AssociationMember, Association for Corporate Growth (AACG)Meritas Lawyer RepresentativeUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of WisconsinUnited States District Court for the Western District of WisconsinCommunity InvolvementChairman, Ducks Unlimited Milwaukee ChapterFirst Congregational Church of WauwatosaEducationMarquette University Law School (J.D., magna cum laude)United States Air Force Academy (B.S.)Military ServiceSenior Intelligence Duty Officer, Air Force Southern Command, Combined Air Operations Center, June 2007-May 2008Deployed Tactical Operations Center Chief, 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, USAF, September 2006-January 2007Chief of Intelligence, 55th Rescue Squadron, USAF, November 2005-June 2007Deployed J2 Director of Intelligence, 716th Special Operations Group, USAF, June 2005-September 2005Deployed Chief of Intelligence, 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, USAF, October 2004-February 2005Chief of Operations Intelligence, 563rd Operations Support Squadron, USAF, May 2004-October 2005
JB leads O’Neil Cannon’s Business Law Practice Group and is a United States Air Force Veteran. He works with and advises clients on a wide range of business law matters, including form of entity selection and initial capitalization, raising funds through private equity offerings, securities compliance and broker/dealer matters, mergers and acquisitions, contract preparation and negotiation, and software, technology, and IP matters.
JB Assists Clients With
Experience/Representative Client Work
JB’s start up clients have raised over $30,000,000 through private offerings.
JB represents Buyers and Sellers in Mergers and Acquisitions across the country.
JB regularly advises clients on complex contracts including software, technology, and custom manufacturing agreements.
JB offers advice on a multitude of general business matters.
Representative Client Work
Awards/Distinctions
Professional Associations & Affiliations
Community Involvement
Education
Military Service
Practice Areas
Professional Affiliations
Awards & Recognition
- Recognized: Corporate Law
- Practice Area: Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Practice Area: Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Editor-in-Chief, Marquette Law ReviewSelected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® –Corporate Law, 2021–2024Selected for inclusion in 2020–2023 Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Law & Politics and Milwaukee Magazine
- Editor-in-Chief, Marquette Law Review
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® –Corporate Law, 2021–2024
- Selected for inclusion in 2020–2023 Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Law & Politics and Milwaukee Magazine