Meet Dennis
Dennis Connolly is a member of the Securities Law Practice Group, focusing on securities and corporate law with extensive experience in public and private securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, SEC compliance and reporting, advising boards of directors and management on general corporate and fiduciary matters, and representation before the SEC and the NYSE.
Dennis graduated with high distinction from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in English, Phi Beta Kappa. He attended the University of Wisconsin Law School receiving his Juris Doctor with honors and is a member of the Order of the Coif.
Dennis is a member of the American Bar Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association and has been admitted to practice before the Federal District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Education
Juris Doctor, University of Wisconsin Law School, 1996, with honors, Order of the Coif
Bachelor of Arts, University of Virginia, English, high distinction, Phi Beta Kappa
Activities
Board of Directors - City Year Milwaukee
Honors
Listed in Best Lawyers (Corporate Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, 2012 - present)
Admitted To Practice
WisconsinCourt Admissions
United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
Professional Associations
American Bar AssociationAppleton Papers Inc. - $810 million ESOP buy-out of Arjo Wiggins Appleton P.L.C.; $335 million debt refinancing transaction
Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. - $46 million initial public offering
Duluth Holdings Inc.—$80 million initial public offering
Kohl’s Corporation—Multiple registered senior notes offerings; multiple secured and unsecured credit agreements; representation in connection with multiple contested elections of directors and related sale process (terminated)
ManpowerGroup Inc. - Acquisition of COMSYS IT Partners, Inc.; Acquisition of Right Management Consultants, Inc.; Euronote offerings
Schneider National, Inc.—Corporate governance representation in connection with initial public offering
Marshall & Ilsley Corporation - Acquisitions of Mississippi Valley Bancshares, Inc., Gold Banc Corporation, Inc., and First Indiana Corporation; $1.9 billion registered debt offering
Midwest Air Group, Inc. - Defense of hostile offer by AirTran Holdings, Inc.; Subsequent sale to TPG Capital, L.P. This transaction was named the 2008 Mid-Market Deal of the Year by Mergers & Acquisitions magazine.
Renaissance Learning, Inc. - $455 million sale to Permira Funds
NimbleGen Systems Inc. - Initial public offering (withdrawn upon sale of Company to Roche Holdings, Inc.)
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated - Underwriter's counsel in secondary offering of common stock of Rosetta Stone Inc. and Douglas Dynamics, Inc.
School Specialty, Inc. - Sale to Bain Capital Partners, LLC (terminated); $200 million convertible subordinated debt offering; $517 million convertible subordinated debt exchange; $270 million credit facility refinancing
Shopko Stores, Inc. - Sale to Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison Inc. (terminated); Subsequent sale to Sun Capital Partners, Inc.