Mary R. O'Grady

Mary R. O'Grady

Phoenix, AZ recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2013
Osborn Maledon PA

30 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Appellate Practice

Biography

Mary has commanded a robust career guiding legal issues that have left lasting impacts on government authority, election campaign finance and election law. As a former Solicitor General for the State of Arizona, she has a mastery of public law issues and has led an extensive set of complex, high-profile lawsuits and appeals in state and federal courts. Her experience handling this complex litigation positions her well to get to the core of the issue in a dispute and provide critical strategic guidance.

Mary has worked on ten cases that the United States Supreme Court heard on the merits. She was one of the lead attorneys on an important amicus brief on behalf of selected states in Citizens United v. FEC. Her experience includes election and campaign finance law, the Voting Rights Act, State constitutional law, government contracts, state legislation, open meeting, and public records laws, redistricting, and school finance. Mary has also worked extensively in the area of tribal-state relations, with a particular focus on tribal-state agreements.

An active citizen of her community, she currently is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership and the Tempe Family Justice Commission and serves as Board Member for Arizona Legal Women and Youth Services. She has been recognized throughout her career with numerous awards and accolades, most recently named one of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, a top-ranked appellate lawyer in Arizona by Chambers USA, one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation by Benchmark Litigation, and a Southwest Super Lawyer for Appellate practice. Mary is a fellow in the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.

Osborn Maledon PA

30 Best Lawyers awards

Osborn Maledon PA logo

Overview

  • Arizona State University, J.D., graduated 1987

  • Arizona, 1987

  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
  • Arizona Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Arizona, 1987
  • Arizona State University, J.D., graduated 1987
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
  • Arizona Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Appellate Practice
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Appellate Practice, Phoenix (2022)
  • Appellate Practice, Phoenix (2014)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Appellate Practice
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Native American Law
  • Education Law
  • Commercial Litigation
Awards:
  • Benchmark Litigation Star, 2025

  • Chambers USA, “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business”, Litigation: Appellate, 2020-2025

  • Southwest Super Lawyers, Appellate, 2016-2025

  • Benchmark Litigation: Top 250 Women in Litigation, 2014-2025

  • Arizona’s Finest Lawyers

  • Counselor of the Year, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, 2000

  • Member of Outstanding Team, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, 2010

  • Appellate Lawyer of the Month, National Bar Journal, 2010

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