William J. "Bill" Maledon

William J. "Bill" Maledon

Phoenix, AZ recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 1993
Osborn Maledon PA

30 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Antitrust Law Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Corporate Law Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television Entertainment Law - Music Litigation - Antitrust Sports Law

Biography

Bill Maledon is amongst the most esteemed commercial litigation and trial attorneys in Arizona and across the United States, and has built a widely recognized reputation for leading large-scale and complex commercial matters. He is a prominent figure both in federal and state courts, with notable expertise in antitrust, securities, and sports-related matters. He also has extensive experience in handling appellate matters in both federal and state courts and has acted as mediator and arbitrator in cases of local and national significance.

Highly decorated throughout his career, he has been consistently recognized by Chambers as a Leading Lawyer for Business over the last 20 years in addition to being named amongst a selective group of “top tier” business litigation attorneys in Arizona and trial attorneys across the nation. He has been included in Best Lawyers® for more than 30 years and has been named Lawyer of the Year by the same organization in a variety of categories.

His experience at both the trial and appellate levels has resulted in his appointment to numerous distinguished committees, including the Arizona Supreme Court Committee to revise jury trial procedures in Arizona, the Federal Rules Standing Committee (to which he was twice appointed by the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court), and the Ninth Circuit Advisory Committee.

To view Bill Maledon’s availability on mediation and arbitration matters, please visit: https://www.nadn.org/william-maledon.

Osborn Maledon PA

30 Best Lawyers awards

Osborn Maledon PA logo

Overview

  • University of Notre Dame, J.D., graduated 1972

  • Arizona, 1974

  • Arizona Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • Arizona, 1974
  • University of Notre Dame, J.D., graduated 1972
  • Arizona Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit

Client Testimonials

Bill is a sound tactician with strong experience in the Western courts and a good ability to adapt based on input he receives from his clients and others.

Bill is simply one of the best commercial litigators in the U.S. He is very bright, very hard working, and is a commanding presence in the court room. Bill is amazingly quick in understanding and presenting complex issues. Along with his professional prominence, Bill is a very fine person and a true gentleman.

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Antitrust Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Antitrust Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Litigation - Antitrust Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2012 - Commercial Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2011 - Antitrust Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2010 - Bet-the-Company Litigation
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Antitrust Law, Phoenix (2025)
  • Litigation - Antitrust, Phoenix (2025)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Phoenix (2015)
  • Litigation - Antitrust, Phoenix (2013)
  • Commercial Litigation, Phoenix (2012)
  • Antitrust Law, Phoenix (2011)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Phoenix (2010)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Antitrust Law
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corporate Law
  • Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television
  • Entertainment Law - Music
  • Litigation - Antitrust
  • Sports Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Medical Malpractice Law
Special Focus:
  • Complex Litigation
  • Litigation
  • Sports
Awards:
  • Southwest Super Lawyers, “Top 50 Arizona Attorneys”, 2007-2014, 2021-2025

  • Southwest Super Lawyers, Antitrust Litigation, Business Litigation, 2007-2025

  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow

  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow

  • Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona – AZ Business Magazine, 2021, 2024

  • Phoenix Best Lawyers®, “Lawyer of the Year”, Antitrust, 2011

  • BTI Client Service All-Star Team, 2009-2010

  • Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: General Commercial, 2003-2025, Litigation: Trial Lawyers Nationwide, 2009-2017

  • Arizona’s Finest Lawyers

  • Business Journal, “Best of the Bar”, Litigation, 2003-2004

  • Member, Maricopa County Bar Association Hall of Fame

  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, 2008, 2010

  • Benchmark Litigation, Star Litigator, 2010-2017

  • Global Law Experts, Business Litigation Attorney of the Year, 2014

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