Overview

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.

Representative Matters

Awards

  • Southwest Super Lawyers, “Top 50 Arizona Attorneys”, 2007-2014, 2021-2024
  • Southwest Super Lawyers, Antitrust Litigation, Business Litigation, 2007-2024
  • Best Lawyers®, Antitrust Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Entertainment Law, Sports Law, 1993-2025
  • Best Lawyers®, Antitrust Law, 2025
  • Best Lawyers®, Corporate Law, 2024-2025
  • Best Lawyers®, “Lawyer of the Year”, Antitrust Law, 2025
  • Best Lawyers®, “Lawyer of the Year”, Antitrust Litigation, 2013, 2025
  • Best Lawyers®, “Lawyer of the Year”, Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2010, 2015
  • Best Lawyers®, “Lawyer of the Year”, Commercial Litigation, 2012
  • 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, 2003-2024, 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

Activities

Professional Activities

  • Ninth Circuit Advisory Board, 2014-Present
  • United States District Court (Arizona) Magistrate Selection Committee, 1996-2000
  • National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, Member, 2017-Present
  • Federal Judicial Conference Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, Member, 2005-2012
  • Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Complex Litigation, 2001-2010
  • American Bar Foundation, Elected Fellow, 1996
  • Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, Delegate, 1995-1998
  • Arizona Supreme Court Committee on More Effective Use of Juries, 1993-1996
  • State Bar of Arizona: Arizona Civil Practice and Procedure Committee, 1990-93, Antitrust Section, Chair, 1982-1983
  • Arizona Inns of Court, 1990-1997
  • Phoenix Association of Defense Counsel, Board of Directors, 1989-1992
  • Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest, Board of Directors, 1977-1983
  • Arizona Bar Foundation, Founding Fellow
  • Sports Lawyers Association, Member

Community Activities

  • Arizona State University, Adjunct Professor of Law, Sports Law, 1994-2013