John R. Maley

John R. Maley


Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Recognized since 2007

Indianapolis, Indiana

Practice Areas

Antitrust Law

Appellate Practice

Bet-the-Company Litigation

Commercial Litigation

Employment Law - Management

Litigation - Antitrust

Litigation - Banking and Finance

Litigation - Labor and Employment

Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions

Trade Secrets Law

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Labor and Employment
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A trusted adviser and passionate advocate, John Maley is skilled in advocating before trial and appellate judges, juries and mediators who rely upon his assessment of the case at hand. Whether on attack or defense, John’s understanding of diverse industries and the sophisticated legal issues that permeate complex disputes is at the core of his success as a litigator and trial attorney.

John regularly represents publicly traded and private companies in regional and national litigation, trials and on appeal, and advises and represents leading universities in higher education issues and dispute resolution. He also frequently serves as special litigation counsel to the state of Indiana and advises local governments.

He has deep trial experience in multiple jurisdictions, including as a pro bono deputy prosecutor and as court-appointed trial counsel.

John has served as lead counsel in appeals in the U.S. Supreme Court, Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana Court of Appeals, Ohio Court of Appeals, Ohio Supreme Court, Michigan Court of Appeals, Arizona Court of Appeals and Arizona Supreme Court, and in Pennsylvania appellate courts. He also has handled appeals in several federal courts of appeals, including in the Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Eleventh circuits. John has successfully concluded multiple complex trials and appeals, including prosecuting and defending cases with nine-figure damages and appearing in more than 25 jurisdictions as lead counsel.

John has published numerous articles on federal practice and is the author of the Appellate Handbook for Indiana Lawyers. He lectures frequently on federal civil practice, noncompete and employment matters.

John is married to Vivian Maley, CEO of the Joseph Maley Foundation, named in honor of their son, Joseph, who passed in 2008; they have four other boys.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 11 South Meridian Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46204-3535
Education
  • Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, graduated 1988
Bar Admissions
  • Indiana, Indiana State Bar Association
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana

293 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

109 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

Best Law Firms Badge Visit Website View Firm Profile

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Litigation - Antitrust Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2012 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2009 - Bet-the-Company Litigation
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance, Indianapolis (2025)
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Indianapolis (2025)
  • Appellate Practice, Indianapolis (2024)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Indianapolis (2024)
  • Litigation - Antitrust, Indianapolis (2022)
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Indianapolis (2019)
  • Appellate Practice, Indianapolis (2018)
  • Appellate Practice, Indianapolis (2015)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Indianapolis (2014)
  • Appellate Practice, Indianapolis (2013)
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Indianapolis (2012)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Indianapolis (2009)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Antitrust Law
  • Appellate Practice
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Litigation - Antitrust
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Trade Secrets Law
Special Focus:
  • Appellate
  • Civil Litigation
  • Class Actions
  • Complex Litigation
  • Contract Disputes
  • Covenants Not to Compete
  • Defendants
  • Defense
  • Electronic Discovery
  • Fiduciary Duties
  • Labor and Employment
  • Litigation
  • Management
  • Non-Compete
  • Product Liability
  • Title VII Litigation
  • Trade Secrets
Awards:
  • Who’s Who in Indianapolis Law
  • Who’s Who in American Law
  • Benchmark Litigation, Indiana Litigation Stars
  • Chambers USA, 2009-2018
  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2007-2019; Lawyer of the Year, 2009, 2012-2015, 2018 and 2019
  • Indiana Super Lawyers, 2004-2019
  • Fellow, Indianapolis Bar Foundation
  • Fellow, Indiana Bar Foundation
  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

Publications

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