John R. Maley, Appellate Attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana
focused on Appellate, Employment, and General
Indianapolis, IN
Trusted appellate attorney serving Indianapolis.
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Quick answer
John R. Maley is an attorney based in Indianapolis, INDIANA. The practice focuses on Appellate, Employment, and General.
- Based in
- Indianapolis, INDIANA
- Experience
- attorney
- Known for
- Appellate · Employment · General
- Handles Appellate, Employment, and General matters from Indianapolis, INDIANA.
- Recognized with Lawyer of the Year — Employment Law - Management (Indianapolis) (2026).
About John R. Maley: John R. Maley is an attorney based in Indianapolis, INDIANA. The practice focuses on Appellate, Employment, and General.
Areas of practice
Practice areas handled by John R. Maley
John concentrates on appellate, employment, general, litigation, and m&a. Each area below outlines the kind of case John handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
Appellate
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Employment
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General
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Litigation
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M&A
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Trade Secrets
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Business
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Appellate cases in Indianapolis, Indiana
John takes appellate matters in Indianapolis, Indiana. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before John agrees to represent you.
Employment cases in Indianapolis, Indiana
John takes employment matters in Indianapolis, Indiana. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before John agrees to represent you.
General cases in Indianapolis, Indiana
John takes general matters in Indianapolis, Indiana. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before John agrees to represent you.
Litigation cases in Indianapolis, Indiana
John takes litigation matters in Indianapolis, Indiana. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before John agrees to represent you.
M&A cases in Indianapolis, Indiana
John takes m&a matters in Indianapolis, Indiana. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before John agrees to represent you.
Biography
About John R. Maley — Attorney of Indiana appellate experience
John R. Maley is an attorney based in Indianapolis, INDIANA. The practice focuses on Appellate, Employment, and General.
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.
How John handles appellate matters
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…
The kind of cases John takes
John reviews new inquiries case-by-case for appellate, employment, and general matters in Indianapolis and the surrounding Indiana area.
Credentials
John R. Maley's legal education and bar admissions
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
— · 1988
Jurisdictions
John's state bar admissions
Indiana, Indiana Sta
ACTIVE
John studied at — in Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
Law school and academic background
John completed — in Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice John runs in Indiana is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Recognition
Awards, publications, and recognition of John R. Maley
John has received 52 formal recognitions from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.
Lawyer of the Year — Employment Law - Management (Indianapolis)
2026
Lawyer of the Year — Trade Secrets Law (Indianapolis)
2026
Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Banking and Finance (Indianapolis)
2025
Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Labor and Employment (Indianapolis)
2025
Lawyer of the Year — Appellate Practice (Indianapolis)
2024
Lawyer of the Year — Bet-the-Company Litigation (Indianapolis)
2024
Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Antitrust (Indianapolis)
2022
Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Labor and Employment (Indianapolis)
2019
Lawyer of the Year — Appellate Practice (Indianapolis)
2018
Lawyer of the Year — Appellate Practice (Indianapolis)
2015
Lawyer of the Year — Bet-the-Company Litigation (Indianapolis)
2014
Lawyer of the Year — Appellate Practice (Indianapolis)
2013
Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Labor and Employment (Indianapolis)
2012
Lawyer of the Year — Bet-the-Company Litigation (Indianapolis)
2009
Best Lawyers in America — Antitrust Law
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Bet-the-Company Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Employment Law - Management
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Antitrust
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Banking and Finance
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Labor and Employment
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Trade Secrets Law
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Appellate
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Civil Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Class Actions
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Complex Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Contract Disputes
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Covenants Not to Compete
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Defendants
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Defense
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Electronic Discovery
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Fiduciary Duties
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Labor and Employment
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Management
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Non-Compete
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Title VII Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Trade Secrets
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Who’s Who in Indianapolis Law
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Who’s Who in American Law
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Benchmark Litigation, Indiana Litigation Stars
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Chambers USA, 2009-2018
2026
Best Lawyers in America — The Best Lawyers in America, 2007-2019; Lawyer of the Year, 2009, 2012-2015, 2018 and 2019
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Indiana Super Lawyers, 2004-2019
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Fellow, Indianapolis Bar Foundation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Fellow, Indiana Bar Foundation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
2026
Legal awards and honors
Lawyer of the Year — Employment Law - Management (Indianapolis) (2026). Lawyer of the Year — Trade Secrets Law (Indianapolis) (2026). Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Banking and Finance (Indianapolis) (2025). Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Labor and Employment (Indianapolis) (2025). Lawyer of the Year — Appellate Practice (Indianapolis) (2024). Lawyer of the Year — Bet-the-Company Litigation (Indianapolis) (2024).
Locations
John R. Maley's office in Indianapolis
John's primary office is at 11 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204-3535. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Client feedback
Client reviews of John R. Maley
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Schedule your consultationHiring guide
How to hire John R. Maley — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new appellate attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with John usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
John charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain John's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; John will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a appellate attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana
A short list to run through before you commit: How many appellate matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for John
John discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in appellate practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every appellate matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. John confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
John's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many appellate practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about John R. Maley
How much does it cost to hire John for a appellate case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. John walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does John offer a free consultation?
John charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain John's office. Some appellate attorneys offer free consults — check John's current terms during booking.
How long do appellate cases in Indiana typically take?
Simple appellate matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. John gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can John take my case if I'm outside Indianapolis?
John is licensed in Indiana. Matters governed by Indiana law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — John will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with John?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. John will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is John accepting new appellate clients right now?
John's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
Appellate attorneys serving Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Carmel in Indiana
John handles appellate matters throughout Indiana. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified appellate attorneys in that community.
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