The biggest crowd in the history of the event packed Chateau Luxe in Phoenix on March 31, 2026 to honor the lawyers, legal teams and law firms that earned 2026 Excellence in Law Awards.
FULL LIST: Here are all the finalists for the 2026 Excellence in Law Awards
LEARN MORE: The Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona for 2026
“Welcome to the Excellence in Law Awards,” joked AZ Big Media Editor in Chief Michael Gossie, “the only place where billing by the hour has officially stopped — at least until your category has been presented.”
Each year, Az Business magazine, in partnership with the State Bar of Arizona and Arizona Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, hosts the Excellence in Law Awards to recognize the important and vital role that in-house counsel and Arizona’s legal sector plays in the success of Arizona’s economy.
“The finalists for the Excellence in Law Awards represent the best of Arizona’s legal profession — accomplished attorneys, legal team and law firms whose expertise, leadership and integrity shape businesses, protect communities and strengthen the rule of law,” said Amy Lindsey, vice president and publisher of AZ Big Media, which publishes Az Business magazine.
Awards were presented to the best in-house and private practice lawyers, in-house legal teams and law firms.
The 2026 Excellence in Law Awards were presented with the support of Title Sponsors Cresa and Ogletree Deakins and Platinum Sponsor Phillips Law Group. The digital sponsor of the 2026 Excellence in Law Awards is DM Cantor. Other sponsors were spotlight award sponsor Greenberg Traurig, VIP sponsor Valleywise Health, beverage sponsor Burch & Cracchiolo, dessert sponsor Moon Valley Nursery, step-and-repeat sponsor Morris Hall, floral sponsor Husch Blackwell, floral provider PJs Flowers and audio-visual sponsor Merestone. The signature sponsors were Align Technology, Benchmark, Fennemore, Kitchell, Plexus Worldwide, Rafi Law Group, Salt River Project, Snell & Wilmer, Taft, Taylor & Gomez, University of Phoenix and Western Alliance Bank.
Download photos from the 2026 Excellence in Law Awards here.
Winners of the 2026 Excellence in Law Awards
Excellence in Law Judges’ Award: Western Alliance Bank legal team
Community impact attorney of the year: David Hanselman, deputy county attorney, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
In-house attorney of the year in the education sector: Christopher E. Kevane, executive vice president and chief legal officer, Universal Technical Institute
In-house attorney of the year in the nonprofit sector: Yvonne Moss, chief legal officer, Make-A-Wish America
In-house attorney of the year in the retail and hospitality sector: Michael Minnaugh, general counsel, Moon Valley Nurseries
In-house attorney of the year in the business and financial services sector: Courtney Beller, vice president-legal, Ports America
In-house attorney of the year in the real estate and construction sector: Jeff Holland, general counsel, Discovery Land Company
Legal team of the year in the public company sector: Dutch Bros
Legal team of the year in the private company sector: Plexus Worldwide
Emerging legal leader of the year: Madison Leake, associate at Burch & Cracchiolo
Legal industry impact attorney of the year: Benjamin Taylor of Taylor & Gomez
Up-and-coming in-house attorney of the year: Logan Namanny, staff attorney, HonorHealth
In-house attorney of the year in the healthcare sector: Ijana Harris, executive vice president and chief legal officer, Valleywise Health
In-house attorney of the year in the manufacturing and technology sector: Maggie Osborn, senior corporate counsel, Benchmark
Lifetime achievement award: Lisa Loo, senior vice president and general counsel, Arizona State University
Small and medium-size law firm of the year: DM Cantor
Large law firm of the year: Fennemore
Private practice attorney of the year: Nicole Goodwin, co-managing shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
