In partnership the State Bar of Arizona, and Arizona Corporate Counsel, Az Business magazine will host the 2026 Excellence in Law Awards on March 31, 2026, at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix to recognize the important and vital role that in-house counsel and Arizona’s legal sector plays in the success of Arizona’s economy. Today, we spotlight Excellence in Law Awards finalists for private practice lawyer of the year.
FULL LIST: Here are all the finalists for the 2026 Excellence in Law Awards
LEARN MORE: The Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona for 2026
The 2026 Excellence in Law Awards are 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. To purchase tickets for the 2026 Excellence in Law Awards, click here.
Excellence in Law Awards finalists
Here are the finalists for the 2026 Excellence in Law Awards in the category of private practice lawyer of the year. We spotlighted one category each day leading up to the 2026 Excellence in Law Awards on March 31.
Andrea L. Claus
Managing partner // Morris Hall
Background: Claus is an attorney recognized for her rigorous professional standards and a deeply client-centered approach. Her practice focuses on estate planning, probate and trust administration, charitable planning and business succession planning, with an emphasis on clarity, compassion and lasting impact for families.
Source of pride: “I take pride in helping families navigate pivotal moments; providing peace of mind through thoughtful planning and support during loss is a privilege. This work allows me to make a lasting, meaningful impact on my clients, their families and the Greater Phoenix community.”
Jennifer Cranston
Shareholder // Gallagher & Kennedy
Background: Cranston’s practice includes real estate litigation, insurance coverage and utility regulation. For the past 25 years, she has counseled private property owners and acquiring agencies in condemnation actions and valuation issues. In her insurance practice, Cranston advocates for business owners and individuals in coverage and bad faith disputes.
Source of pride: “I am extremely proud to represent individuals and entities that I hold in high esteem based on their leadership and integrity. The faith and trust that clients place in me (especially those who return for additional services) is both reassuring and humbling.”
Nicole M. Goodwin
Shareholder // Greenberg Traurig
Source of pride: “I feel so proud to practice in Arizona on behalf of exemplary clients, as part of such a professional and collegial bar. That pride is particularly strong when I am in court and one of the appearing counsel is a former student of mine from my time teaching at ASU law school, or when I get a referral from a former adversary whose respect I have earned, or when I look around our office of more than 55 attorneys, and recall their ‘origin stories,’ knowing that I have been a meaningful part of the recruitment of the majority of them.”
Jeff S. Leonard
Shareholder // Sacks Tierney
Background: Leonard is a highly respected figure in the Phoenix legal community, known for his exceptional skill as a civil trial lawyer and litigator in both state and federal courts. With decades of experience, he has successfully handled a wide range of complex business and commercial cases, including matters involving banking, contract disputes, business fraud, securities, real estate and public liability defense. Leonard’s trial experience includes a wide variety of business and commercial cases involving banking, contract, business fraud, securities, real estate and public liability defense. He has received the “AV/Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for commercial litigation.
William Maledon
Attorney // Osborn Maledon
Background: Maledon is one of the founding members of Osborn Maledon. His practice has focused on antitrust and trade regulation cases, other complex commercial litigation, sports law and mediation of commercial matters.
Source of pride: “The most satisfying professional accomplishment is to see how my law firm has grown and prospered over the years. Today and for the past decade or more, Osborn Maledon has been rated by several national and international legal ranking publications as the No. 1 litigation and corporate transactional law firm in Arizona. That is a testament to the high quality of our attorneys and their work.”
Jeffrey Phillips
Founding partner // Phillips Law Group
Background: Phillips is a nationally respected trial attorney and founding partner of Phillips Law Group, with more than 30 years of experience delivering justice for injury victims. He has built one of Arizona’s leading personal injury firms, serving over 185,000 clients and securing more than $2 billion in recoveries nationwide.
Source of pride: “Leading the industry through innovation is what I am most proud of. By assembling elite attorneys, an exceptional support team and investing in best-in-class technology, we have raised the standard for client care while never losing sight of what matters most: providing clarity, care and advocacy when people are facing life-changing challenges.”
