Wayne F. Malecha

Partner, Dallas
214.953.5610
Email vCard
Practice Experience Recognition & Accolades Community Involvement Client Results Attorney News

“Wayne Malecha provided faultless guidance as a transactional specialist, from the inception of the process through the complex closing. He and Jackson Walker more than met all of my needs and expectations in the handling of this unique and complex case, and all with the highest degree of integrity.”

— Michael S. Baskerville, Receiver for The W.T. Waggoner Estate

Biography

Wayne handles a wide range of real estate and other business transactions for property owners and investors. His clients particularly appreciate his ability to offer creative solutions to resolve issues that arise and his overall commitment to getting the deal done.

Wayne has particular experience in commercial leasing, having negotiated numerous leases for office, retail, showroom, industrial and medical office building projects, as well as ground leases and master lease agreements. He regularly represents the owners of Dallas’ most prominent office towers on significant lease transactions, including several recognized as “Deals of the Year” by the Dallas Business Journal in its annual compilation of major real estate transactions in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

Wayne also has considerable experience handling acquisitions and dispositions of commercial real estate, including office, shopping center, multi-family and industrial properties. In addition, he represents lenders in real estate finance transactions, including acquisition, construction and land development financing.

Education

B.A., cum laude, St. Norbert College
J.D., Notre Dame Law School

  • Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Legislation
  • William T. Kirby Award for Excellence in Legal Writing
  • Concannon Programme of International Law, Notre Dame Law Centre, London, England

Bar Admissions

Texas

Leasing

  • Representation of landlord in 198,000 square foot office lease facilitating the headquarters relocation of the largest Texas-based bank to Dallas (named “Real Estate Deal of the Year” by the Dallas Business Journal)
  • Representation of major international health system in the consolidation of its headquarters into a 227,000 square foot campus in Las Colinas (named “Best HQ/Campus Deal of the Year” by the Dallas Business Journal)
  • Representation of major entertainment/amusement operator in numerous 40,000+ square foot shopping center/retail leases throughout the U.S. and Canada
  • Representation of landlord in 11-year extension of large retailer’s corporate headquarters lease (named “Best Lease Renewal Deal of the Year” by the Dallas Business Journal)
  • Representation of  international building owner in 160,000 square foot office lease that facilitated the relocation of a Fortune 100 company from California to Dallas (named “Best Headquarters Move of the Year” by the Dallas Business Journal)
  • Representation of landlord in 157,000 square foot office lease to a major Texas utility company for its Dallas headquarters
  • Representation of international executive office suite provider as tenant in connection with numerous leases throughout the U.S.
  • Representation of landowner in connection with the negotiation and drafting of a ground lease for a medical office building project in University Park, Texas
  • Representation of tenant in connection with a long-term lease of an acute care hospital facility

Acquisitions and Sales

  • Representation of seller in the sale of a major office project in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Representation of purchaser in the acquisition of a mixed use development in the Preston Hollow area of Dallas
  • Representation of seller in the sale of a 24-acre mixed use project in Dallas’ medical district
  • Representation of purchaser in the acquisition of a prominent 36-acre site in Plano, Texas
  • Representation of seller in the sale of a premier office building on Turtle Creek Boulevard in Dallas

Farm and Ranch

  • Representation of the Receiver for The W.T. Waggoner Estate in connection with the sale of the iconic W.T. Waggoner Ranch, the largest ranch under one fence in the U.S., successfully resolving decades of entrenched litigation

Financing

  • Representation of leading Michigan-based automotive finance company in connection with numerous mortgage and construction loans to automobile dealerships in the Southwest, Midwest, Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions of the U.S.

  • The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Real Estate Law, 2023-2025
  • Best Lawyer in Dallas, D Magazine, 2014-2015, 2017-2019, 2024
  • Dallas 500, D CEO Magazine, 2016
  • AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell

  • Dallas County Trail and Preserve Program Board, Chairman
  • Housing Crisis Center
    • Board Member
    • Honored as Pro Bono Attorney of the Year
  • Dallas Tennis Association
    • Board Member
  • HERO Mentor
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Dallas Bar Association – Real Property Section
  • Dallas Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Real Estate Council
    • Graduate of the Real Estate Council’s Associate Leadership Council

Best Lawyers 2025 edition graphic - 306 attorneys recognized, 81 specialty areas, 75 Ones to Watch, and 9 Lawyers of the Year

August 15, 2024
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

Best Lawyers in Dallas 2024 D Magazine

April 19, 2024
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates 23 Attorneys Named Among 2024 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List

Jackson Walker congratulates the 23 attorneys recognized among D Magazine’s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2024. For recognition in the list, Dallas attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.

USA flags

August 17, 2023
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

August 18, 2022
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.

Fast Takes - Wayne Malecha

April 9, 2020
Podcasts

Landlord-Tenant Issues to Consider With COVID-19

With a large number of businesses shut down, the COVID-19 pandemic is putting a strain on relationships between commercial landlords and businesses.

April 19, 2019
Attorney News

‘D Magazine’ Lists 24 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among Best Lawyers in Dallas 2019

Twenty-four Jackson Walker attorneys were recognized in the “Best Lawyers in Dallas 2019” list by D Magazine, one of the premier publications in the city of Dallas. To be recognized in the list, attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.

July 10, 2018
Attorney News

‘D Magazine’ Lists 33 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among Best Lawyers in Dallas

Thirty-three Jackson Walker attorneys were recognized in the “Best Lawyers in Dallas 2018” list by D Magazine, one of the premier publications in the city of Dallas. To be recognized in the list, attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 34 categories.

May 8, 2017
Attorney News

D Magazine Recognizes Eleven Jackson Walker Attorneys

Jackson Walker is proud to announce that eleven of its attorneys have been included in the “Best Lawyers 2017” list by D Magazine, one of the premier publications in the city of Dallas.

February 26, 2016
Attorney News

Wayne Malecha and Albon Head Featured in “Law360” Article on Sale of W.T. Waggoner Ranch

In a February 24, 2016, Law360 article titled, “Sale of $725M Texas Ranch Was ‘Deal Of First Impression’,” [subscription required] Jackson Walker partners Wayne Malecha and Albon Head discussed the monumental sale of the W.T. Waggoner Ranch, the largest fenced-in ranch in the U.S., earlier this month.

More Attorney News