Adam Malone knows that impact is not always measured by a monetary recovery. For years, his presence outside the courtroom has strengthened the profession through sharing knowledge, which has ultimately helped protect society at large.
“As a trial lawyer, my first priority is, of course, to secure the best possible result for my clients,” says Malone, who in 2016 was named the Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs in Atlanta. “But I love my profession and feel compelled to give back to local and legal communities. Volunteering has proven to be the most effective way to provide support at the local, state and national levels, as well to other lawyers practicing in the area of catastrophic injury and wrongful death.”
Malone certainly walks the walk when it comes to contributing to the profession, and 2023 marks the culmination of some influential positions he has held beyond his role as the lead partner at Malone Law.
The Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
Malone has been an active member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA) for decades. In this organization, he builds relationships with peers and works with the entire membership to help strengthen their relationships in the legislature to better protect local communities and ensure that everyday citizens, Georgia families and small businesses are never deprived of their constitutional guarantee of trial by jury and access to independent and impartial courts.
Supporting the mission of GTLA has been a part of Malone Law and its mission for more than 50 years.”
He was named President of GTLA in 2022, and before his term concludes in 2023, he will have achieved various goals, including driving diversity engagement and boosting overall membership. Malone led the rejuvenation of the minority and women’s caucuses by involving the right people in leadership and providing new and enhanced educational offerings, which ensured a broader range of perspectives would be reflected in GTLA initiatives and actions. Furthermore, Malone’s leadership helped increase membership by more than 300 so far, and along with the excellent GTLA staff, accomplished all of this without raising membership dues.
“Supporting the mission of GTLA has been a part of Malone Law and its mission for more than 50 years,” Malone says. “It is my hope that all Georgia trial lawyers representing people who have been devastated by preventable injury or death will join our efforts to stop one-sided policies that allow wrongdoers to escape legal responsibility for the harm they cause.”
American Association for Justice
The American Association for Justice (AAJ) is the nation’s largest organization for lawyers representing the injured. Joining the group was a natural fit for Malone, who for years served on its Board of Governors and its Executive Committee.
As one of the leading practitioners in the area of pediatric and adult brain injuries, Malone’s contributions and willingness to share knowledge have proved invaluable. He was named Chair of the AAJ’s Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group in 2021. During his term, which completed in 2022, Malone organized and led several educational programs, including a multiday legal summit in Atlanta and attended by the most prestigious lawyers and subject matter experts in the United States. He also set in motion another key initiative of— establishing a diversity committee —to attract and retain a membership and leadership more reflective of the regular, hardworking people the group represents. “I feel confident future AAJ leaders will carry on the critical work we began this past year,” Malone says. “More importantly, they are better prepared to represent and achieve the deep and empathetic connections which are so necessary to properly understand and represent the severely injured.”
COVID-19 Judicial Task Force
Malone is one of a few lawyers selected to serve on the COVID-19 Judicial Task Force for the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, which he joined after its formation in 2020. While the rest of the world came to a screeching halt, the work of this Task Force helped keep litigation moving forward for the work which must be done outside the courthouse and helped guide courts to keep cases moving forward safely inside the courthouse.
The task force continues to adapt new judicial guidelines to tackle the pandemic and has begun preparedness plans for other potential threats of similar scale and magnitude.
“The courts’ resilience in the past three years can be attributed to the leadership of Justice Shawn LaGrua and the Judicial Council,” Malone says. “We are certainly more forward-thinking now and will continue to lead efforts to ensure that the state’s judicial system remains adaptable.”
Though his participation will continue in the aforementioned groups in whatever capacity requested, Malone plans on remaining engaged and bringing new knowledge back to his office as well as courtrooms.
“Between advances in technology or updates to the law, there is always something to learn from participating in legal groups like GLTA, AAJ, and the State Bar,” Malone notes. “Malone Law believes in giving more than it gets. By giving our knowledge, time, and talent, our clients have always ultimately reaped the greatest benefit.”
