Early Life & Career

Annette Spaulding Malena grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she attended St. Petersburg High School. She was part of Florida’s first International Baccalaureate (IB) program and stood out as one of only 15 students to earn the IB Diploma from her class. Annette went on to attend Emory University, where she earned her B.A. in History with a concentration in the Middle East. While at Emory, she was actively involved in student life as a radio announcer for WMRE, a scholarship comittee member for Kappa Kappa Gamma, and a tutor for local elementary students. She was also recognized as a Carter Center Middle East Research Intern and made the Dean’s List all four years.

Legal Training

Annette earned her Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1995. While there, she participated in both the Prosecutorial Clinic and the Summer Prosecutorial Clinic, gaining hands-on experience and ultimately leading research and drafting for Georgia’s Death Penalty Manual. She was admitted to the Georgia Bar that same year and has remained committed to practicing in the state ever since.

Career at Smith Clinesmith

Joining Smith Clinesmith feels like a full-circle moment for Annette. With decades of experience that includes serving as a prosecutor and advocating for injured plaintiffs, she brings both litigation skill and heartfelt purpose to the firm. Her passion lies in standing up for society’s most vulnerable, especially victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. Inspired by Gandhi’s quote—“The true measure of a society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members”—Annette is proud to be part of a team that shares her mission for justice and meaningful impact.