1-877-581-3396
Associate Attorney
Bond & Botes
Gadsden & Anniston, Alabama
1-877-581-3396
An Alabama native, Malea Higdon lives in the Gadsden area with her husband, two daughters, and their dogs. She is an associate attorney with Bond & Botes, serving clients from the firm’s Gadsden and Anniston offices, where she concentrates her practice on consumer bankruptcy—helping individuals and families in financial distress pursue debt relief in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama and defending them against debt-collection lawsuits in state court.
Malea brings more than a decade of Alabama and Mississippi litigation experience to that work—including years spent on the other side of the courtroom. Having represented national manufacturers and insurers in high-stakes litigation, she understands firsthand how creditors and their attorneys build and pursue claims. She now puts that insight to work for the people on the receiving end, using her courtroom experience to help clients protect what matters and secure a fresh start.
Licensed since 2012, Malea has practiced across state and federal courts in Alabama and Mississippi. Most recently, she served as an associate and of counsel with Gay Jones & Kuhn, PLLC, focusing on mass tort and product-liability defense and supporting the firm’s asbestos bankruptcy-trust practice. Earlier, she practiced with Brunson & Walker, P.C. in Gadsden and with Couch, Conville & Blitt, LLC in Birmingham, representing clients through every stage of litigation, from initial pleadings through trial.
Education
- University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2012 (Criminal Law Certificate with Honors)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, B.A., History (minor in Political Science), 2006
Bar Admissions
- Alabama State Bar, 2012
- Mississippi State Bar, 2014
- Hawaii State Bar, 2020 (inactive)
Memberships & Affiliations
- Birmingham Bar Association
- Guardian ad Litem Certification (Alabama)
- Volunteer Lawyer Program
- Ronald McDonald House
- Junior Civitan
Favorite Local Restaurant
Hector’s, a Colombian spot near her home in Gadsden. Malea’s go-to is the loaded pork arepa and a café con leche made with their homemade creamer.
What I like best about my job
I love hearing the relief in someone’s voice when they first learn how we can help. So many of the people who come to us are worn down—they haven’t slept in weeks because of the constant collection calls. When they finally have a plan, you can see the whole change in them, like they can breathe again. Being part of that is the most rewarding part of my job.
