Mounce, Green, Myers, Safi, Paxson & Galatzan, P.C. is pleased to congratulate S. Anthony Safi on his receipt of the “Kelly Frels Lifetime Achievement Award” from the School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. The Lifetime Achievement Award is reserved for an attorney who has made “outstanding contributions” to school law jurisprudence on the state and/or federal level, has been a recognized leader in the school community, has demonstrated the highest standards of ethical behavior, and has demonstrated a high level of collegiality and professionalism in dealing with other attorneys while zealously representing his or her clients. The award is named after Kelly Frels, a former President of the State Bar of Texas, and its first recipient.
Mr. Safi received the award at the annual meeting of the State Bar School Law Section held in July in San Antonio. He is the only El Pasoan ever to have received this recognition.
Mr. Safi has been with the firm his entire career.He represents clients in a variety of litigation, appellate, and school law matters. He has litigated cases at all levels, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court, and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.He is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
He has earned the distinction of being named a Texas “Super Lawyer®” by Texas Monthly magazine every year since inception of the program in 2003, including his designation as being among the “Top 50 Super Lawyers®” in Central and West Texas in 2010 and again in 2013.He is also listed in the “Best Lawyers in America.”He was named by the El Paso Young Lawyers Association as El Paso’s “Outstanding Senior Lawyer” for 2013-14.
He has presented scholarly papers at numerous legal conferences, at the state and national level. He is a past chair of the School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, as well as of the Texas Council of School Attorneys.
After attending Princeton University, Mr. Safi earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.He graduated with high honors from the University of Texas School of Law, where he was an editor of the Texas Law Review and a member of the Chancellors and Order of the Coif honorary societies.
Mr. Safi is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and a Fellow of the El Paso Bar Foundation.
Mr. Safi has been an active member of the Church of St. Clement, where he has served on the Vestry, as a Sunday school teacher, as an usher, and as Chancellor of the Parish. He is married to Charlotte Safi, and they have three adult children and two grandchildren.
