Herb Ely, recognized by Phoenix Magazine as a “Legendary Lawyer,” is certified by the Arizona Bar Association and Board of Legal Specialization for Personal Injury and Wrongful Death. He was among the first group of lawyers so qualified.

Having graduated with honors from University of Pennsylvania, he is a longstanding practitioner in Arizona. In addition to membership and service to various county, state and national legal associations, he served as president of the Phoenix Trial Lawyers Association. He has often lectured on personal injury topics to audiences including lawyers and judges. His extensive and successful practice as advocate for people having suffered personal injuries includes cases that have captured local and national attention, making major changes in state and national law.

Herb was a founder of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest, the most successful state public interest firm in the United States. For this and for his service to the public in numerous voluntary legal and community issues, he was recipient of the first American Bar Association Pro Bono Award.

He received The American Jewish Committee’s 2009 Judge Learned Hand Community Service Award. This award recognizes distinguished members of the bar from across the nation for their adherence to the values and standard of excellence associated with Judge Hand, Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1924 to 1951. Herb was honored for his sustained contributions to the advancement of equality and democratic principles, including drafting Arizona’s civil rights bill and his success in constitutional law cases of state and national import.