Montgomery and Andrews Law Firm

Overview

A former Justice and Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court (1977-1986), William R. Federici was graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1939 (B.A.) and from the University of Colorado Law School in 1941 (J.D.). He served as an assistant attorney general of New Mexico in 1941 and 1946-1948. He served in the U.S. Army in 1942-1946 and served overseas.

Justice Federici joined the law firm of Seth and Montgomery in 1948 and became a partner shortly thereafter. The firm engaged in general office and commercial litigation, state and federal, both trial and appellate, in the areas of oil and gas, real estate and commercial litigation (insurance and banking), and wills and probate, among others.

Justice Federici returned to the firm in 1987 in the capacity “Of Counsel.” In 2005, Justice Federici became Counsel Emeritus.

Justice Federici is a member of the New Mexico State Bar (inactive). He served as President of the State Bar, 1970-1971, and was a member of the New Mexico State Bar Commission for many years and a member of numerous State Bar committees during his tenure as a lawyer. He is a Fellow of the American College of Probate Counsel (1965). Some of his awards include the University of Colorado Law School Alumni Award for Distinguished Service in the Judiciary (1991); the State Bar of New Mexico Distinguished Bar Service Award (1991); the State Bar of New Mexico Professionalism Award (1996); State Bar of New Mexico Century of Achievement Award (1999); the National Italian American Bar Association Achievement Award (2000); and the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award (2000).