Zelo Safi serves as AFI’s Senior Attorney, Immigration & Human Rights, providing legal services for at-risk artists from around the world. With a background in the arts and law, she is passionate about the intersection of art, cultural heritage, and law.

Ms. Safi previously worked with True, Walsh & Sokoni, LLP (now True & Walsh LLP) in upstate New York and Lehach & Filippa, LLC in New York City. She has an extensive background in business immigration matters with particular emphasis on O-1 artist visas, as well as family-based immigration visas.

Ms. Safi received her JD from Catholic University, Columbus School of Law in Washington, DC and a BA in Government from George Mason University with a minor in Art History. She holds a certificate in Art & Cultural Heritage Law from Georgetown University Law Center. She previously served as the Vice President of the Finger Lakes Women’s Bar Association (a regional chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York). Ms. Safi  is admitted to practice law in New York and she is currently a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).