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Fry & Elder Again Included in Best Oklahoma Law Firms Neighborhood

The U.S. News & World Report knows where to look for greatness. Whether its “Best Colleges,” “Best Hospitals,” or, in the case of Fry & Elder, “Best Oklahoma Law Firms,” the esteemed publication knows exactly where to go to evaluate excellence for 30 years and counting.

Best Oklahoma Law Firms

With that in mind, it wasn’t at all surprising that Fry & Elder found itself squarely on the U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 “Best Law Firms” List when the highly-anticipated directory was publicly unveiled on Nov. 1.

For Fry & Elder, it marks the sixth consecutive year the elite Tulsa law firm has been regarded as one of the Best Oklahoma Law Firms.

“It is a very significant award and achievement,” James R. Elder said. “We have established a culture over the years at this firm in which excellence is the expected level with which we operate for our clients and ourselves.

“To have that ideology identified and reinforced by a global media outlet like the U.S. News & World Report for a sixth consecutive year feels great.”

Spot in Best Oklahoma Law Firms Neighborhood Difficult to Obtain

Membership in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms List is not easy. This year’s marks the ninth consecutive year the publication has used a tiered ranking system to rank law firms.

Of the 14,643 law firms reviewed from across the nation by the U.S. News & World Report, only 2,118 firms were selected for inclusion by the publication.

Fry & Elder was ranked as a Metropolitan Tier 1 for Family Law in Tulsa – the highest ranking a firm can achieve in a particular practice area.

As stated in a release by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®:

“The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in the field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a 2019 ranking, a law firm must have at least one lawyer recognized in the 24th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America list for that particular location and specialty.”

Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. was named to Best Lawyers® for a ninth consecutive year this past August and was selected as the Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Oklahoma 2016.

Fry & Elder’s selection to the 2019 Best Law Firm List comes less than a month after firm attorneys Lorena Rivas, Aaron D. Bundy, Luke Barteaux and Fry were recognized as 2018 Super Lawyers® honorees.

Best Oklahoma Law Firms

Experience the Fry & Elder Difference

Whether you or someone you know needs legal assistance in family law, immigration law, criminal defense or with a personal injury claim, Fry & Elder has the team in place to help you best navigate through your legal situation.

As one of the Best Oklahoma Law Firms, Fry & Elder’s team of attorneys are some of the most decorated in the state and include the following:

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a proven and accomplished Oklahoma trial lawyer.

Fry & Elder’s “Tulsa Super Lawyers” Continue to Shine

Tulsa Super Lawyers are in abundance at 1630 S. Main Street.

Tulsa Super Lawyers

The highly-reputable legal publication Super Lawyers® unveiled its list of 2018 honorees, and Fry & Elder was again well represented.

Fry & Elder’s Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr., Aaron D. Bundy, Lorena Rivas and T. Luke Barteaux were each selected for inclusion.

This year marks the 12th consecutive year Fry has designated as Super Lawyer for family law, while Bundy (2013-18), Barteaux (2014-18) and Rivas (2018) were each selected as Super Lawyers Rising Stars.

“Very, very pleased with how well our firm is represented,” Fry said. “Each are extremely accomplished and very deserving. I’m particularly thrilled for Lorena. She’s been a vital part to our firm’s success these past few years and has been worthy of recognition since she joined Fry & Elder (in 2015).

Super Lawyers Selection Further Validates Big Year, Stellar Career for Rivas

For Rivas, 2018 marks her first year to garner Super Lawyers accolades, but as Fry alluded to, Rivas has distinguished herself as one of Tulsa’s top immigration attorneys for quite some time.

She was the recipient of the 2018 Fern Holland Award which is annually given to a lawyer who advocates for human rights or the empowerment of women, and Rivas has traveled to Washington D.C. multiple times to meet with legislators to discuss immigration law reform and improved policies.

Rivas was additionally recognized in 2016 by the Tulsa Business & Legal News as being one of the city’s most accomplished professional women with their annual Women of Distinction Awards.

On multiple occasions, the prominent Tulsa immigration attorney has shared her powerful testimony on what led her into immigration law on multiple occasions and continues to looked at as an authority figure in immigration law.

“Super Lawyers is one of the most esteemed publications in our profession so I am very thrilled to be selected,” Rivas said. “It’s always an honor to receive recognition – be it from a client, colleague or publication such as Super Lawyers.”

Tulsa Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers Selection Process Second to None

What helps set Super Lawyers apart from other legal publications is its highly-regarded selection process. Only the best 5 percent of attorneys in a specific practice area are selected as Super Lawyers, while 2.5 percent of lawyers in a given practice area are chosen as Rising Stars.

The Super Lawyers website says the selection process is as follows:

“Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented multiphase selection process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis.

“The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. Since Super Lawyers is intended to be used as an aid in selecting a lawyer, we limit the lawyer.” ratings to those who can be hired and retained by the public, i.e., lawyers in private practice and Legal Aid attorneys.”

Tulsa Super Lawyers

Fry & Elder Tulsa Super Lawyers to Continue Momentum

The honors and accolades for Fry & Elder do not figure to stop any time soon in 2018. The prestigious Oklahoma law firm is vying to make the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms List for a sixth consecutive year.

The U.S. News & World Report will unveil its list on Nov. 1.

Fry, meanwhile, continues to be recognized for his 50th year of practicing law. He was recently recognized by the Tulsa County Bar Association during its Annual Awards Banquet in August for 50 years of membership with the TCBA.

“It always feels great to be recognized by your peers and colleagues,” Fry said. “Honors and awards such as these are never taken for granted. The firm and myself are very appreciative.”

Contact Fry & Elder to set up a personal consultation with a team of Tulsa Super Lawyers.

Bundy, Rivas Among Seminole County Las Vegas CLE Headliners

Seminole County has found a home away from home in Clark County.

For the 12th consecutive year, the Seminole County Bar Association held its annual and highly-regarded Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminar in Las Vegas earlier this month.

Aaron Bundy Las Vegas CLE presentation

And just as he has the previous two years, Fry & Elder trial lawyer Aaron D. Bundy made the journey out to the desert. This time around, the prominent Tulsa attorney was joined by Fry & Elder immigration law attorney Lorena Rivas at the Seminole County Bar Association’s 12th Annual Las Vegas CLE.

The two decorated Fry & Elder trial lawyers combined to present for 3 of the 7 hours of the CLE credit offered during the yearly seminar held at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas Resort and Casino.

“Judge Tim Olsen and the Seminole County Bar Association absolutely run a first-class event,” Bundy said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be asked to present the past three years, and the conference just gets better and better every year. It’s an absolute honor to be invited to present. I always look forward to the opportunity to attend their CLE event.”

The Intersection of Immigration Law with Family Law & Criminal Law Highlights Las Vegas CLE

It is not surprising that Bundy continues to be recruited to present at the event. Over the years, Bundy has established himself as one of the most sought-after speakers in Oklahoma on a variety of CLE topics.

Bundy whose practice at Fry & Elder is focused on family law, criminal defense and personal injury, was the co-recipient of the 2017 Earl Sneed Award for his significant and outstanding continuing legal education contributions.

The AV-rated and Super Lawyers® decorated attorney presentation was titled: “The Intersection of Immigration Law and Family Law.”

“Family law matters often intersect with a number of different legal practice areas, including criminal law and immigration law,” Bundy said. “Immigration law is a hot-topic issue right now which affects a lot of families.”

Lorena Las Vegas CLE presentation

Also a highly-regarded speaker, Rivas picked an excellent year to attend her first Seminole County Bar Association Las Vegas CLE.

As Bundy alluded to, immigration law practices are a major issue of discussion and Rivas is widely considered to be an authority figure in Oklahoma immigration law.

Four of the five seminar sessions offered at the Las Vegas CLE conference focused on immigration law, including Rivas’ seminar titled: “An Overview of the Immigration Affirmative Process – What Every Practitioner Should Know.”

Rivas, the 2018 Fern Holland Award Winner, also presented on “The Intersection of Immigration Law and Criminal Law.” All total, the accomplished Tulsa immigration attorney presented for two hours at the event.

“Aaron has always spoken so highly of this event and how good a job Judge Olsen and the Seminole County Bar Association do with it,” Rivas said. “It was a fantastic seminar and a great opportunity for me discuss immigration law with some very respected and distinguished legal minds. I am very thankful for the opportunity to present.”

Judge Olsen was pleased to have both Bundy and Rivas on board this year in Las Vegas.

“Our CLE had an immigration law theme this year, and Lorena’s presentation was very informative for the general practitioner,” Judge Olsen said. “She is obviously well versed in the subject area and is excellent at presenting it in a way that is easy to understand.

“Aaron focused on immigration and family law issues. As always, he was very prepared and presented the materials in a professional and entertaining manner.”

Experience the Fry & Elder Difference

Bundy and Rivas are just two of many decorated attorneys with Fry & Elder. The firm has been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s elite Best Law Firms list each of the past five years and its team of attorneys include:

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a skilled and experienced Oklahoma trial lawyer.

Highly-Regarded Tulsa Immigration Attorney Weighs in on Child Separation

Highly-regarded Tulsa immigration attorney

California immigration attorney Angeline Chen was torn between what action to initially take when she recently volunteered at the border in Tijuana, Mexico to help a 150-person caravan of immigrants from Central America with the U.S. asylum process.

As reported in a July story by Today.com, the potential scene of children being separated from their parents was one which haunted Chen.

“It is so overwhelming, Chen said. “Do you give the children teddy bears and blankets or do we give them attorneys?”

While immigration law has been a constant hot-topic legal issue for decades, Fry & Elder immigration attorney Lorena Rivas says immigration law policies reached a boiling point this past May when Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that those caught illegally crossing the border would face criminal prosecution.

The decision prompted the separation of 2,342 migrant children from their parents between early May and June 19 as reported in this NPR article.

Though President Donald Trump has since modified his stance on family separation to keep families intact even though a zero-tolerance policy will remain in place, Rivas believes the repercussions of the initial separations continue to be impactful and far reaching.

“It’s a very tragic and unfortunate mess,” Rivas said. “For the children and parents who have been separated from one another, it’s not a simple quick fix to locate one another. Many immigrants may be undocumented and those with documentation may have had their documents lost in the shuffle. It becomes further complicated for those with a solid claim for asylum, as they are simply trying to escape violent, life-threatening situations from their home countries.”

Fiancé Visa

What can be Done to Help?

First and foremost, Rivas believes there needs to greater awareness brought to the legal issues and uncertainty surrounding the southern border; but the highly-regarded Tulsa immigration attorney also said additional attention needs to be given to the organizations and programs available which people can donate to and support.

These include the following:

ACLU

This well-known organization is currently raising money to “defend asylum-seeking parents forcibly separated from their children.”

NPR recently reported how a federal judge in Washington D.C. ordered the return of an asylum-seeker from El Salvador.

Judge Emmet Sullivan “threatened to hold Attorney General Jeff Sessions in contempt because the government had spirited the woman away while her case was still pending.”

The ACLU has publicly stated that “separating families is inhumane.”

Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project

The ASAP provides an abundant amount of support for refugee families who come to the U.S. because of “unspeakable violence” in their home countries.

The organization has recently sued U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to further fight family separation and human rights violations.

The Texas Civil Rights Project

Closer to home, the TCRP continues to be proactive in its quest to assist asylum-seeking families.

The organization recently denounced the Trump administration’s plan to vacate the Flores Settlement Agreement, which has shaped detention standards for underage migrants since 1997, and expand family detention capabilities.

The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration will increase the size of a tent camp for migrant children outside El Paso from 1,200 beds to as many as 3,800.

The TCRP issues the following statement in response:

“The Trump administration has found a new low in the family separation crisis: seeking indefinite imprisonment of children. Any attempt to withdraw from the Flores Settlement Agreement in order to circumvent previous court orders and expand family detention is wholly unacceptable.

“For months, we watched in horror as children were ripped from their parents, but the remedy for family separation is not, and never will be, indefinitely locking up whole families in immigration prisons.”

Leading Tulsa immigration attorney

A Highly-Regarded Tulsa Immigration Attorney Who Cares

A native of Mutual, Oklahoma, Rivas is a first-generation American who takes great pride in being able to represent the Oklahoma Latino community as a highly-regarded Tulsa immigration attorney.

“I’m a Mexican-American,” Lorena Rivas said. “Immigration law is something that is constantly hitting my life, whether it be family members, friends or my clients. In law school, I initially thought I wouldn’t go into immigration law, but I started thinking about it more, and felt like I could make a bigger impact in that area.”

Rivas has done just that, and continues to make an impact as a highly-regarded Tulsa immigration attorney. She has traveled multiple times to Capital Hill to meet with legislators to advocate for immigration law reform and improved policies.

Rivas also is the 2018 recipient of the prestigious Fern Holland Award. As a respected professional in the Tulsa community, she was selected to take part in the Leadership Tulsa Class 60 for 2018-2019.

Her immigration law practice areas at Fry & Elder include the following:

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with highly-regarded Tulsa immigration attorney Lorena Rivas.

Leading Tulsa Divorce Attorney Fry Makes Best Lawyers List

Speeding around the Go-Kart track at Andy B’s Tulsa with his youngest grandson Clarke riding shotgun, Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. looked far removed from his day-to-day job as a leading Tulsa divorce attorney.

Leading Tulsa divorce attorney

Yes, Fry looked at ease zipping around the track and lapping the field which also included his son and youngest daughter. But when a pile up stopped the action, Fry couldn’t resist the urge to revert back to his true professional calling.

With his Go-Kart stopped in the middle of the track, Fry calmly reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone … to call a client back.

To those who know Fry, both personally and professionally, the move was hardly surprising.

For 50 years and counting, Fry has gone the extra mile, and the leading Tulsa divorce attorney continues to be handsomely rewarded for his hard work and dedication.

Best Lawyers® publicly unveiled its 2019 listings on Aug. 15 and for the ninth consecutive year, Fry was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers© in America in the field of family law.

“It is a very big honor,” said Fry, who was named Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Oklahoma 2016. “To be recognized by my peers and colleagues, particularly at this stage in my career, is very humbling and satisfying. Honors such as this are never taken lightly or for granted, and Best Lawyers® is as good of a legal publication as we have in our industry.”

Best Lawyers® Selection Process Among the Most Rigorous

That Fry has been listed by The Best Lawyers in America© every year since 2011 is no small feat. The publication is widely viewed as the oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession.

Much of this has to do with the rigorous selection process Best Lawyers® employs. Lawyers are not permitted to pay any fee to participate in or be recognized by Best Lawyers. As the website states:

“Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

“Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.”

Leading Tulsa Divorce Attorney Fry Continues to Thrive

Because of Fry’s stature and longevity as a prominent Tulsa family law attorney, he has attained no shortage of accolades during a sparkling career.

In addition to being listed by Best Lawyers®, Fry is an 11-time Super Lawyers honoree, an AV-rated attorney by Martindal-Hubbell®, a 2018 Significant Sig Award Winner and he is one of only 19 attorneys in the state to be a Fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

“He has had a remarkable career and continues to operate at an amazing level,” Fry & Elder immigration attorney Lorena Rivas said. “He’s seen it all and done it all. Myself and all the other trial lawyers here at Fry & Elder have learned and continue to learn so much from him on a day-to-day basis.”

While Fry was the only Fry & Elder attorney selected for inclusion in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers©, he believes it is only a matter of time before other attorneys join him on the list from Fry & Elder.

The firm has been named U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms List each of the past five years and features an energetic and decorated team of attorneys which also include:

“We have a really talented team in place, and we work well together,” Fry said. “Each attorney brings a unique skillset to the firm which has only enhanced our profile and breadth of services. Many of them have already done some great things, and I only see them getting better down the road. The awards will come, no doubt about it.”

And with those words, Fry reached into his pocket to retrieve his cell phone and whisked away.

He had a client’s call to return.

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a leading Tulsa divorce attorney.

Divorcing a Control Freak in Oklahoma Requires Strategy

It has been well documented that divorcing a narcissist can be a very difficult obstacle to overcome. With that said, divorcing a control freak in Oklahoma presents a whole new bag of issues and challenges for many individuals, as a “my way or the highway” attitude is the calling card of many control freaks.

Divorcing a control freak in Oklahoma

Simply put: this is not the type of mindset any party should be subjected to in what is supposed to be a shared and committed relationship.

If you or someone close to you is trying to end a relationship with a control freak, our experienced and accomplished team of Tulsa divorce attorneys at Fry & Elder empathize with the challenges you are facing and wish to offer some strategies to incorporate when divorcing a control freak in Oklahoma.

Self-Preservation is a Must

If you have been involved in a serious relationship with a control freak, chances are your self-esteem has taken a hit. This, however, should not be the case.

By seeking to end the toxic relationship, you have taken arguably the biggest step in reclaiming your life.

Keep moving forward.

Seek out friends and family to interact with and lean on, particularly during rough times. Think about trying out different activities such as taking up CrossFit, a cooking class or attending a Meetup group which will allow you to further showcase your individualism and newfound independence.

Tulsa immigration law

Document Everything

Whether you are divorcing a narcissist or a control freak, it is important that you keep records of all correspondence, including text messages, emails, voicemails and social media messaging/posts. This will help you further validate and reinforce your ex’s controlling patterns.

Documentation could also be particularly useful to your attorney when he or she advocates for you in court or in mediation.

Establish Boundaries

This likely won’t be easy, but establishing boundaries will be vital in your quest to terminate a relationship with a control freak.

One boundary you could establish would be to limit correspondence to only one communication channel (email) to correspond with your ex. You may even want to take it a step further and limit communication with your ex to just one day per week.

If you have children, another boundary you likely would want to implement would be to have a neutral pickup and drop-off location that’s open to the public so that you have witnesses should your ex act hostile toward you.

Annual Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Conference

Understand the Core Issue Behind a Controlling Personality

In establishing boundaries and limitations, it is important to understand that at the root of most control freaks are deeply-rooted issues with anxiety.

As Psychology Today pointed out in a 2015 article:

“While there are some out there who are controlling because they are into power or feel entitled and expect the world to go their way, for most controlling people it’s all about anxiety. Control is a bad solution—but it’s not the problem.

“Often such people grew up in chaotic environments, or with anxious or even abusive parents. As children they walked on eggshells, looking over their shoulders. To cope, they became hypervigilant—always on alert, always anticipating problems.”

Why the Need for an Experienced Attorney When Divorcing a Control Freak in Oklahoma

Divorcing a control freak in Oklahoma or anywhere else presents a difficult set of challenges, making it all the more imperative to consult with an experienced Tulsa divorce attorney as soon as possible.

Fry & Elder’s team of family law attorneys are some of the most decorated in the state and include the following:

Fry & Elder has also been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms List each of the past five years.

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with an established and experienced Tulsa divorce attorney.

Barteaux Named to Metro Christian Academy Foundation Board

Fry & Elder trial lawyer T. Luke Barteaux’s ascension up the professional ranks continues to trend up.

Nearly one year after Barteaux become the first Fry & Elder lawyer to be sworn in as a judge, the experienced Tulsa attorney was appointed to serve on the Metro Christian Academy Foundation Board.

Metro Christian Academy Foundation Board

Barteaux’s appointment as a Metro Christian Academy Foundation Board member is meaningful for multiple reasons, the primary one being that he is a high school graduate of Metro Christian Academy, which first opened its doors as a school in 1983 and presently educates over 1,000 Preschool through 12th Grade students.

“It’s quite an honor to be asked to be on the board,” Barteaux said. “Metro is a place that holds a lot of special memories to me. It’s a great school and embodies many of the core values I believe need to be passed down to future students and generations – my children included.”

The Metro Christian Academy Foundation Board is made up of the following members: Michael Junk, Andrea Harmon, Donna Briggs, Matt Pinnell, Tamara Cornell, Melody Dixon, Jake Schooley, Jay Condry and Ryan Griesemer, along with Barteaux.

Bonnie Polak, Metro’s Director of Advancement and Community Relations, wrote that the board’s mission statement is to “… provide resources to further the vision of Metro Christian Academy, through fundraising, community relations and sound advisement.”

Polak added that the school encourages board members to play an active role, but that the group prides itself on supporting each other as a team with a belief that there are plentiful opportunities for board members to learn and grow with the organization.

Barteaux said he is excited to work alongside a committed and dedicated group.

“I know a few members on the board a little better than some of the others, but I am looking forward to getting to know the others and develop a strong working relationship with each member to further advance Metro Christian Academy, and its ideals,” Barteaux said. “The school has excellent resources and support which also includes the Foundation Board.”

Metro Christian Academy Foundation Board Members meet every other month.

Busy Year Continues for Experienced Tulsa Attorney Barteaux

To say 2018 has been an active year for Barteaux would be an understatement.

He was named to Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list for a fifth consecutive year and was reappointed as Cherokee Nation District Court Judge in February of 2018 through February of 2022.

“Luke has been doing very well for us,” Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. said. “I’ve had my eye on him for a while now and I really believe his career is taking off.”

Barteaux’s has helped Fry & Elder make the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms List every year since 2014.

Much of Barteaux’s practice at Fry & Elder focuses on family law, including divorce and child custody issues, adoptions and criminal defense.

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with Barteaux.

Earl Sneed Winner Bundy Visits Nation’s Capital to Present

Aaron D. Bundy carried the Fry & Elder banner proudly and highly in our nation’s capital earlier this month.

The accomplished Oklahoma trial lawyer traveled to Washington D.C. to present at the 55th Annual Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Conference, which ran June 6-9.

Annual Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Conference

Bundy co-presented with highly-regarded forensic psychologist Dr. Sol Rapaport and former Fry & Elder attorney M. Shane Henry for a presentation titled “Preparing for and Conducting a Cross Examination of a Custody Evaluation.”

“The presentation went very well,” Bundy said. “There were nearly 200 people in attendance – half of them were mental health professionals and the other half were lawyers with one judge on hand.”

Bundy said the presentation fell into three parts.

  • Discussion about preparing to testify as a witness and preparing early to cross-examine an expert with an adverse conclusion.
  • Discussion about what constitutes a sound custody evaluation.
  • Final discussion about the goals and ways to cross-examine a mental health professional making a recommendation to the court.

“We had a lot of positive feedback from the audience immediately after the presentation,” Bundy said. “It really was the most I can remember in terms of the number of people approaching to thank us. It felt great and it was a wonderful event.”

55th Annual Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Conference a Big Deal

Being part of the presentation lineup at the AFCC Conference is quite an honor for both Bundy and the Tulsa legal community.

The AFCC was founded in 1963 and its members include all of the following:

  • Judges
  • Lawyers
  • Mediators
  • Psychologists
  • Researchers
  • Academics
  • Counselors
  • Court Commissioners
  • Custody Evaluators
  • Psychiatrists
  • Parenting Coordinators
  • Court Administrators
  • Social Workers
  • Parent Educators
  • Financial Professionals

Some of the most well-known and highly-regarded family law minds in the profession presented at the conference, including Bundy.

The conference featured keynote presentations by kidnapping victim Jayce Duggard, who authored the New York Times best seller “A Stolen Life,” along with iconic journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Bob Woodward, who uncovered the Watergate scandal which led to President Richard Nixon’s impeachment.

Aaron D. Bundy an Accomplished Attorney and Presenter

That Bundy was invited to present as the event is hardly surprising. He was the co-winner of the 2017 Earl Sneed Award for significant and outstanding continuing legal education contributions.

Bundy has presented throughout Oklahoma to various bar associations and has traveled out of state to locales like San Diego, Las Vegas, Boston, Miami and New Orleans for CLE opportunities with many other Fry & Elder attorneys.

Additionally, Bundy has been named to Super Lawyers® Rising Stars™ every year since 2013 and has been recognized as an AV-rated attorney every year since 2014 — this year he claimed the 2018 Platinum Client Champion honor.

Bundy’s practice at Fry & Elder focuses on family law, criminal defense and personal injury law throughout Oklahoma.

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with highly-regarded Oklahoma trial lawyer Aaron D. Bundy.

Fry & Elder Back In Business At Robert G Fry Jr. Center for Trial Studies

The Robert G Fry Jr. Center for Trial Studies is re-open for business.

Robert G Fry Jr. Center for Trial Studies

The elite Tulsa law firm of Fry & Elder will be moving back to its former 1630 S. Main Street Tulsa location, the Robert G Fry Jr. Center for Trial Studies, where it resided for two brief but memorable years from 2015-2017 by the end of the month.

“Very happy to be moving back to the 1630 location,” Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. said. “From a financial perspective, moving back to this location makes the most sense. I feel the greatest advantage, however, for me is that I will be able to see everyone daily just walking down the hall. I believe our culture will be much stronger at this location which is vital to the success and morale of any workplace. It will feel much more like home.”

Fry & Elder, which has been named to the illustrious U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms List for five consecutive years, will continue to feature an acclaimed lineup of attorneys who have won many awards and accolades during their legal careers.

Joining Fry at the 1630 S. Main Street location will be James R. Elder, Aaron D. Bundy, Lorena Rivas, T. Luke Barteaux, Katie Egan, Amy Page and Ruth Calvillo.

Fry & Elder’s talented legal support team of Joyce Caldwell, Judy Willits, Allison Smith, Kathy Keener, Rosie Renteria, Esther Salas and Amy Figueroa will also relocate with Fry & Elder’s experienced team of attorneys at 1630 S. Main Street.

The group is so respected and accomplished in the legal community that Caldwell and Willits were the subject of a recent feature story by the Tulsa Business & Legal News.

“We all work well together and respect one another’s talents and abilities,” Barteaux said. “I think we are all excited to begin a new chapter at Fry & Elder.”

The vaunted Tulsa law firm will return to 1630 S. Main Street riding a tidal wave of legal momentum.

Rivas has solidified herself as one of the premier Oklahoma immigration law attorneys and was the 2018 recipient of the prestigious Fern Holland Award.

Now in his 50th year of practice, Fry remains one of the best and most established Tulsa divorce attorneys. He is one of only 19 attorneys in the state to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and was the 2016 Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Oklahoma. Fry was also a Significant Sig Award Winner in 2017.

Barteaux became the firm’s first and only attorney to be sworn in as a judge when he was appointed Cherokee Nation District Judge in 2017. He was reappointed by the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council in February of 2018.

Bundy was the co-winner of the 2017 Earl Sneed Award, while Page is the 2018 Tulsa County Bar Association Family Law Section Chair, and the 2018 and 2019 OBA FLS CLE Chair.

All total, Fry & Elder features four lawyers who have garnered Super Lawyers® accolades and three AV-Rated attorneys. Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a proven and experienced Tulsa attorney at the Robert G Fry Jr. Center for Trial Studies.

Fighting A False, Frivolous Oklahoma Protective Order

Long before Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. became a distinguished Tulsa family law attorney, he served as the Chief Public Defender for Tulsa County. The skills Fry acquired as a criminal defense attorney certainly have not diminished. He is a highly skilled Tulsa protective order defense attorney.

Fry not only successfully defended a client from a protective order, the sought-after divorce attorney was able to turn the tables on the petitioner and have the Tulsa protective order ruled as frivolous.

Tulsa protective order defense attorney

The court stated:

“The court finds Petitioner filed this Protective Order action against Defendant to ‘retaliate’ against Petitioner’s wife and her family and to cover and distract from his own violations of the emergency protective order then in effect against him. The Court finds Petitioner filed the instant protective order action frivolously and no victim exists.”

This ruling opens the door for the Respondent (defendant) to secure attorney fees against the Petitioner, which Fry said his client fully intends to do.

“It’s an unusual case, which has a lot of moving parts,” Fry said, “A request for a frivolous ruling from the court is unusual, primarily because most people don’t know that it is available and must be alleged in a response to an emergency protective order.”

Oklahoma Protective Orders Trending Up

Oklahoma protective orders are on the rise. The Tulsa World reported in 2017 that protective orders in Tulsa County “doubled from 2015 and 2016.”

As an acclaimed Oklahoma law firm, which has been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s elite Best Law Firms List every year since 2014, Fry & Elder understands the significant importance protective orders have as a legal boundary for victims to protect themselves against psychological and physical abuse.

However, there also are times when protective orders might be abused.

Protective orders intersect family law with criminal law. Though not always the case, protective orders can be misused as a means for a spouse or family member to get you out of the house or to get emergency custody of children.

Fry & Elder’s experienced team of Oklahoma family law and criminal defense attorneys want you to know that the ramifications of having a protective order filed against you can be detrimental.

Below is some information you need to know about Oklahoma protective orders.

Tulsa Protective Order Defense Attorney Explains Protective Orders

Protective orders in Oklahoma are defined and governed by the “Protection from Domestic Abuse Act.” Protective orders are typically entered against a family or household member when a victim has experienced or feels a threat of:

  • Domestic violence
  • Harassment
  • Stalking
  • Sexual assault

There are two types of protective orders which can be filed in Oklahoma: an emergency ex parte order of protection and a final or permanent order of protection.

What Having a Tulsa Protective Order Filed Against You Means?

Having a protective order filed against you can have very serious consequences which can potentially affect your parenting rights and employment opportunities.

Once a protective order has been served, the defendant may not have contact with the person protected by the order until the protective order is lifted. Violation of a protective order can result in criminal charges.

Oklahoma protective orders are initially heard on an “ex parte” basis, which means the defendant (the person who is accused of abuse, stalking, or harassment) has no opportunity to be heard or to challenge the protective order when it is first filed. When the protective order is granted, a court hearing date is set by the judge and the protective order petition, order, and notice of the hearing is set for service upon the defendant. A trial will be held at that set date and time to determine if a protective order is necessary.

If a permanent protective order is granted there is a chance you could lose your job and your professional license in certain circumstances. You also will no longer be legally allowed to possess or transport a firearm.

Protective orders are serious and the violation of a protective order can bring about even greater consequences.

What are the Consequences of Violating an Oklahoma Protective Order?

If you have had a protective order filed against you, it is important that you understand the serious nature of it and contact a proven Oklahoma protective order defense attorney to help you challenge it. Violation of a protective order can result in the following:

  • 1st offense: misdemeanor, up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000
  • 1st offense resulting in injury: misdemeanor, 20 days to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000
  • 2nd offense: felony, 1 to 3 years in prison and a fine of $2,000 to $10,000
  • 2nd offense resulting in injury: felony, 1 to 5 years in prison and a fine of $3,000 to $10,000  

Oklahoma alimony support

Why Experience the Fry & Elder Difference

With roots dating back to 1932, Fry & Elder has long epitomized Oklahoma legal excellence in family law, criminal law, and personal injury law. The firm and its attorneys have been the subject of 36 articles by various Oklahoma media outlets since 2014.

Although Fry is considered an elite Tulsa protective order defense attorney, the firm’s lineup of attorneys is are all well experienced. They include:

Among the many titles and accomplishments Fry & Elder trial lawyers have recently collected include the following:

If you think you have been the victim of a false or frivolous Oklahoma protective order, we encourage you to contact Fry & Elder as soon as possible to set up an immediate consultation with a proven Tulsa protective order defense attorney.

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Call 918.585.1107 to contact an attorney and schedule a consultation today.

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