News Blog - Fry & Elder

May 29

Rivas Leaving Fry & Elder to Launch Firm in Kendall Whittier

When Lorena Rivas first arrived at Fry & Elder in the fall of 2015, longtime divorce and child custody attorney Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. quickly figured out that the young immigration lawyer would do great things at the firm.

“Lorena came right in and just put her nose to the grindstone,” Fry said. “I could tell right away that she had a tremendous work ethic, and she’s grown into a top-flight attorney in her field of immigration law. I could not be prouder of her.”

Of course, Fry is also a bit sad today.

Rivas, along with fellow attorneys and law school classmates Mary McMillen and Sara Schmook are leaving Fry & Elder to launch a firm in Tulsa’s diverse Kendall Whittier neighborhood on June 1. Immigration attorney Elissa Stiles will also join Rivas’ team.

“Today (is) bittersweet for me,” Rivas said on a recent social media post. “About 5 years ago, I joined the law firm of Fry & Elder. I was still a baby attorney then and was still getting my bearings set and ducks in order. During these last few years, I have been blessed and honored to be a part of Mr. Fry’s team.

“I have learned quite a bit from this man, from how to run a law firm to how to move past bumps in the legal profession to how to dance to a waltz. While I’m excited for what my future will hold in Kendall Whittier, I sure am going to miss the comfort of being at Fry & Elder. I’m glad I will still be able to count on Mr. Fry as my mentor and friend.”

The feelings are mutual.

Fry said his door at 1630 S. Main Street will always be open for any questions Rivas may have down the road and that he is looking forward to visiting her new office digs in Kendall Whittier and hopefully enjoying some street tacos for lunch with her staff.

“As difficult as it for me to see her go, it’s an excellent opportunity for Lorena,” Fry said. “She’s going to do great. Though we were only together for about five years, we really became close and we went through a lot of things together. She’s a throwback in many ways which I can appreciate. I never had a formal, written contract with her because her word was always her bond and that’s always impressed the hell out of me.”

Rivas literally blossomed into a superstar immigration attorney at Fry & Elder.

She’s been named to Super Lawyers® Rising Stars the past three years and has been the recipient of many local and national accolades.

One of Rivas’ most notable achievements came in 2018 when she won the Fern Holland Award which is awarded to a lawyer who advocates for human rights or the empowerment of women.

Rivas also delivered a riveting speech in 2019 at the American Heritage Awards in Orlando with her speech titled “This is America,” to close out the gala.

The highly-sought after immigration attorney has also traveled to Washington D.C. multiple times to meet with state and national legislators to discuss and advocate for immigration law reform.

As prominent as Rivas has been on the national stage, she has never lost site of her Oklahoma roots. Rivas’ Oklahoma allegiance was on full display in 2017 when she delivered an emotional speech at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Pre-Law Society Meeting.

Rivas discussed her upbringing in tiny Mutual, Oklahoma and what inspired her to become an immigration attorney. Her father being injured on an Oklahoma oil field when she was 4.

“We were a low-income family, but I remember who came to the rescue for (my parents) and it was an attorney,” said Rivas, a first-generation Mexican-American. “Somebody who took up their case, fought for them and got us some funds. Did we get a lot? No, probably not … But it was something to keep us going and allowed us to keep our house, keep food on the table and keep us dreaming. That is (when) I got my first taste of what an attorney is and how important they are to people.

“After seeing the importance of a lawyer, I knew I wanted to be somebody that important to somebody in their life and help them out.”

Fast forward some 25 years later and Rivas has become just that – someone who plays a very important role for many seeking immigration relief first at Fry & Elder and now at Kendall Whittier.

Best of luck Lorena Rivas!

May 27

Case Log Jam Forges Need for Experienced Tulsa Family Lawyer

By all accounts, James Morton is a seasoned and accomplished Tulsa family lawyer.

The Fry & Elder attorney has been practicing family law and domestic cases inside Oklahoma courtrooms for over 30 years, yet Morton knows he’s about to enter uncharted waters.

“It’s going to be different than anything I’ve ever seen,” Morton said. “It’s going to be a mess; it’s going to be like mining through a landfill.”

The mess Morton is referring to is the amount of backed-up cases – many of which involve child custody issues and protective orders – still awaiting a turn in front of a judge inside the Tulsa County Courthouse after the Coronavirus pandemic shut down the courthouse for nearly six weeks.

Though the Tulsa County Courthouse reopened its doors May 18, many safety precautions are now in place which has limited the number of people allowed inside a courtroom to no more than 10 and subsequently has caused a tremendous case log jam.

The climate is vastly different than the days when over 4,000 visitors would regularly enter the Tulsa County Courthouse before the Coronavirus pandemic struck as reported by the Tulsa World.

James Morton

“Safety definitely needs to come first,” Morton said. “But there also are a number of clients in some volatile and stressful situations they need resolved as soon as possible, making it all the more important that they have an experienced attorney advocating for them.”

Better days appear to be on the horizon.

The Tulsa District County Courthouse reported on its website that the Family Safety Center will open June 1 and will be able to then assist petitioners in complete Emergency Protective Orders. Read the full administrative order here from the Tulsa District County Courthouse.

Why You Need an Accomplished Tulsa Family Lawyer now more than ever

Because so many cases have been backed up, Morton believes there will be a very high number of status conferences in the upcoming weeks and months.

The purpose of these status conferences will be to reacquaint the judge and attorneys with the dynamics of various, specific cases. The hopeful result would be a request for a pre-trial or trial date.

“If you don’t have attorney, things could very easily fall through the cracks,” longtime Fry & Elder paralegal Judy Willits said. “If you have a pending domestic legal situation, it’s important that you not only have an attorney but one who is experienced in navigating through the court system.”

Few firms have more history or are more synonymous with Tulsa family law excellence than Fry & Elder.

The firm’s roots go all the way back to 1932 when C. Lawrence Elder began trying and wining cases in Oklahoma courtrooms.

The firm continues to be recognized as an industry leader in family law, having been selected to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms List every year since 2014.

Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. has been recognized by Best Lawyers® the past 10 years and has been named to Super Lawyers® every year since 2007.

Additionally, Fry is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is a Martindale-Hubble AV Preeminent Rated attorney.

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a seasoned and accomplished Tulsa family lawyer.

May 20

Co-Parenting During Coronavirus Poses Unique Challenges

Even without a world-wide pandemic, co-parenting is no easy task for many divorced and separated parents. Add the Coronavirus pandemic to the mix, and its easy to why co-parenting issues have become compounded and strained during these unforeseen and stressful times. The Tulsa family law firm of Fry & Elder recognizes and understands the difficulties co-parenting during Coronavirus has not only brought on many parents but also children living in Tulsa county.

The nationally recognized firm encourages that those co-parenting during Coronavirus to first and foremost keep the child’s best interests in mind and be open and honest with their communication efforts to their ex.

“I think one of the biggest issues we have been hearing about from current and prospective clients is the issue of social distancing,” said Robert G ‘Hap’ Fry Jr. “One parent will see things one way and the other a different way in regards to social distancing parameters and protocol. No question, these are stressful times for all parties involved which makes it even more important that parents give their children love and attention during these times.

“We really have been encouraging parents to try their best to put aside their differences and come up with an arrangement that not only best protects their child physically but also emotionally.”

Co-Parenting During Coronavirus: Communication is Key

Consistent and considerate communication plays a key role in any co-parenting situation. Parents are not going to see eye-to-eye on everything involving Coronavirus, but they need to be open with their ex about what type of safety and social-distancing protocols they are promoting with their child.

While keeping open-communication lines is paramount for those co-parenting during Coronavirus, it is just as important to be flexible and reasonable with one another.

The ability to compromise or give and take a little during these stressful times is often the difference between positive and negative co-parenting experience.

Co-Parenting During Coronavirus: Take Necessary Action When Prompted

If you feel your child’s health and safety are at risk, it goes without saying that you need to speak up.

Though the best approach would be to work out a solution with your ex, sometimes this is not an option, particularly when your ex is being unreasonable and unresponsive.

In the event of this situation, it would be wise to seek consultation with an experienced Tulsa family law attorney.

There are options available, but because the Tulsa Courthouse only recently re-opened, cases and pleadings are backed up so it is important to quickly consult with an attorney, particularly if your are seeking a child custody modification or an emergency protective order.

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a proven and accomplished Tulsa family law attorney.

Apr 29

Rivas’ Front-Line Accounts of Immigration Law Spotlighted in TulsaPeople

Lorena Rivas

When it comes to immigration law issues in Oklahoma or elsewhere, few people are more qualified to speak on the topic than Lorena Rivas.

The decorated Tulsa immigration attorney weighed in on the controversial issue of immigration law in a recent feature story by TulsaPeople Magazine titled “One at a Time.”

Written by Connie Cronley, the March 2020 piece chronicled those working on the front lines of immigration law in Tulsa and the challenges they encounter on a day-to-day basis.

Rivas is nationally known for her prowess in immigration law and was prominently spotlighted in the article. She had this to say in regards to the current climate of immigration law and her front-line accounts of immigration law:

“It’s really hard to be an immigration attorney now, especially with deportation cases,” Rivas says. “There are very few happy endings.” Sometimes success means winning the client more time in this country to prepare to leave.”

The investigative piece also highlighted how approximately 80 percent of Rivas’ clients are Spanish speaking and hail from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Cuba, Venezuela and other South American countries.

One of Rivas’ clients the article focused on is a 35-year old mother of three – named “Marianna” in piece – who entered the United States 15 years ago as an asylum seeker.

Though all three of her children are U.S. citizens, Marianna was transported to an Oklahoma ICE detention center and “scheduled for deportation” after being involved in a South Tulsa traffic accident when authorities learned she did not have a driver’s license.

Although Rivas is attempting to reopen the case and Marianna has been released to take care of her children while her case is pending, the situation casts light on the frustration Rivas regularly faces as an in-demand immigration attorney.

“ICE is always present but more active now,” Rivas says. “This is a low point in American history.” The immigration system is broken, she says, “but taking hardline stances create more problems.”

The constant barrage of stress Rivas encounters led Cronley to ask Rivas why she continues to work in immigration law?

“I ask myself that, especially recently,” Rivas said. “But if I were to quit, there would be one less person on the front line. The unrepresented people in immigration court have a higher deportation rate. I would feel bad not helping them. I consider (myself) a public defender.”

An Accomplished Tulsa Immigration Law Attorney Second to None

Lorena Rivas’ accolades and accomplishments as an immigration lawyer are well documented. The decorated Oklahoma immigration attorney has been named a Super Lawyers® Rising Star each of the past two years and was recognized as the 2018 Fern Holland Award Winner – an honor annually given to a lawyer who advocates for human rights or the empowerment of women.

Considered by many to be an immigration law authority figure, 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.

Contact Lorena Rivas today to set up a personal consultation with an elite Tulsa immigration attorney.

Mar 19

Clients Encouraged to Utilize Digital Consultation Options

Since Fry & Elder first opened its doors in 1932 and began trying cases throughout Oklahoma courtrooms, the established Tulsa law firm has sought to implement innovative strategies to advocate for and support its clients during the most trying times.

As our country continues to navigate and respond to coronavirus (COVID-19), Fry & Elder wants its valued clients to know that the firm is fully to committed to its clientele and their health and safety.

The firm is taking appropriate safety precautions during these challenging days which includes enhanced hygiene, sanitation, social distancing and utilizing digital consultation platforms to hold private consultations.

Though the firm will continue to meet and consult with clients in a face-to-face office setting, Fry & Elder is available for confidential consultations and meetings using video-conferencing technology including FaceTime, Skype and Zoom. This would be the preferred method of conferencing as our country continues to promote social distancing in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19.

“Our job as attorneys is to seek solutions for our clients which aid and assist them,” Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. said. “Right now, there is a lot of unknown out there for all of us, and there are many who will feel more comfortable communicating digitally or by phone which we are more than happy to accommodate.

“Many of our clients are facing challenging situations, and we want our clients to be as comfortable as possible while always knowing that we are diligently working on their case.”

Fry & Elder has been selected to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms list every year since 2014. Those interested in scheduling a private digital consultation should contact Fry & Elder at 918-585-1107 or by clicking here and submitting a request through email.

Nov 21

Sara Schmook Selected to OBA Leadership Academy

The 2019-2020 Oklahoma Bar Association Leadership Academy was recently announced, and Fry & Elder is again well represented.

Sara Schmook

Firm attorney Sara Schmook was one of just five Tulsa attorneys selected and becomes the fourth attorney from Fry & Elder to participate in the OBA Leadership Academy since its inception.

She joins Fry & Elder’s Lorena Rivas (2014) and former firm attorneys Luke Barteaux (2016) and Ruth Calvillo (2018) as Academy participants.

“I’m very honored to be chosen to the 2019-2020 Oklahoma Bar Association Leadership Academy,” Sara Schmook said. “The chance to collaborate with some of the sharpest and most driven legal minds in the state is a great opportunity for me. I look forward to representing Fry & Elder.”

The OBA Leadership Academy began in 2008 and includes select attorneys throughout the state. This year’s class features 18 attorneys with 10 from Oklahoma City, the previously mentioned five from Tulsa and one attorney each from Broken Arrow, Guthrie and Stillwater.

“Building quality leaders is important,” said OBA President Chuck Chesnut of Miami. “Participation in this academy helps individuals enhance their knowledge and skills, giving them tools to be better lawyers and leaders, which benefits their communities and the legal profession.”

Fry & Elder’s Sara Schmook a Leader in and out of the Courtroom

When Sara Schmook joined Fry & Elder in March of 2019, she further bolstered the firm’s rich tradition of being an elite Tulsa family law firm.

As a licensed CPA in the Tulsa-metro area, Schmook brings a dynamic skill set to the firm, making her and excellent choice for those clients going through a high-asset divorce.

Her legal practice at Fry & Elder is also unique in that much of it is tailored to focus on specific Oklahoma legal financial services such as guardianships, probates, estate planning, business formations and applications to the IRS for 501 (c)(3) not for profit organization

Schmook’s practice areas include:

“I’m relatively new to Fry & Elder, but I have enjoyed my time here,” Sara Schmook said. “The professionalism at this firm is great, and everyone operates at a very high level. The expectations are very high here.”

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

Nov 7

Rivas All Set to Make Theatrical Debut in Don Juan Tenorio

Lorena Rivas is used to the spotlight as a high-profile and decorated Tulsa immigration attorney.

This year alone Rivas won the AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) Dreams Contest and delivered a riveting speech at the National Convention in Orlando. She also presented in Southern California and in Kansas City at notable legal conferences earlier in 2019.

Tonight, though, Rivas will perform on an entirely different stage.

The Fry & Elder partner will make her theatrical debut at The Living Arts of Tulsa when she plays the plays the role of Doña Ana in an adaptation of the famous play Don Juan Tenorio.

“I am very excited and a little nervous about tonight,” Rivas said. “I’ve never performed in a play of this stature before, but I am used to performing and being in front of crowds. When I was offered the role to play Doña Ana, I really thought this would be a great opportunity for me to meet another group of professionals and transfer many of the skills I use in the courtroom onto a different stage.”

Presented by telatúlsa and written and directed by Tara Moses, performances of the classic play will run through Nov. 16, with six shows slated for Nov. 7-9 and Nov. 14-16 at The Living Arts of Tulsa, located at 307 E Matthew B. Brady Street.

Moses, who also serves as the Artistic Director for telatúlsa, “has put a new spin on the classic tale,” which is celebrated in many countries around the world during Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

“We cannot in good faith produce a show that celebrates a man who has assaulted women and hurt people then was redeemed for it,” Moses said in a release produced by telatúlsa. “When we view the classic story with our modern eyes, we just see how harmful machismo culture is. Don Juan has presented the perfect opportunity to change the narrative, introduce accountability, and give agency to Doña Inés and Doña Ana.”

Rivas says the adaptation of classic stories like Don Juan Tenorio is good for humanity.

“It’s important that we continue to evolve as a society,” Rivas said. “That’s not to say that we should forget the past; we should embrace it, but we should continue to grow as humans. I think what Tara (Moses) is doing with Don Juan Tenorio is an excellent example of us continuing to grow and become better.”

Rivas a Sought-After Tulsa Immigration Attorney

If Rivas is able to replicate her legal prowess to the theater, she very well may be on her way to Broadway.

Rivas has already established herself as prominent Tulsa immigration attorney in a relatively short career. She is a two-time Super Lawyers® Rising Stars Selection, is the 2018 Fern Holland Award Winner and was part of the Leadership Tulsa Class 60.

Rivas provides comprehensive legal services in the following immigration law practice areas:

Asylum
Business Immigration
Citizenship/Naturalization
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Deportation/Removal Defense
Family Immigration
Fiancé Visa
Humanitarian Relief
Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Waivers

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

Nov 1

Top Oklahoma Law Firm Again Named to Best Law Firms List

With roots dating back to 1932, Fry & Elder has long been considered a top Oklahoma law firm. Nevertheless, it is always good to receive positive reinforcement.

The U.S. News & World Report further validated Fry & Elder as a top Oklahoma law firm when the prestigious publication unveiled its annual “Best Law Firms” List on Nov. 1.

That Fry & Elder was selected for inclusion in 2020 is not a surprise; The Tulsa-based law firm has now been selected each of the past seven years to the elite Best Law Firms List.

“It’s a tremendous honor to receive this accolade,” Fry & Elder partner James R. Elder said. “To receive this type of recognition from such credible publications as the U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® is a testament to the level of work we do for our clients and the expectations we have for ourselves as trial lawyers here at Fry & Elder.”

Fry & Elder received Tier 1 status for Family Law in Tulsa for the upcoming 2020 Best Law Firms edition.

Firms selected for inclusion go through a rigorous review process as noted by Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer in an official release.

“For the 2020 ‘Best Law Firms’ publication, the evaluation process has remained just as rigorous and discerning as it did when we first started ten years ago,” Greer said. “This year we reviewed 14,931 law firms throughout the United States – across 75 national practice areas – and a total of 2,106 firms received a national law firm ranking.

“We are proud that the ‘Best Law Firms’ rankings continue to act as an indicator of excellence throughout the legal industry.”

To be eligible for inclusion a firm must have at least one attorney who has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America©.

Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. more than fits the bill, as he was selected for a 10^th consecutive year to Best Lawyers® earlier this year. The honor Fry received only goes to the “top 5% of private practicing lawyers in the United States.”

“He’s been a practicing attorney for a number of years, but what really sets him apart from others is the level at which he operates,” Elder said of Fry. “It really is remarkable.”

Talented Team of Attorneys help Fry & Elder Standout as a Top Oklahoma Law Firm

In addition to Fry and Elder, the firm also bolsters one of Oklahoma’s top immigration attorneys in Lorena Rivas.

Rivas joined Fry & Elder in 2015 and has had a decorated career. She was named the 2018 Fern Holland Award Winner and is a two-time Super Lawyers® selection and has garnered numerous other honors during her career.

: Sara Schmook

: James Morton

: Mary McMillen

Fry & Elder attorneys James C. Morton, Sara Schmook and Mary McMillen each joined the firm in 2019 and bring an accomplished and committed legal skillset to the top Oklahoma law firm.

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

Oct 15

Oklahoma Immigration Attorney Rivas Gives Readers Inside Look

Lorena Rivas’ reputation as a prominent immigration attorney continues to grow. The Fry & Elder partner and standout Oklahoma immigration attorney recently penned an article which was featured in the Oklahoma 2019 Super Lawyers® Magazine.

Rivas’ article titled “The Front Line” documented her experiences this past May volunteering at the Karnes County Residential Center – a detention facility which houses women who are asylum applicants and were recently detained at the boarder.

Through the University of Tulsa College of Law immigration student section, Rivas supervised a group of 10 law students who teamed up with RAICES (a non-profit organization which seeks to help immigrants) to help asylum applicants with their credible fear interviews and declaration drafts.

The decorated Oklahoma immigration attorney compared the experience of volunteering at the Texas detention facility and working with applicants still being detained to being on “the front line,” stating that the work days spanned 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

Rivas had this to say about the eye-opening experience,

“I thought that, as an attorney, I’d be working 8 to 5, but this is non-stop work,” she said. “It’s very intense. It takes a heavy emotional toll. But what keeps me going are the wins – whether it’s gaining status for somebody, keeping somebody here, or getting them out of jail. What also keeps me going is the need.”

Accomplished Oklahoma Immigration Attorney Rivas in High Demand

Rivas’ featured article is the most recent installation to what has been an impressive work portfolio for Rivas this year and since joining Fry & Elder in 2015.

One month after volunteering at the Karnes County Residential Center, Rivas won the AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) Dreams Contest and delivered a riveting speech at the organization’s National Convention in June.

The decorated Oklahoma immigration attorney has been named a Super Lawyers® Rising Star each of the past two years and was recognized as the 2018 Fern Holland Award Winner – an honor annually given to a lawyer who advocates for human rights or the empowerment of women.

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.

Earlier this year, Rivas attended the 2019 American Immigration Lawyers Association Midwinter Conference in Indian Wells, California where she co-presented with well-known immigration law practitioner Kate Jastrom on the controversial immigration law decision “Matter of A-B-.”

Following the duo’s presentation, Jastrom said she was very impressed with Rivas.

“It was a tremendous pleasure presenting at the AILA conference with Lorena,” Jastrom said. “She’s clearly extremely knowledgeable about asylum law, and she made an excellent contribution to our AILA practice advisory, showing attorneys the concrete steps they need to take to effectively represent their clients.”

Rivas began her article in the Oklahoma 2019 Super Lawyers® Magazine by providing background into an event growing up involving her family which helped pave the way for her to pursue a career in immigration law.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have been given a variety of platforms to share my personal experiences and what it means to me to advocate for my clients as an immigration attorney,” Rivas said. “I am very appreciative of the opportunity Super Lawyers® provided me and hope to bring about more awareness and change to our current immigration law policies.”

Oklahoma Immigration Law Attorney Provides Comprehensive Immigration Law Services

Rivas, along with her talented staff at Fry & Elder, offer a diverse portfolio of immigration law services tailored to meet the individual needs of each clients.

Rivas services include:

To set up a personal consultation with Lorena Rivas, contact Fry & Elder today.

Aug 15

Best Lawyers® Tabs Leading Tulsa Family Law Attorney for 10th Consecutive Year

The email notification came through around 3 a.m., and Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr., despite having been less than one week removed from an intensive out-patient surgery, quickly assessed the situation and responded to the new potential client inquiry.

Though it took the prospective client a few hours to get back to Fry Jr. – very few can sustain Fry’s around the clock schedule – a connection was eventually made between the two parties and the decorated Tulsa family law trial attorney was promptly retained.

It’s a scene that’s played out numerous times throughout Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr.’s illustrious career which has spanned over 50 years and reinforced his commitment to legal excellence.

Best Lawyers® further validated Fry’s reputation as going above and beyond the call of duty when the leading legal publication and unveiled its 2020 listing of Best Lawyers on Aug. 15 and selected Fry for inclusion.

The selection marks the 10^th consecutive year Fry has been singled out by the national publication for his prominent work family law and domestic relations which include but are not limited to high-conflict, high-asset divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, modifications and protective orders.

“To be this highly thought of for 10 consecutive years is extremely significant; 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 Family Law Attorney has Longstanding Commitment to Excellence

Anyone who has worked an ample amount of time with Fry knows that he makes it a priority to respond to messages. It’s something he learned while clerking with Judge Robert D. Simms in 1966 and 1967 in continues to abide by to this day.

In addition to learning the importance of promptly returning phone calls to clients and colleagues, Fry also learned two other constants from Simms which has molded his illustrious career and which he shared in a 2016 Tulsa World article after being named the 2016 Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Oklahoma by Best Lawyers®.

As Oklahoma Hall of Fame journalist Ralph Schaefer wrote:

“Judge Simms told his young clerk to ‘always be prepared’ when you come into court, and ‘your word is your bond.’

“I deal with other lawyers every day and tell them what I am going to do,” Fry said. “I deal in trust and letters follow on the more complicated cases. Clients are told upfront that if an agreement is reached, they must follow through. If they don’t intend to do that, then they need to get another lawyer.”

The approach has worked without question for Fry. In addition to being a 10-time Best Lawyers® selection, the leading Tulsa family law attorney has been named to Super Lawyers® every year since 2007, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is a Martindale-Hubble AV Preeminent Rated attorney.

Fry’s practice focuses on all of the following Tulsa family law services:

To set up a personal consultation with a proven and responsive leading Tulsa family law attorney, contact Fry & Elder today.