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Dividing Retirement Plans Requires Skilled Divorce Attorney

It’s easy to think of “property” in terms of real estate, cars, furniture, and even bank accounts. But what about retirement plans? If you are going through or potentially will be going through a divorce, it is important to know that during divorce proceedings, all property accumulated during the marriage gets divided by the end of the process, either by agreement of the parties or after a trial.

Dividing retirement plans

Simply put: Dividing retirement plans can get complicated and tricky, and not all attorneys have the experience or desire to prepare a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), or other orders to divide retirement accounts. At Fry & Elder, our attorneys are happy to review your final decree and prepare your QDRO. Accomplished child support and family law attorney Amy Page recently completed an advanced family law seminar through the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and has provided some additional information you will want to know about dividing retirement plans.

The process and importance of dividing retirement plans

If your spouse or you worked during your marriage and contributed to a retirement or pension plan, your attorney will need to know some facts about those plans. Some questions to expect would be:

  • When and for how long did you or your spouse work for that employer?
  • Are you or your spouse still employed there?
  • What are the provisions of the plan regarding time periods for vesting?
  • Are there any outstanding loans against the plan?

Retirement plans can be valuable bargaining chips when negotiating a property settlement. There are certain tax advantages and ramifications based on how those assets are divided. Any property settlement that includes retirement benefits should fully explore the tax ramifications for the person paying or receiving retirement benefits as part of the agreement. It’s often advantageous for a party to give up other, more easily transferable assets and keep his or her retirement account intact. This is definitely a discussion to have with an experienced divorce attorney. If your case goes to trial, the tax treatment of divided retirement benefits can support your attorney’s theory of why the benefits should be awarded in a specific way.

Dividing retirement plans

Why the division of retirement benefits should include a QDRO

The final decree for a divorce including division of retirement benefits should include specific provisions about that retirement plan. It should provide for the time period of retirement benefits that accumulated during the marriage, as well as provide for how any gains or losses on the benefits will be handled in the time period between the final decree and the time the account is actually divided by the Plan Administrator. Finally, the decree should provide for the preparation and entry of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, or QDRO, which is an order that tells the Plan Administrator to divide the account according to the decree. The QDRO provision in the decree should include a plan for who is going to prepare the QDRO and who will pay the expenses involved with the Plan Administrator’s review of the QDRO.

Dividing retirement plans can be especially complicated in cases where the retirement plan is provided by a state agency or the federal government or military. Special documents and language are required that meet the agency’s requirements. For military retirement benefits, a Military Retired Pay Division Order must be completed, filed in the trial court, and forwarded to the appropriate authorities. Similarly, to divide a federal employee retirement account (FERS), a Court Order Acceptable for Processing is required.

Experience the Fry & Elder Difference

For nearly 50 years, Fry & Elder has been a name synonymous with Oklahoma family law. The firm has been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s exclusive Best Law Firms list from 2014-2017 Our team of attorneys are some of the most decorated in the state and include:

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to discuss dividing retirement plans with Amy Page or another accomplished Oklahoma family law attorney.

Collaborative Law Provides Family and Civil Dispute Options

Not every family or civil dispute needs to find its way into the litigation stage. Fry & Elder attorney Melissa Fell is setting out to prove this to be the case. The experienced Tulsa family law attorney recently attended the mandatory 2-day Collaborative Law training for the International Academy of Collaborative Lawyers in Chicago Illinois.  This training, along with her previous certification in Family and Divorce Mediation, now qualifies her to start practicing in this growing field of conflict resolution.

Collaborative Law

“I am very excited to bring this new family law practice area to Fry & Elder,” Fell said. “We now have the ability to offer our family law and other clients additional options when it comes to representing them in family and civil disputes.  One of my greatest strengths is the ability to negotiate difficult disputes, often helping our clients find creative or “out of the box” solutions that they may not have thought of before. This utilizes the skill sets I have attained from my training as a Certified Mediator as well as those I have developed as a Certified Life Coach.”

Collaborative Law Defined

Collaborative Law allows the clients to resolve conflicts without having to go into the courtroom.  It is designed to create an atmosphere of cooperation and teamwork.  Each party is represented by a trained collaborative law attorney, and issues are addressed in meetings between the parties and lawyers along with a collaboratively trained therapist, child specialist (if there are children involved) and financial expert.  The coaches act as neutrals on an as needed basis to guide and assist the parties in assembling and assimilating information to use throughout the problem-solving process.

“I found in my training, as I have in my litigation practice, that involving experts in their specific fields to create a team approach provides the best opportunity for an outcome that works for the parties, and the whole family unit,” Fell said.

Having mental health and financial coaches as a part of the process from the start neutralizes often strong emotions in ways that traditional litigation just cannot do.  The coach is there to redirect the parties during meetings to focus on their needs and interests so that they may come to a resolution that they can agree to.

Collaborative law

The Benefits of Collaborative Law

Collaborative Law is an ideal method for all types of cases, including those where the parties do not want their personal lives published in court documents online.  More and more people are finding that their personal information is used for fishing, or by people snooping into their private life.  With collaborative law, only the necessary documents are filed, and disputes between the parties and confidential information can be kept far more private than in traditional litigation.  The parties own the process and are able to make agreements that work for them and their families at their own pace.

“It gives ownership of the whole process and the outcome to the parties,” Fell said. “I have spent a great deal of time getting to know some of the collaborative professionals in our area, and I am convinced that the professionals in this group are all as invested as I am to revolutionize the practice of law.”

Another important benefit is the potential for cost savings to the parties.  By directly involving the coaches in the process from the beginning, issues are processed by the team members and the parties on a more timely basis than waiting for the court process and experts to be appointed, as well as the parties being able to share in the cost of the services that the experts provide.

The most important aspect of collaborative law is the impact that it has on the parties and their families and loved ones.  By focusing the process on mutual cooperation to find agreements, participants are far less likely to involve their children or to feel the stress of the process when drawn out through combative litigation.

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a consultation with Melissa Fell and find out more about how Collaborative Law can be the right choice for you at Fry & Elder.

Multilingual Legal Staff Showcases Fry & Elder’s Diversity

Fry & Elder intern Danya Mahjoub did not enter the University of Tulsa with aspirations of becoming an attorney. Instead, she wanted to become a doctor and received a B.S. from TU in biology. Somewhere along the way, however, Mahjoub had a change of heart and decided law school was in her future and is now a final-year TU Law student.

Multilingual legal staff

“I wanted to be a doctor, but my brother went to law school at TU and that interested me,” said Mahjoub a Jenks High School graduate. “I knew I wanted to help people, and Asylum Law and Procedure appealed to me.”

Fast forward a few years later and Mahjoub now finds herself working on Fry & Elder trial lawyer Lorena Rivas’ highly-regarded immigration law team where she is putting her fluent German and Arabic speaking skills to good use. She recently began assisting the firm on a new Syrian refugee case.

“Our client came to us through Mr. (Robert G) Fry and is part of a minority group in Syria,” Mahjoub said. “The case is more religious than political, which some might find a bit surprising. Asylum cases from Syria really began to interest me when I began law school. My mom is German and my dad is Syrian. We grew up speaking both languages at home and then learned English in school.”

Though possessed with a unique-skill set, Mahjoub is far from the only member of the Fry & Elder staff to be multilingual.

Fry & Elder attorneys Ruth Calvillo and Rivas, along with personnel Rosie Renteria, Esther Icu, Stephanie Garay and Amy Figueroa each speak Spanish. Fellow Fry & Elder intern Elissa Stiles speaks Portuguese, while Mahjoub possesses the unique double of being able to speak German and Arabic.

“The ability to communicate effectively with clients and in court has always been a vital skill attorneys and legal personnel need to possess,” Rivas said. “As our world becomes more interconnected and immigration law services become in greater demand, having a well-rounded, multilingual legal staff is becoming more and more paramount. Fry & Elder is a firm that has always sought to grow and diversify its ability to help clients. The number of people who are multilingual here is a direct sign of the firm embracing that culture and movement forward.”

Oklahoma immigration law attorney

Whether it be family law, immigration law or criminal law issues, Fry & Elder has advocated and helped clients throughout the United States and the world – much of that is due to the firm’s diversity and its staff’s ability to speak multiple languages.

The acclaimed Oklahoma law firm has experienced significant growth in the past two years, as evidenced by the firm opening offices in Oklahoma City and growing its roster of trial lawyers from five to 13. Though primarily known for its highly-regarded family law services, the firm also offers immigration law, criminal law and personal injury legal services throughout Oklahoma.

Fry & Elder has made the U.S. News & World Report’s exclusive Best Law Firms list from 2014-2017 and features some of the most decorated attorneys in the state. They include:

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a personal consultation with a proven Oklahoma trial lawyer.

 

Rivas Attends Hispanic National Bar Association Latina Leadership Academy

No matter the venue or platform, Fry & Elder immigration law attorney Lorena Rivas embraces the opportunity to passionately fight and advocate for immigrants’ rights. With that in mind, it was not at all surprising that the esteemed and experienced immigration law attorney was in Kansas City Wednesday for the 2017 HNBA (Hispanic National Bar Association) Latina Leadership Academy.

Experienced Immigration Law Attorney

The day-long seminar could not have a come at a more crucial or compelling time for Rivas and other immigration law attorneys following President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of his intention to eliminate DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) – a program which sought to shield young undocumented immigrants from deportation.

“His proposal is obviously something that potentially could have a major life-changing impact on a number of people,” Rivas said. “It was definitely a big talking point among the participants at this year’s Leadership Academy, as were many other things which are presently going on in immigration law. Immigrants need a voice now more than ever.”

Rivas has effectively been a voice many immigrants have relied upon throughout her accomplished legal career. She attended the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s National Day of Action in Washington D.C. earlier this year in which she met with a number of high-ranking Oklahoma politicians and had personal meeting with U.S. Representative Tom Cole to advocate for necessary reforms to America’s immigration system and to prevent policies that would hurt Oklahoma like mass deportations.

Rivas followed up her appearance in Capital Hill at the Tulsa County Bar Association’s 27th Annual Free CLE Seminar in April. She was one of the featured speakers and her presentation titled: “Mythbusters: Dispelling the Myths in Immigration Law” was well attended.

Wednesday in Kansas City, Rivas attended two different breakout sessions – one of which was a leadership program that provided insight on some of the major issues Latina and immigration law attorneys encounter.

The experienced immigration law attorney is just one of many Fry & Elder trial lawyers who actively seeks out professional development, leadership and CLE opportunities. Fry & Elder partner and accomplished trial attorney Aaron D. Bundy attended an advanced deposition skills training seminar this past August in Kansas City. Attorneys from the prestigious firm have also traveled to the following locales for leadership and professional development opportunities this year alone:

Oklahoma immigration law attorney

A Committed and Experienced Immigration Law Attorney

Rivas and her immigration law staff at Fry & Elder, which also includes firm attorney Ruth Calvillo, continue to advocate and fight for those affected by immigration law in Oklahoma and throughout the Southwestern part of the U.S., as well as in other pockets of the world. Rivas provides litigation and legal services in all of the following realms of immigration law:

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a personal consultation with Rivas or another accomplished Oklahoma trial lawyer.

Oklahoma Child Support Lawyer Page Attends AAML Program

Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. gained additional company when fellow Fry & Elder partner M. Shane Henry joined him as a 2018 Best Lawyers® Selection earlier this month. The acclaimed Tulsa divorce lawyer may one day soon gain another Fry & Elder attorney in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers™, as Oklahoma Child support lawyer Amy Page took a necessary step toward acquiring membership in the elite organization after completing the AAML 2017 Institute for Family Law Associates in Chicago this past June.

Oklahoma child support lawyer

The prestigious legal organization’s mission is “promoting membership excellent in the practice of family law.” Fry is one of only 19 members of the AAML in the state of Oklahoma.

“It was an honor to attend this program,” Page said. “It certainly was not a beginner program. It covered advance family law issues, especially financial and property issues. Some of the program’s courses included preparing a QDRO and other instruments to divide retirement assets, deciphering tax returns, business valuation methods and principles and same sex issues in custody cases.”

The AAML program and its courses were designed to train associates to begin handling complex family law litigation in conjunction with the AAML fellow in their firm.

Oklahoma Child Support Lawyer Amy Page has Extensive State Agency Experience

While Page is less than six months into her tenure at Fry & Elder, she is a highly-regarded and experienced Oklahoma child support lawyer and has enhanced the firm’s appellate-litigation and child-support enforcement practices.

Before arriving at Fry & Elder in March of 2017, Page spent 17 years with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS). She stated in a May, 2017 Tulsa Business & Legal News article, which spotlighted her Fry & Elder arrival, that her reasoning to join a private practice was because of the following:

“I liked the sense of teamwork and the desire to continue learning about the law. I also felt that I would have someone to go to if I needed advice. I bring a wealth of knowledge of child support law and how to work with state agencies to the firm. Most of all, I like being part of a family that will take care of you.”

In addition to completing the esteemed AAML Institute for Law Associates, Page was named the 2009 Outstanding Family Law Attorney by the OBA Family Law Section and also received the 2014 and 2016 Chair Award by the OBA Family Law Section.

She falls in line with a long list of Fry & Elder attorneys who actively seek out CLE and professional development opportunities. Fry & Elder trial lawyers have traveled to London, Atlanta, New Orleans, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Fort Lauderdale and Miami for CLE and professional developments conferences and seminars this year.

Oklahoma child support lawyer

Why Experience the Fry & Elder Difference?

Page is one of many elite family law attorneys at Fry & Elder – an arena of law which the firm has excelled in for nearly 50 years. The firm has been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firm’s list from 2014-2017. The firm’s vaunted lineup of attorneys includes:

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a consultation with Page or another accomplished Oklahoma family law attorney.

Acclaimed Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Present To Rogers County Bar

Fry & Elder partners Aaron D. Bundy and M. Shane Henry have cultivated numerous professional relationships with various Oklahoma County Bar Associations over the years. The Rogers County Bar Association is one of those organizations. The two acclaimed Oklahoma trial lawyers presented last week at the Rogers County Bar Association’s annual August meeting.

Acclaimed Oklahoma trial lawyers

“They have us a back every year, and we really appreciate the opportunity,” Bundy said. “They just have a lot of great lawyers in Rogers County, and it’s an honor for us to be able to work with them and learn from them while representing Fry & Elder.”

Bundy and Henry’s presentation for the Rogers County Bar Association was titled “Connecting in the Courtroom,” which examines ways in which trial lawyers can better establish deeper connections between themselves and their clients with the court’s decision makers – judges and juries.

The two AV-rated attorneys and Super Lawyers® Rising Stars™ wrote an article on their presentation topic that was featured in the October, 2016 issue of Tulsa Lawyer Magazine. Additionally, Bundy and Henry have developed quite a reputation and following for their informative, engaging and entertaining CLE (Continuing Legal Education) presentations.

Bundy and Henry presented last October at the Seminole County Bar Association’s 10th Annual Las Vegas CLE. The two acclaimed Oklahoma trial lawyers will be back in Las Vegas to present at the same event in September.

Judge Timothy Olsen said Bundy and Henry made quite an impression at last year’s event and is happy to have to two returning this year.

“I could tell that (Shane and Aaron) had spent many hours of preparation on their presentations,” Judge Olsen said. “As a trial attorney for 20 years prior to becoming judge, I attended many trial practice seminars. I can honestly say that Shane and Aaron’s presentation was one of the best I have seen. (Fry & Elder) should be proud. And, more importantly, they seem like very fine young men.”

August has been a big month for Henry, who is licensed to practice in both Oklahoma and Texas. He joined Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. as the firm’s second attorney to be listed by Best Lawyers®.  Fry & Elder has established itself as an elite Oklahoma law firm as evidenced by its selection to the U.S. News & World Report’s prestigious Best Law Firms list from 2014-2017. The firm’s powerful lineup of attorneys includes:

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a consultation with Bundy, Henry or another acclaimed Oklahoma trial lawyer.

Fry & Elder Immigration Law Attorney Calvillo Gives Back, Issues Challenge

The opportunity to give back has always been the driving force behind Ruth Calvillo’s decision to get into law. Thursday afternoon at her alma mater, the University of Tulsa College of Law, the Fry & Elder immigration law attorney continued to give back and issued a challenge directly to TU’s incoming class of law students.

Fry & Elder immigration law attorney

“I shared with the students how my own background and upbringing had led me to want to pursue a career and field of work where I could provide people and children with access to justice,” Calvillo said. “I explained to the students how lucky and privileged they were to attend an institution like TU law; that their upcoming years at TU law would give them a wonderful education and life-long memories and, thus, they had a duty to give back to the community where TU is located.

“I challenged those students to give at least an hour a week of their time to the surrounding community whether it’s in a legal capacity or otherwise.”

Less than six months into her tenure at Fry & Elder, Calvillo has only strengthened what already was a proven and highly-decorated staff of attorneys. Not only is she licensed to practice in both Oklahoma and California, Calvillo was accepted earlier this month into the Oklahoma Bar Association Leadership Academy shortly after completing the OBA FLS Trial Advocacy Institute.

“We are extremely proud of Ruth and all that she has accomplished here in a short time,” Fry & Elder partner M. Shane Henry said. “Immigration law is a rapidly growing practice area of ours, and she is really doing great work for her clients and us.”

Fry & Elder immigration law attorney

Fry & Elder Immigration Law Attorney has a Powerful Story

Calvillo was exposed to a lot as a first-generation American growing up in Los Angeles. She realized at a young age that immigrants were in need of a voice who would advocate and fight for them, especially sexual assault and domestic violence victims.

“I grew up in a low-income community so for me to have the ability to be able to give back is something that I feel very passionate about,” Calvillo said. “I know how important it is for immigrants to have an advocate – someone who will fight for them. I am very passionate about working with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. It is important to empower these people and show them that they don’t have to stay in an abusive relationship.”

Calvillo, along with her mentor and fellow Fry & Elder immigration law attorney Lorena Rivas, are continually advocating for immigrants throughout Oklahoma and the Southwestern part of the United States. She left law school students at TU with this powerful and compelling example of the type of clients Fry & Elder immigration law attorneys fight for on a day-to-day basis.

“I talked about how even though I was now at a private law firm, I was fortunate enough to work for a supervisor who also believes in helping others who most need it,” Calvillo said. “Because of that, we (Lorena and I) currently represent four siblings who are in DHS custody. My work as an immigration law attorney has been humbling, challenging and incredibly rewarding.”

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a consultation with Calvillo, Rivas or another accomplished Oklahoma trial lawyer.

Fry, Henry Selected to Elite Best Lawyers List by Esteemed Publication

Best Lawyers® unveiled its highly-anticipated 24th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© on Aug. 15, 2017, and for the first time in firm history the acclaimed Oklahoma law firm of Fry & Elder had two of its trial lawyers listed. Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. was selected for his prowess in family law for an eighth consecutive year, while fellow firm partner M. Shane Henry was selected for the first time for his excellence in family law and family mediation.

2018 Best Lawyers M. Shane Henry and Robert G "Hap" Fry Jr.

The listings are significant for numerous reasons: First and foremost because Best Lawyers® is considered to be the “oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession.” Those attorneys selected by Best Lawyers® go through an intense peer review process in which fellow attorneys confidentially evaluate their colleagues.

As Best Lawyers® states on its website, “if the votes for an attorney are positive enough for recognition in Best Lawyers, that attorney must maintain those votes in subsequent polls to remain in each edition. Lawyers are not permitted to pay any fee to participate in or be recognized by Best Lawyers®.”

“I am very honored to be selected by Best Lawyers,” Henry said. “This award is recognition of the achievements, accomplishments and talent of our entire team here at Fry & Elder.  Each day, I get to work with true professionals that constantly strive to improve as trial lawyers and advocates for our clients. We are a team here at Fry & Elder.”

Best Lawyers M. Shane Henry

That philosophy has served Henry and Fry & Elder well over the years. The iconic Oklahoma law firm has experienced unprecedented growth and expansion since he joined Fry & Elder in 2010, growing from three attorneys in 2010 to its current lineup of 14 full-time practicing trial lawyers.

Henry also is largely responsible for Fry & Elder opening Oklahoma City offices earlier this year and expanding its legal practice areas into immigration law, criminal law and personal injury law.

That said Fry & Elder’s calling card remains family law, including divorce and child custody, and Henry has reinforced this notion over the years. He was named the 2016 Family Law Attorney of the Year by the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section and is one of three Fry & Elder trial lawyers to serve as the Chair of the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section in the past four years.

Additionally, Henry is an AV-rated trial lawyer and has been named to Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list the past four years.

“Best Lawyers is a very big deal,” fellow Fry & Elder partner Aaron D. Bundy said. “This is big for Shane and the firm. It’s certainly well deserved. He works as hard as any attorney out there.”

Best Lawyers Robert G "Hap" Fry Jr.

While Henry embodies Fry & Elder’s continued excellence in family law, Fry Jr. defines it. He is considered by many to be the Best Tulsa Divorce lawyer, and he has the credentials to back that claim up.

Fry was named the Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Tulsa 2016 and is one of only 19 attorneys in the state to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. His eighth consecutive Best Lawyers’ listing also concludes what can only be described as a memorable and remarkable summer for the long-time trial lawyer.

Fry joined the likes of John Wayne Brad Pitt, David Letterman and a host of other well-known celebrities, professionals and athletes when he was given the Significant Sig Award by the Sigma Chi Fraternity this past June.

“It’s been a very enjoyable and memorable year,” said Fry, who is nearing his 50th year of practicing law, but still going strong. “Honors like these are greatly appreciated and are never taken for granted. A Best Lawyers listing is significant because it is how your professional peers view you as an attorney. It is a tremendous compliment, and it is very satisfying to have Shane make Best Lawyers. I anticipate that there will be other Fry & Elder attorneys on the list in the very near future. Our firm is in great, great shape.”

With Fry and Henry leading the way, Fry & Elder has made the U.S. News & World Report’s elite Best Law Firms list from 2014-2017 and is in prime position to make the list for a fifth consecutive year. The list will be unveiled on Nov. 1.

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City to set up a personal consultation with Fry, Henry or another experienced Oklahoma trial lawyer.

Calvillo Accepted into Oklahoma Bar Association Leadership Academy

When Ruth Calvillo joined Fry & Elder in the spring of 2017, the Tulsa immigration law lawyer knew she would be expected to embrace the acclaimed Oklahoma law firm’s practice of its attorneys seeking out continuing legal education (CLE), professional development and leadership opportunities.

Calvillo has exceeded expectations thus far. The up-and-coming Tulsa immigration law lawyer recently completed the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section Trial Advocacy Institute (OBA FLS TIA) and was one of approximately 25 attorneys in the state to be selected to the 6th Oklahoma Bar Association Leadership Academy which begins in September and runs through April of 2018.

“I feel honored to have been selected to the Oklahoma Bar Association Leadership Academy,” Calvillo said. “I am looking forward to learning from other leaders in the profession as well as attorneys in my class. I hope to learn skills that will allow me to be a role model to law students and other young lawyers.”

Calvillo follows in the footsteps of other Fry & Elder trial lawyers Lorena Rivas (Immigration Law) and T. Luke Barteaux (Family Law and Criminal Law) who completed the Oklahoma Bar Association Leadership Academy in 2014 and 2016.

Oklahoma Bar Association Leadership Academy

“I’m very proud of Ruth and her efforts,” said Rivas, who works directly with Calvillo in the firm’s immigration law department. “It’s a pretty competitive selection process, but it’s a great opportunity and I know she will take a lot away from it.”

In addressing the benefit and value of taking part in the OBA Leadership Academy, the Oklahoma Bar Association said the following on its website:

“The personal and profession benefit you will derive through this unique experience will be immeasurable. You will meet and interact with bar leaders and some of the most accomplished legal and community leaders. You will also be exposed to the legislative and judicial systems; you will interact with high-level state and local officials and judges and meet many attorneys from the private and public sectors.”

Calvillo, who is licensed to practice law in both Oklahoma and California, focuses much of her immigration law practice on advocating for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Why Experience the Fry & Elder Difference?

Whether you are in need of an accomplished Tulsa immigration law lawyer, a family law attorney, criminal defense attorney or personal injury law attorney, Fry & Elder has the team in place to help navigate you through the legal process. The firm has been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s exclusive Best Law Firms list from 2014-2017. Fry & Elder’s team of 13 attorneys also include:

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a personal consultation with Calvillo or another experienced Oklahoma trial lawyer.

Melissa Fell Takes Fry & Elder Name Across International Waters

The acclaimed Oklahoma law firm of Fry & Elder successfully navigated its way through international waters this summer after firm attorney Melissa Fell crossed the Atlantic to visit the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in London.

Melissa Fell

Fell, who has been with Fry & Elder since 2015, is a Hudson-Hall-Wheaton American Inn of Court member which enabled her access to the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. Accompanied by her son Tobin, Fell met with the esteemed Barrister Dr. Giuseppe Calá during her tour. The meeting opens the door for Fry & Elder to better operate and advocate for clients on the international level.

“It was a great experience and opportunity,” Fell said. The contact with Dr. Calá forges a new international relationship for our firm so we have resources beyond our borders to assist clients should the need arise.  We are a resource for international child custody, adoption, guardianship and other family law matters that clients may need.

“While our world becomes increasingly smaller through advanced communication ability through internet and email, nothing can replace the connections that are made by personally visiting with others in distant locations and building relationships with those beyond our borders.  We can always benefit from exposure to other systems, cultures and ways of approaching our profession.  I look forward to building on my new relationships and not only learning more about the legal systems abroad but also making myself available to other members of our profession, as well as clients, from other countries, as well.”

Fell’s meeting with Dr. Cala and visit of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple was spotlighted in an article written by Tulsa County District Judge Caroline Wall, who also serves as the President for Tulsa’s Hudson-Hall-Wheaton Chapter of the American Inn of Court.

The Hudson-Hall-Wheaton official website defines the American Inns of Court as:

“An association of lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals from all levels and backgrounds who share a passion for professional excellence. Through regular meetings, members are able to build and strengthen professional relationships; discuss fundamental concerns about professionalism and pressing legal issues of the day; share experiences and advice; exhort the utmost passion and dedication for the law; provide mentoring opportunities; and advance the highest levels of integrity, ethics, and civility.”

Melissa Fell

The experienced Tulsa family law attorney credited her childhood friend Wall for introducing her to the American Inns of Court and insisting that she join the Hudson-Hall-Wheaton Chapter.

“She made a special effort at the recent leadership summit she attended in Boston to reach out to the appropriate person in the organization to help me make the arrangements for my visit,” Fell said. “Her efforts made my visit not only possible but ensured that I was treated as an honored guest at lunch at the Middle Temple.  My son Tobin and I were escorted into the magnificent main dining hall of the Temple, and for a moment I felt as if I had entered the setting of the Harry Potter movies.  But I soon realized that this was in fact the real deal and where movies and fiction gather their inspiration from.”

That a Fry & Elder attorney took part in an international professional development and continuing legal education opportunity should come as no surprise. Perhaps no other Oklahoma firm embraces CLE and professional development opportunities like Fry & Elder.

In the past nine months alone, Fry & Elder trial lawyers have traveled to Las Vegas, New Orleans, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miami and now London for CLE conferences and seminars

“Our firm and its attorneys realize the importance continuing legal education and gaining different insight and perspectives,” Fell said. “It’s one of the most dynamic aspects about working at Fry & Elder and alongside so many great and committed attorneys.”

Fell concluded her experience at the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in London saying this:

“The history of the Inn is ever present in the armorial shields hanging on the walls to the exquisite stained-glass windows. Just for context on how historic the Middle Temple is, the hallowed hall was the site of the first performance of The Twelfth Night on February 2, 1601 by Shakespeare’s own company. It has seen centuries of famous members of the legal profession pass through its halls.  Five members signed the Declaration of Independence and seven signed the United States Constitution.  We have much to be grateful for to the members of The Middle Temple.”

Why Experience the Fry & Elder Difference?

For over 50 years, Fry & Elder has been synonymous with Oklahoma family law excellence. The firm has been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s prestigious Best Law Firm’s list from 2014-2017. In addition to family law, Fry & Elder also offers immigration law, criminal law and personal injury legal services. Fry & Elder’s lineup of decorated attorneys include:

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a personal consultation with Melissa Fell or another acclaimed Oklahoma trial lawyer.

 

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