News Blog - Fry & Elder Tulsa Law Firm

Oct 26

Robert G Fry Jr. Honored by Best Lawyers® of America for 13th Consecutive Year

With eight attorneys in place now, Fry & Elder continues to evolve as an in-demand, high-volume Tulsa law firm. The firm handles criminal law defense matters and one of its attorneys – Preston Bennett – recently won a school bullying case. Still, the prestigious Tulsa law firm has long been known for its excellence in family law thanks in large part to the efforts of Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr.

Fry has been synonymous with Tulsa family law excellence for over 50 years during what has been a remarkable legal career at Fry & Elder, and his notoriety and popularity both locally and nationally only continues to grow.

Best Lawyers® recently tabbed Fry for inclusion in its 2023 legal directory. This year’s selection marks the 13^th consecutive year that Robert G Fry Jr. has been selected, which exceeds that of many other family law attorneys in the Tulsa area.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have had a career which has given me longevity, and that I continue to be passionate about,” Robert G Fry Jr. said. “I really enjoy working and developing relationships with clients and helping develop and construct the best legal plan for them moving forward. To be honored by Best Lawyers® is an honor that I don’t take lightly. There are many excellent attorneys in this area. To continually be included in Best Lawyers® is flattering.”

Best Lawyers® 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.”

Fry’s passion for his work has been well-documented and has not gone unnoticed for some time. He was proactive in embracing and advancing the changes in child support guidelines in the 1980s, which drew national attention. He was interviewed on CBS The Early Showin a divorce series entitled, “What About the Kids?”

He has shepherded many attorneys over a spectacular career – three of whom have also gone on to become Fellows of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

“He’s a machine,” Fry & Elder managing attorney Simon Harwood said. “It’s really an honor to work with him and be under his tutelage. The fact that he continues to operate and work at such a high level after 50 years really speaks volumes about the passion he has for his clients and the legal process in general. I’ve learned quite a lot from him”

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with Robert G Fry Jr. or another knowledgeable and experienced Tulsa attorney.

Sep 27

Expungement of a Misdemeanor In Oklahoma Possible

Misdemeanors are the most common criminal charge for good reason. They encompass everything from property crimes, like theft and vandalism, to drug crimes, like marijuana possession or public intoxication. Even traffic violations are considered misdemeanor offenses, even though most people don’t even think of traffic offenses as actual crimes. Believe it or not, a speeding ticket is treated the same as domestic abuse.

Depending on the nature of the misdemeanor, they can present significant roadblocks particularly when applying for a number of jobs. For example, not matter how much experience you have, an employer will likely view you differently if your record contains a “resisting arrest” or “domestic abuse” or “assault and battery” arrest.

The good news though is that expungement of a misdemeanor in Oklahoma is possible from your record no matter what type of misdemeanor was committed or what the outcome was so long as you meet certain requirements.

The attorneys of Fry & Elder wish to help navigate you through the complicated process of having a misdemeanor expunged.

How do you know if you qualify to have a misdemeanor expunged in Oklahoma?

You may be eligible to get that misdemeanor erased from your record. If there are no other charges for a felony or misdemeanor pending against you and you have never in the past been convicted of said offenses, a misdemeanor on your record is eligible for expungement if:

All charges were dismissed against you;
You have successfully completed a deferred judgment and 1 year has passed since the misdemeanor charge was dismissed;
The fine for your conviction was less than Five Hundred One Dollars and you served no jail time;
5 years have passed since you served a prison term or suspended sentence; or
You received a fine exceeding Five Hundred Dollars for a misdemeanor conviction (22 O.S. § 18)

The expungement process can be complicated, but it is worth it. Hire a skilled expungement attorney to assure that you can get your misdemeanors sealed and removed. Just like it never happened!

What are the benefits of getting your record expunged?

The benefits are numerous. For starters, you can legally deny the arrest or charge ever happened. That means that when you are applying for a job, for university financial aid, for housing or for anything, you can legally deny in writing that you were ever arrested/charged/convicted.

Second, it is illegal for any of the above institutions to use expunged information against you.

Finally, getting your records expunged can allow you to reach your full potential. No longer will you have this thing holding you back.

The attorneys of Fry & Elder are here to help

Whether you are attempting to get an expungement of a misdemeanor in Oklahoma, or you are going through another legal issue, our nationally acclaimed law firm has the resources and attorneys in place to help creatively construct the best course of action to ensure you have the best opportunity for a successful outcome.

Aug 11

Tulsa Criminal Law Defense Also a Point of Emphasis at Fry & Elder

Although the name Fry & Elder has long been synonymous with family law excellence in the Tulsa area, the firm continues to grow and evolve. One spectrum of law the firm now emphasizes is Tulsa criminal law defense.

The firm features several attorneys with extensive experience in criminal law defense work, including James Caputo.

With a background in both law enforcement and as a judge, James Caputo brings a unique and dynamic skill set to Fry & Elder as a criminal law and family law attorney with the distinguished Tulsa law firm, which has been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms List every year since 2014.

“I have the unique ability to draw from years of law enforcement, judicial experience and general practice of law to evaluate your case and represent your best interests,” Caputo says. “The opportunity to utilize my diverse skill set here at Fry & Elder is very rewarding. The firm is highly-regarded throughout the state.”

Fry & Elder attorneys Simon Harwood, Preston Bennett and James Morton also have background in providing Tulsa criminal law defense services to their clients.

“Much of the time family law and criminal law intersect,” Morton said. “You really see this with protective orders. Although they are often warranted, they have now become frequently used as leverage by spouses in complex, high-asset divorces.”

Led by Robert G Fry Jr., Fry & Elder has a notable track record of successfully defending those falsely accused of a protective order.

The well-known Tulsa law firm is also able to provide Tulsa criminal law defense services against those charged with DUI, cyberbullying crimes and federal criminal charges.

“Family law is something we are always going to focus on here,” Fry & Elder managing attorney Simon Harwood said. “But we want to continue to grow as a firm and expand our areas of service. One area where we feel there is a large potential for growth is in criminal defense.”

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a proven Tulsa criminal law defense attorney.

Jun 14

Tulsa Family Law Excellence Reinforced With Honor

The name Fry & Elder continues to be synonymous with Tulsa family law excellence.

For a ninth consecutive year, Fry & Elder was named to the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Law Firms” List. The firm received Tier 1 Status for Family Law in Tulsa for 2022 to further reinforce Fry & Elder’s excellence in Tulsa family law.

“It is great to be recognized by such a prestigious publication,” Fry & Elder managing attorney Simon Harwood said. “To receive this accolade for now nine consecutive years says a lot about our reputation and commitment to helping clients.”

Much of the firm’s reputation has to do with the achievements of founding partner Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. The distinguished attorney was recognized by Best Lawyers® in its prestigious legal directory for a 12^th year in a row earlier in 2022.

“Very nice honor, but this firm is a lot bigger than any one person,” Fry Jr. said. “We have some very talented attorneys, and a very dedicated legal staff in place here. Our firm continues to grow and provide timely and personalized service to our clients.”

Fry & Elder now features a team of seven attorneys, providing legal services in Criminal Defense, Military Law, Real Estate Law and Appellate work in addition to Family Law.

That the firm continues to be recognized nationally by the U.S. News & World Report, along with Best Lawyers® annually speaks volumes.

Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer further emphasized the significance of being selected to the 2022 “Best Law Firms” List in a press release:

“For the 2022 ‘Best Law Firms’ publication, the evaluation process has remained just as rigorous and discerning as it did when we first started 11 years ago. This year we reviewed 15,587 law firms throughout the United States – across 75 national practice areas – and a total of 2,179 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.”

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a trusted and recognized Tulsa attorney.

May 24

Popular Tulsa Divorce and Child Custody Attorney Honored Again by Best Lawyers®

Robert G Fry Jr. is showing no signs of slowing down. Although the popular Tulsa divorce and child custody attorney no longer handles the day-to-day operations he once did at Fry & Elder, Robert G Fry Jr. continues to operate his legal practice at a very high level.

So high in fact, that the popular Tulsa divorce and child custody attorney was selected by Best Lawyers® for inclusion in its 2022 directory. This year’s selection marks the 12^th consecutive year that Fry Jr. has been selected, which exceeds that of many other family law attorneys in the Tulsa area.

Fry’s passion for his work has been well documented and has not gone unnoticed for some time. He was proactive in embracing and advancing the changes in child support guidelines in the 1980s, which drew national attention.

He was interviewed on CBS The Early Show in a divorce series entitled, “What About the Kids?”

Still, 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:

Even though this year’s selection marks the 12^th consecutive year Fry has been tabbed by Best Lawyers® for his family law prowess in the Tulsa area, Fry remains very thankful for honors such as these and doesn’t take anything for granted

“It’s a tremendous honor for me to be recognized by peers,” Fry said. “Best Lawyers® has such a good reputation in our legal industry, and deservedly so. They’ve done an excellent job of reporting on and evaluating our industry trends over the years.”

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a popular Tulsa divorce and child custody attorney.

Jan 13

Why A Post New Year’s Divorce May Be Beneficial

A New Year can lead to new hope and new beginnings. This notion holds particularly true for people who have been involved in a tumultuous relationship.

Compromise and a re-commitment of the relationship would be ideal in a perfect world. But as 2020 continually reinforced, life is not always ideal. Sometimes a permanent break is needed in which case divorce becomes a viable option.

Although January has been dubbed by many to be “Divorce Season” or “Divorce Month,” there is some merit to proceeding with the decision to move on and get a post New Year’s divorce from your spouse.

A Divorce can Provide a Fresh Start to New Year

The New Year provides people the opportunity to make resolutions – being a happier and better version of oneself is certainly one of best decisions one can make.

If you have continually been unhappy in your marriage, perhaps the best way to find happiness and solace within yourself may mean beginning the New Year with a blank slate. There is no shame in removing yourself from dysfunctional and unfulfilling marriage, particularly if you have been subject to narcissistic or abusive behavior.

A Post New Year’s Divorce Provides Some Financial and Emotional Incentives

There is no denying the fact that there is a cost associated with divorce – both emotionally and financially. The burden of the latter can often be softened by waiting until after the New Year to file.

Waiting until after the New Year to file for a divorce provides some financial incentives, particularly tax benefits. Not only will waiting until after the New Year allow you to avoid interferences with joint tax filings from the previous year, it also enables you the opportunity to file jointly one last time.

Emotionally, waiting until January or soon thereafter to file for a divorce also allows you the opportunity to get through what typically is an already stressful-holiday season. This especially holds true when children are involved.

Above all, waiting until the New Year or shortly thereafter allows one to make the decision of getting a divorce with a clear head and clean slate.

Consult with an Experienced Team of Tulsa Divorce Lawyers

Divorce is complicated and life-changing. The idea of ending a relationship which was supposed to be forever is both challenging and emotional and why you should not go through the process alone.

For over 50 years, the name Fry & Elder has been synonymous with Oklahoma family law excellence. The firm’s team of family law attorneys not only are some of most skilled and experienced in the Tulsa area, they are well-versed in managing divorces on all parts of the conflict spectrum. These include everything from simple dissolutions to high-conflict divorces.

Regardless of the scenario, Fry & Elder’s knowledgeable and talented team of attorneys will meticulously analyze your case and develop unique solutions tailored to fit your individual needs.

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

Jan 6

Dealing with Borderline Personality Disorders in Family Court

With over 50 years of experience practicing family law in various Northeastern Oklahoma courtrooms, Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. has long been considered the industry “gold standard” of Tulsa family law excellence.

So when the iconic Tulsa family law attorney was invited to participate in the Annual Family Law CLE Day put on by the Tulsa County Bar Association (TCBA) this past December, it was not at all surprising that Fry’s presentation was well attended by some of the bigger names in the Tulsa legal community.

“I thought it went great,” Fry said. “The TCBA always does such a great job with these events and they were very receptive to me presenting and of my ideas for the presentation.”

Fry not only displayed is technical prowess – using Zoom and a PowerPoint – to broadcast his presentation, the highly-regarded attorney also used the presentation as opportunity to tackle a very serious issue in Oklahoma family law courts: Dealing with Borderline Personality Disorders in Family Court.

“I think it is a very serious issue,” Fry said. “If your client shows signs or has a history of being mentally unstable, they are likely going to be very difficult to work with moving forward and could end up being their own worst enemy in a pending divorce or child custody case.

“While I cannot legally determine whether or not a someone has a personality disorder, I think I can recognize instability or potential problems down the road when I meet with them.”

Fry said dealing with those suffering from personality disorders is comparable to divorcing someone who is a narcissist.

During his CLE presentation, Fry told participants that he evaluates a variety of verbal and non-verbal cues when he consults with prospective clients. Some of these include:

Their capacity to focus
Their ability to make eye contact
If they are really listening to what I say
Are they too easily led?
Are they impossible to lead?
Are there drug issues: marijuana moving up to meth and opioids as a history?
Was there treatment?
Are they capable of accepting responsibility for their own actions or are they, i.e. blaming their spouse, their spouse’s parents, their parents, mediator, parenting coordinator, counselor, their own attorney, or the other attorney?

There are other questions that Fry asks and things he discusses during an initial consultation with a prospective client, but Fry said perhaps the two biggest takeaways a potential client needs to walkaway knowing is that he or she needs to willingly accept responsibility for some of his or her actions. The other is that presently he or she is their ex-spouse’s best witness, which is what will need to change.

Fry closed out the CLE presentation by stating that the final thing he has a potential client do before signing a contract which is anonymously answer 15 True/False questions from a 488-question based MMPI-2.

“If they answer false to five or more of those, they need to be aware that they have some personality issues,” Fry said. “They can get better, but they need to recognize some of their issues and begin to seriously work at changing their behavior.”

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

Nov 10

Fry & Elder Tabbed Again for Tulsa Family Law Excellence

Eight is pretty great for Fry & Elder.

The U.S. News & World Report recently unveiled its eagerly awaited “Best Law Firms” List, and for an eight consecutive year Fry & Elder was recognized for its excellence in the Tulsa family law.

Fry & Elder again received Tier 1 status for Family Law in Tulsa for the upcoming 2021 Best Law Firms edition to further solidify its stature as an elite Tulsa family law firm.

“Tremendous honor,” Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. said. “I know I’ve said it before, but the firm and I never take any of these awards or accomplishments for granted. You never know what tomorrow will hold, and I think this year has been a pretty good example of why that holds true.

“It’s been a difficult year on most everyone – our firm included. To be included again by the U.S. News & World Report in its annual Best Law Firms List, I think speaks volumes of how hard we work for our clients and for one another here at Fry & Elder.”

Fry knows something about hard work and legal excellence. Earlier this year. he was named to Best Lawyers® 2021 Listings. It marked the 11^th consecutive year the dynamic Tulsa family law attorney had received accolade.

Still, Fry is the first to say that much of the credit for his firm’s continued success deserves to go to its fine teams of attorneys, which included James R. Elder, James C. Morton, Kasey Currey, Simon Harwood, and James Caputo and its dedicated legal staff which features Judy Willits and Jody Geiger.

“I think we’ve really got a great team intact here,” Fry said. “Everyone works hard and is willing to help one another out which really goes a long way.”

Fry & Elder Again in Elite Legal Company

That Fry & Elder was named to this year’s Best Law Firms List, let alone for an eighth consecutive year, is no small feat.

Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer stated in a release:

“For the 2021 ‘Best Law Firms’ publication, the evaluation process has remained just as rigorous and discerning as it did when we first started 11 years ago. This year we reviewed 15,587 law firms throughout the United States – across 75 national practice areas – and a total of 2,179 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.”

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

Aug 20

Hallmark of Consistency: Fry Selected Again by Best Lawyers®

No one will say that 2020 has gone as planned. Yet, as surprising, unsettling and disturbing as the year has become, there are a few consistencies which remain intact. Best Lawyers® announced its 2021 listings for its annual directory Aug. 20, and Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. was again selected for inclusion.

It should come as no surprise.

The upcoming year will mark the 11^th consecutive year Fry has been selected, yet the acclaimed attorney’s run of success dates much further back.

Fry has been synonymous with Tulsa family law excellence for over 50 years during what has been a remarkable legal career at Fry & Elder.

“He never ceases to amaze me,” longtime friend and firm partner James R. Elder said. “He’s supposed to be slowing down a little, but he has not. This year has been one of his best years, especially when you consider all the out-of-control things which have happened in 2020. Most people seek to avoid stress; he thrives on it.”

The year has certainly been one of the most documented for Fry both personally and professionally.

The iconic Tulsa attorney was the subject of four separate feature stories by three leading Tulsa media publications. The below stories spotlighted everything from Fry’s celebrity dog Badger to his immediate family to his unique charitable hobby and, of course, his nationally recognized law firm.

“It’s been a very interesting and challenging year on a variety of fronts for everyone, and it’s not over yet,” Fry said. “I’m not sure I have any profound insight on how to handle things, but I try my best to look at each day with a positive outlook. Some days are easier than others, but work has always been a great outlet for me. I feel very comfortable and at home working on legal issues and consulting with clients and attorneys.”

He was interviewed on CBS The Early Show in a divorce series entitled, “What About the Kids?”

Still, 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.

Even though the selection marks 11 years and counting for the well-known Tulsa family law attorney, Fry remains very thankful for honors such as these and doesn’t take anything for granted, particularly in a year such as 2020.

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

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!

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