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 11th 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.”
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:
“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.”
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.
“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 dedicated and experienced Tulsa family law attorney.