Our Attorneys
JAMES R. GOTWALS
James R. Gotwals received his undergraduate degree in 1972 and his law degree in 1975 from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. He has been in private practice since that time, founding James R. Gotwals and Associates, Inc. in 1978. His principal areas of practice include civil litigation, family law, mediation, real estate law and probate law. He carries the highest legal ability rating in Martindale-Hubbell® and he and his firm are listed in The Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™.
Mr. Gotwals has been listed in Best Lawyers in America in family law litigation since 1999. He is also listed in Super Lawyers. He is licensed to practice in all Oklahoma courts, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is extremely active in the Oklahoma Bar Association and the Tulsa County Bar Association. He is a Term Master of the Council Oaks/Johnson-Sontag Chapter of the American Inns of Court in Tulsa. As a member of the “Families in Transition” group from 1997-1999, Mr. Gotwals was instrumental in developing the family law litigation procedures for the 14th Judicial District, in Tulsa County. He also was an original member of the Families in Transition Quality Assurance Panel since its inception in 1999 until his term expired in 2004, and presently voluntarily attends meetings. He is a frequent seminar lecturer on family law and mediation in the Tulsa area.
Mr. Gotwals, a lifelong resident of Tulsa, is actively involved in many community, business and professional endeavors, including but not limited to, the Marian Council 1104 Knights of Columbus (member for 34 years, Grand Knight for the last ten years), Board of Directors Tulsa Central High School Foundation, (2007-present), and legal counsel for Riverfield Country Day School, (1988-present).
Areas of Practice:
- Civil Litigation
- Family Law
- Mediation
- Real Estate law
- Probate Law
Bar Admissions:
- Oklahoma
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Oklahoma
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
Education:
- University of Oklahoma College of Law, Norman, Oklahoma, 1975 Juris Doctorate
- University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma, 1972 Bachelor of Business Administration, Major: Finance
Published Works/Decisions:
- Many published decisions, most recently Phillips v. Williams, 2010 OK CIV APP 98, 241 P.3d 696.
Honors and Awards:
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America in Family Law, 1999-2010
- Listed in Super Lawyers
- A-V Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating
- Term Master, American Inns of Court
- Fellow of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Tulsa County Bar Association
- Vice-President (2010-2011)
- Director at Large, Board of Directors (2008 - 2010)
- Member, Family Law Section (1996-present) (Prior chair)
- Member, Litigation Section (2009-present)
- Member, Speakers Bureau (2008-present)
- Member, Bench & Bar/Court Operations Committee (1999-present)
- Member, Professional Responsibility Committee 1995-present (Chair three years)
- Member, Professionalism Committee (2009-present)
- Chair, Fitness and Mental Health Committee (1993-1994)
- Member, Fee Arbitration Committee (1993-1994)
- Oklahoma Bar Association
- Executive Board, Family Law Section (1990-1995)
- Chair, Family Law Section (1994-1995)
- Member, Family Law Section (1995- present)
- Member, Real Property Section
- Member, Title Examination Standards Committee (2006-present)
- Council Oaks/Johnson-Sontag Chapter of the American Inns of Court
- Term Master
- Oklahoma Association of Justice (over 20 years)
- American Association of Justice (over 20 years)
- American Bar Association
- Member Family Law Section
Fraternities/Sororities:
- Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, Gamma Phi Chapter, University of Oklahoma
- Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity
MARY L. GUTIERREZ
Mary Gutierrez joined James R. Gotwals and Associates, Inc. as a law clerk in May 1999, and joined the firm as an associate later that year after passing the Oklahoma Bar Exam. She focuses her practice in family law, civil and appellate litigation. She is also a certified mediator.
Ms. Gutierrez received her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Tulsa, and her law degree with honors from the University of Tulsa College of Law. She was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar in 1999, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. In 2000, she was admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. In 2003, she was also admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
She is a member of the Tulsa County Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the Oklahoma Association for Justice. While attending the University of Tulsa College of Law, Ms Gutierrez served as Research Editor Notes and Comments for the Tulsa Law Review and was published for her Comment, “Oklahoma’s New Adoption Code and Disclosure of Identifying Information,” 34 Tulsa L.J. 133 (1998). She received the CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in “Legal Authorities” and “Appellate Advocacy”.
Areas of Practice:
- Civil Litigation
- Family Law
- Appellate Law
- Mediation
Bar Admissions:
- Oklahoma
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Oklahoma
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
Education:
- University of Tulsa College of Law, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1999 Juris Doctorate Honors: With Honors
- University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1973 Bachelor of Arts, Major: English Literature
Published Works/Decisions:
- Comment, “Oklahoma’s New Adoption Code and Disclosure of Identifying Information,” 34 Tulsa L.J. 133 (1998)
- Peyravy v. Peyravy, 2003 OK 92, 84 P.3d 720
- Shirley v. Shirley, 2004 OK CIV APP 100, 104 P.3d 1142
- Phillips v. Williams, 2010 OK CIV APP 98, _____ P.3d _____
Honors and Awards:
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award “Legal Authorities
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award “Appellate Advocacy”
- B-V Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Tulsa County Bar Association
- Member, Family Law Section
- Member, Children and the Law Committee
- Member, Bench & Bar/Court Operations Committee
- Oklahoma Bar Association
- Member, Family Law Section
- Oklahoma Association of Justice
- American Bar Association
- Member, Family Law Section
Fraternities/Sororities:
- Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity
BENJAMIN D. AYCOCK
Benjamin Aycock received his Bachelor of Art degree in Journalism in 2002, from Oklahoma State University at Stillwater, Oklahoma. He received his law degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2006. He was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar in 2007. His practice areas include family law and civil litigation.
Mr. Aycock’s past honors include recipient of a three-year Merit Scholarship while attending law school and the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in “Criminal Law”.
Mr. Aycock is currently a member of the Tulsa County Bar Association and the Oklahoma Bar Association. He is a Pro Bono Legal Aid volunteer.
Areas of Practice:
- Civil Litigation
- Family Law
Bar Admissions:
- Oklahoma
Education:
- University of Tulsa College of Law, Tulsa,
- Oklahoma, 2006 Juris Doctorate Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 2002 Bachelor of Arts, Major: Journalism
Published Works/Decisions:
- Stonebarger v. Wilkins, 2008 OK CIV APP 35, 181 P.3d 849
Honors and Awards:
- Three-year Law School Merit Scholarship
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award “Criminal Law”
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Tulsa County Bar Association
- Member, Family Law Section
- Oklahoma Bar Association
- Member, Family Law Section
