Meet Our Attorneys
Neil C. Blakeslee
A lifelong resident of Rockford, Neil Blakeslee graduated from Rockford High School in 1966 and the University of Michigan in 1970. Mr. Blakeslee then joined the armed forces and served a tour of duty in Viet Nam. He returned to the Rockford area after his military service and commuted to Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing while clerking in a local law firm. He graduated from Cooley in 1981 and set up his own general practice law firm in Rockford. The practice expanded quickly and allowed Mr. Blakeslee to concentrate his efforts in the areas of real estate law, small business assistance, and estate planning. By combining legal expertise in his areas of practice with a genuine concern for problem solving, the practice has grown to include a broad and diverse base of clients.
Involvement: Mr. Blakeslee has continued his family tradition of public and community service by serving on many area civic organizations and boards. This service has included elected office as a Rockford City Council member and four years as Mayor of the City of Rockford.
Areas of Expertise: Mr. Blakeslee's real estate expertise includes property evaluation and purchase, zoning approval, construction liens, and site condominium documentation. He is broadly experienced in small business formation and management, and the purchase and sale of businesses. His estate planning background includes planning and drafting of wills and trusts for people with small and medium sized estates, as well as the living and death probate activities for disabled or deceased clients.
David S. Fry
After graduating from Rockford High School in 1967, David Fry attended Michigan State University, graduating in 1971 with a degree in Business Administration. He then attended Georgetown University where he received his law degree in 1974. Mr. Fry then returned to Rockford to enter private practice. In 1976, he joined the legal department at Rapistan Incorporated where he served over six years. In 1982, he joined Steelcase, Inc. and formed the company's first legal department. He led the legal activities at Steelcase for 15 years, serving as vice president, corporate secretary and chief legal officer. Mr. Fry and Mr. Blakeslee jointly founded the firm of Blakeslee & Fry, PLC in 1998.
Involvement: Mr. Fry is a member of the State Bar of Michigan (past elected member, Business Law Section Council) and the Grand Rapids Bar Association. He has served as an elected member of the Chief Legal Officer Council of The Conference Board, a member of the American Corporate Counsel Association and the American Society of Corporate Secretaries. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Michigan, the Federal District Court for the Western District of Michigan, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and The Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Fry has served as a board member and president of the Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce and chairperson of the City of Rockford Economic Development Corporation.
Areas of Expertise: Mr. Fry has over 30 years of experience in representing individuals and corporations on a wide variety of business, estate planning and real estate issues. In addition to these areas, Mr. Fry has recently focused his practice in the area of cottage law, a field that deals with the use, financing, management and ownership transfers of shared vacation property. A fourth generation cottage owner, he is well versed on the issues of cottage succession planning, including personal experience with two family-owned vacation properties. David has considerable experience in this field, and has worked for a number of years with individuals and families to develop plans that meet their needs.
James F. Scales
A native of Battle Creek, Jim Scales and his family have lived in the Rockford area for over 20 years. After receiving a degree from Michigan State University in 1984, Mr. Scales graduated from the University of Michigan Law School, cum laude, in 1987. Before joining the firm in 2000, he was a partner in the Grand Rapids law firm Mika, Meyers, Beckett & Jones, and an in-house civil counsel for Kent County. Over the years, he has represented and advised individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations and local governments. Mr. Scales has lectured and published a variety of articles on zoning and land use issues. He has earned the highest rating ("av") from the Martindale Hubell Law Directory.
Involvement: Mr. Scales has been actively involved in many civic and service organizations. He currently serves on the City of Rockford Planning Commission where he has held the post of chairman for the past several years.
Areas of Expertise: Mr. Scales' legal expertise includes real estate, estate planning, construction, and property taxation. He also maintains a specialty in municipal law, zoning, utilities, and related issues. Jim has earned the Certificate of Completion for ICLE's Probate and Estate Planning Program.
Jason M. Rop
Jason Rop is a native of Byron Center, Michigan and a graduate of South Christian High School (1992). He attended Calvin College, graduating in 1996. After working for several years in the field of graphic design, he attended Notre Dame Law School. Upon graduating from law school in 2003, Mr. Rop practiced commercial real estate law in Louisville, Kentucky for 5 years with the firm Frost Brown Todd, LLC. He returned to western Michigan in 2008, making Rockford his new home and joining Blakeslee, Fry & Scales, PLC.
Involvement: Mr. Rop is a member of the Board of Directors of the North Kent Service Center, and involved with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. Being new to the Rockford area, he is actively seeking to know and become known in the community. He is also a member of the Michigan Bar Association, the Grand Rapids Bar Association, and the Kentucky Bar Association.
Areas of Expertise: Mr. Rop's legal expertise is primarily in the areas of commercial real estate transactions, general business transactions, business litigation, and estate planning and administration. He is licensed to practice law in Michigan and Kentucky.
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Neil C. Blakeslee
A lifelong resident of Rockford, Neil Blakeslee graduated from Rockford High School in 1966 and the University of Michigan in 1970. Mr. Blakeslee then joined the armed forces and served a tour of duty in Viet Nam. He returned to the Rockford area after his military service and commuted to Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing while clerking in a local law firm. He graduated from Cooley in 1981 and set up his own general practice law firm in Rockford. The practice expanded quickly and allowed Mr. Blakeslee to concentrate his efforts in the areas of real estate law, small business assistance, and estate planning. By combining legal expertise in his areas of practice with a genuine concern for problem solving, the practice has grown to include a broad and diverse base of clients.
Involvement: Mr. Blakeslee has continued his family tradition of public and community service by serving on many area civic organizations and boards. This service has included elected office as a Rockford City Council member and four years as Mayor of the City of Rockford.
Areas of Expertise: Mr. Blakeslee's real estate expertise includes property evaluation and purchase, zoning approval, construction liens, and site condominium documentation. He is broadly experienced in small business formation and management, and the purchase and sale of businesses. His estate planning background includes planning and drafting of wills and trusts for people with small and medium sized estates, as well as the living and death probate activities for disabled or deceased clients.
David S. Fry
After graduating from Rockford High School in 1967, David Fry attended Michigan State University, graduating in 1971 with a degree in Business Administration. He then attended Georgetown University where he received his law degree in 1974. Mr. Fry then returned to Rockford to enter private practice. In 1976, he joined the legal department at Rapistan Incorporated where he served over six years. In 1982, he joined Steelcase, Inc. and formed the company's first legal department. He led the legal activities at Steelcase for 15 years, serving as vice president, corporate secretary and chief legal officer. Mr. Fry and Mr. Blakeslee jointly founded the firm of Blakeslee & Fry, PLC in 1998.
Involvement: Mr. Fry is a member of the State Bar of Michigan (past elected member, Business Law Section Council) and the Grand Rapids Bar Association. He has served as an elected member of the Chief Legal Officer Council of The Conference Board, a member of the American Corporate Counsel Association and the American Society of Corporate Secretaries. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Michigan, the Federal District Court for the Western District of Michigan, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and The Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Fry has served as a board member and president of the Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce and chairperson of the City of Rockford Economic Development Corporation.
Areas of Expertise: Mr. Fry has over 30 years of experience in representing individuals and corporations on a wide variety of business, estate planning and real estate issues. In addition to these areas, Mr. Fry has recently focused his practice in the area of cottage law, a field that deals with the use, financing, management and ownership transfers of shared vacation property. A fourth generation cottage owner, he is well versed on the issues of cottage succession planning, including personal experience with two family-owned vacation properties. David has considerable experience in this field, and has worked for a number of years with individuals and families to develop plans that meet their needs.
James F. Scales
A native of Battle Creek, Jim Scales and his family have lived in the Rockford area for over 20 years. After receiving a degree from Michigan State University in 1984, Mr. Scales graduated from the University of Michigan Law School, cum laude, in 1987. Before joining the firm in 2000, he was a partner in the Grand Rapids law firm Mika, Meyers, Beckett & Jones, and an in-house civil counsel for Kent County. Over the years, he has represented and advised individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations and local governments. Mr. Scales has lectured and published a variety of articles on zoning and land use issues. He has earned the highest rating ("av") from the Martindale Hubell Law Directory.
Involvement: Mr. Scales has been actively involved in many civic and service organizations. He currently serves on the City of Rockford Planning Commission where he has held the post of chairman for the past several years.
Areas of Expertise: Mr. Scales' legal expertise includes real estate, estate planning, construction, and property taxation. He also maintains a specialty in municipal law, zoning, utilities, and related issues. Jim has earned the Certificate of Completion for ICLE's Probate and Estate Planning Program.
Jason M. Rop
Jason Rop is a native of Byron Center, Michigan and a graduate of South Christian High School (1992). He attended Calvin College, graduating in 1996. After working for several years in the field of graphic design, he attended Notre Dame Law School. Upon graduating from law school in 2003, Mr. Rop practiced commercial real estate law in Louisville, Kentucky for 5 years with the firm Frost Brown Todd, LLC. He returned to western Michigan in 2008, making Rockford his new home and joining Blakeslee, Fry & Scales, PLC.
Involvement: Mr. Rop is a member of the Board of Directors of the North Kent Service Center, and involved with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. Being new to the Rockford area, he is actively seeking to know and become known in the community. He is also a member of the Michigan Bar Association, the Grand Rapids Bar Association, and the Kentucky Bar Association.
Areas of Expertise: Mr. Rop's legal expertise is primarily in the areas of commercial real estate transactions, general business transactions, business litigation, and estate planning and administration. He is licensed to practice law in Michigan and Kentucky.