Current Employment Position(s)

Member

Languages

Spanish
French

Lawyer Overview

Maria I. O'Byrne Stephenson was born in Cali, Colombia. She is a 1975 graduate of the University of Houston Law School. She was a partner in the regional law firm of Bryan, Nelson, Allen, Schroeder & Stephenson and later operated her own firm for ten years before establishing Stephenson, Matthews & Chavarri, L.L.C. Her areas of practice include toxic tort/product liability defense, maritime law, insurance defense, immigration law, international law, estate planning and probate, and litigation. For years, she has been the consulting attorney for many of the Latin American Consulates in New Orleans. She is fluent in both Spanish and French. She is also an honored member of the National Directory of Who's Who, 1996-1997, as well as a recipient of the Diploma al Merito from the government of Mexico (1994) and of the Tributo de Reconocimiento from the government of Colombia (1999). Ms. Stephenson is also the Honorary Consul of Peru. 1999 - present - Member: Department of Commerce, District Export Counsel

Areas of practice

• Immigration
• International Commerce
• Estate Planning & Probate
• Maritime Law
• Torts- Plaintiff
• Torts- Defense
• Business Law

West Practice Categories

Admiralty & Maritime Law, Business & Commercial Law, Estate Planning, Immigration & Naturalization Law, Immigration, Business & Trade, Personal Injury -- Defense, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Probate & Estate Administration

Bar Admissions

Louisiana, 1976
Texas, 1976

Professional Associations and Memberships

American Immigration Association, 1986 - Present
LA Association of Defense Counsel, 1986 - Present
LA Hispanic Lawyers Association, 1997 - 1998 (President)
LA Pan American Commission, 1992 - 1995
Maritime Law Association
LA-Mexico Trade Association, 1994 - 1996 (Director)
Mexican Cultural Center of the South, 1994 - 1995 (Vice President)
Shared Housing of New Orleans, 1999 - Present (Director)
Sociedad Espanola, 1990 - Present

Honors and Awards

• Diploma al Merito, 1994
• Que Pasa Hispanic Attorney of the Year, 1990
• Aqui New Orleans Attorney of the Year, 1998
• La Prensa Attorney of the Year, 1997
• Tributo de Reconocimiento- Republic of Colombia, 1999
• Honorary Consul of Peru, 1999 - Present

Pro Bono Activities

• Undocumented Aliens Representation
• Shared Housing

Past Employment Positions

Law Offices of Maria I. O'Byrne Stephenson, 1986 - 1996
Bryan, Nelson, Allen, Schroeder and Stephenson, 1980 - 1986
Grisbaum & Kleppner, 1976 - 1978

Education

University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas, 1975
J.D.
Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA, 1973
B.A.
Major: French

References

• Gordon Stevens-New Orleans Steamboat Co.
• William Corum - American Fidelity Assurance Co.
• William Lynch-American Southern Ins. Co.

Address

2 Canal Street
Suite 2305
New Orleans, LA 70130-1254

Phones

(866) 761-7605
(504) 613-4255

Faxes

(504) 525-2846

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.smclattorneys.com