Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Lawyer Overview

Ms. Stephenson has  twenty-five years of legal experience and, for the last twelve years has worked exclusively in employment law. Ms. Stephenson has defended several clients in Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs ("OFCCP") investigations and reviews, and also has handled a variety of other administrative claims faced by employers. Her practice currently focuses on employment litigation, defending administrative claims, and counseling clients in personnel issues. Since 1995, she has tried several cases on behalf of clients such as CUNA Mutual and Delta Air Lines. Defense verdicts were obtained in all cases. Past successes cannot be an assurance of future success because each case must be decided on its own merits. Ms. Stephenson also is a frequent lecturer on employment law topics.

Ms. Stephenson has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America in labor and employment since 2001 and, since 2003, as a leading employment defense attorney in Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business.

Areas of Practice

• Labor & Employment 100%

Representative Clients

• CUNA Mutual Insurance Group
• Southwest Airlines Co.
• Intel Corporation
• Philips Semiconductors
• University of New Mexico
• Philips Electronics North America Corp.
• Home Depot USA, Inc.
• Washington Tru Solutions LLC
• Raley's of New Mexico
• Business Environments
• Citigroup, Inc.
• Dillard Store Services, Inc.
• American Gypsum Company
• Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute
• Bowlin Travel Centers

Representative Cases

• Armijo v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, 72 F.3d 793 (C.A. 10 N.M. 1995)
• Carr v. Stryker Corp., 28 F.3d 112 (C.A. 10 N.M. 1994)
• Richardson v. Southland Corp., 1994 WL 901641 (D.N.M. 1994)
• Phifer v. Herbert, 848 P.2d 5 (N.M.App. 1993)
• Chapman v. Luna, 678 P.2d 687 (N.M. 1984)
• Gutierrez v. City of Albuquerque, 631 P.2d 304 (N.M. 1981)
• Jicarilla Apache Tribe v. United States, 657 F.2d 1126 (C.A.N.M. 1981)

West Practice Categories

Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Labor Law, Estate Planning, Family Law, Real Estate Law

Bar Admissions

• New Mexico, 1979
• U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1981
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1985
• U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, 1985
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1988

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association, 2007 - 2008 (member)
• New Mexico Bar Association, 2007 - 2008 (member)
• Animal Humane Association of New Mexico, 1991 - 1995 (Past Member, Board of Directors)
• Futures for Children, 1988 - 1999 (Sponsor)
• American Bar Association, 2007 - 2008 (member)

Honors and Awards

• AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory - Results derived from a lawyer poll or survey.
• The Best Lawyers in America, Labor and Employment Law (Management) - Results derived from a lawyer poll or survey.
• Listed as New Mexico's Second Leading Employment Defense Lawyer in Chambers USA -- America's Leading Business Lawyers - Results derived from a lawyer poll or survey., 2002 - 2004

Classes and Seminars

• Employment and Labor Law in New Mexico, Lorman Business Center, Inc., 1998 - 2003
• Employee Handbooks in New Mexico, National Business Institute, 1999
• Basic Wage and Hour Law in New Mexico, National Business Institute, 1996 - 2003
• Defending Wrongful Discharge Claims, National Business Institute, 1995 - 1997
• Fundamental Issues in Human Resources Law, The Management Forum, 1997, 2001
• Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Identification and Prevention, Albuquerque Chapter of Credit Unions, 1997
• New Mexico Employment Law Seminars, National Business Institute and Professional Development Institute, Inc.. 1995-1996, 2000, 2003
• Issues Facing Financial Institutions Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Albuquerque Chapter of Credit Unions, 1994

Pro Bono Activities

• Drafting "Reduction in Force Policy" for Legal Aid, 1996
• Arbitrator, Second Judicial District Court, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, 1996 - 2000
• Co-Chair, Equal Access to Justice Campaign, 1999

Past Employment Positions

• Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Akin & Robb, Director, 1994 - 1995
• Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Akin & Robb, 1990 - 1995
• University of New Mexico, Office of the University Counsel, 1989 - 1990
• National Association of Attorneys General, Senior Counsel, 1988 - 1989
• U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Division of Energy Resources, Water and Power Branch, Attorney-Advisor, 1987 - 1988
• University of New Mexico, Office of the University Counsel, 1986 - 1987
• New Mexico Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, 1984 - 1986
• City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Assistant City Attorney, 1980 - 1984

Education

• University of New Mexico School of Law, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1979
  J.D.
  
  Law Journal: Natural Resources Journal, 1978 - 1979
• University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 1974
  B.A.
  Major: Sociology
  Major: English

Address

Suite 505
500 Marquette NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102

Phones

(505) 242-4466

Faxes

(505) 242-3145

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.gilkeylaw.com