Attorney Profiles

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