Michael J. Stephan

Michael Stephan is an associate in the Newport Beach office of Irell & Manella LLP, where he is a member of the firm’s litigation practice group.

Prior to joining Irell, Mr. Stephan served as a law clerk to the Honorable Cynthia Holcomb Hall of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 

Mr. Stephan earned his J.D., with high honors, from the University of Texas School of Law in 2010, where he was an Articles Editor for the Texas Law Review, Order of the Coif, and a Chancellor—a member of Texas Law’s most prestigious honor society.  He also served as an Advanced Member of the school’s U.S. Supreme Court Clinic for three semesters.  Mr. Stephan earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Southern California in 2007, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.   

Selected Publications

“Wind Severance,” 40 Texas Environmental Law Journal 73 (2009)

“Identity Burglary,” 13 Texas Review of Law & Politics 401 (2009) (coauthored)

“An Alternative Justification for the Perjury Trap Defense,” 87 University of Detroit Mercy Law Review 110 (2010) (coauthored)

“A Precise Model for Identity Theft Statutes,” 46 Criminal Law Bulletin 137 (2010) (coauthored)

“Closing the Gap: Post-Decision, Pre-Mandate Mootness,” 7 Seton Hall Circuit Review (forthcoming 2011) 

Bar & Court Admissions

• 2010, California