About Stephen Louis
Stephen Louis Cortes took a conventional route into law that nonetheless left him with an uncommon mix of government and courtroom experience. He earned his law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law in the late 1990s. The classroom launched a career that has moved between public service, private practice and the bench.
Early in his career Cortes served as a referee for the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals in 1999. That role put him inside the appellate system and in close contact with judges and practicing attorneys. A few years later he returned to state government as deputy general counsel to the Governor of Oklahoma in 2002. The post involved advising on legal questions that crossed public policy and administrative law.
He spent time in private practice after that first stint in government. In 2007 Cortes joined Riggs Abney Neal Turpen as an associate. His work at the firm broadened his practice experience and exposed him to a range of civil matters handled by a full-service Oklahoma law firm.
Cortes returned to the Governor’s office in 2011 as general counsel. That position carried greater responsibility and a more public profile. He handled legal issues tied to executive action and state governance during his tenure.
In 2013 he established Cortes Law Office and became its managing partner. The move to run his own firm marked a shift from staff counsel to principal attorney. Since then he has overseen the firm’s operations while representing clients across matters that arise under state law.
Outside the office Cortes has maintained affiliations that reflect both professional and civic interests. He has been a member of WealthCounsel since 2016. He also joined the board of the City Rescue Mission in 2013 and has continued in that role. Those commitments indicate an engagement with both estate planning networks and local nonprofit efforts.
Cortes’s career is defined by alternating periods in government and private practice. He has served at the appellate level, advised the executive branch of state government, worked in a regional law firm and now runs his own office. He practices in Oklahoma and draws on decades of state-level experience. His current practice at Cortes Law Office represents clients in matters involving Oklahoma law, including administrative and appellate issues and civil litigation.
