Maria Obregon is a Director at DOAR. She combines her forensic psychology and mass communication backgrounds to assist attorneys in conceptualizing analytical graphics to simplify and communicate complex case themes. Maria uses multimedia presentation software to develop seamless presentations that help educate and persuade triers-of-fact during hearings and trials. Additionally, Maria uses her background in research and psychology to support DOAR’s jury consulting practice by facilitating pre-trial research, including focus groups and mock trials.
Maria has played a lead role in consulting on graphics and presentation strategy on many notable white-collar, securities, antitrust, employment, and patent litigation cases. Notably, she and other members of the DOAR consulting team worked around the clock to develop demonstratives, edit video files from various social media platforms, and create full presentations—often within a tight timeframe—for the Impeachment Trials of Donald J. Trump.
Other noteworthy cases that Maria has worked on resulting in white collar criminal defense acquittals include U.S. v. Tom Barrack, a case that accused Barrack, the founder of Colony Capital, of acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government and making false statements, and U.S. v. Jean Boustani, a case that accused Boustani, a Privinvest executive, of an alleged $2 billion securities fraud and kickback scheme involving Mozambique state-backed loans.
Before joining DOAR, Maria worked as a senior forensic case manager at a diversion program for mentally ill individuals involved in the Queens, New York criminal justice system. During this time, she conducted in-depth psychosocial evaluations and worked directly with the Queens District Attorney’s office, defense attorneys, and Queens Criminal Court judges to place appropriate defendants into community-based mental health and substance abuse treatment programs.
Maria holds a Master of Arts degree in psychology, with a specialization in forensic psychology, from New York University. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communication (cum laude) from Boston University.
