Kent County Lawyers

Emily leads our firm’s litigation team, focusing on all aspects of divorce, custody and child support matters. Emily’s favorite place to be, when she’s working, is in the courtroom. She is a seasoned litigator who will tell you that there are few things in life better than a well-executed cross-examination. When she’s not in court, Emily is one of the nicest lawyers you will ever meet. Within the firm she is known for her ability to approach every case with a calm focus that puts her clients at ease. She has earned the well-deserved reputation among her colleagues for...

Early in my career I served as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. John McAuliffe on the Supreme Court of Maryland. I entered private practice and went on to become a partner with a firm in Montgomery County, where my practice centered on business law, family law, and estate litigation. While in private practice, I earned an MBA at the University of Maryland and then moved to San Francisco. There I held positions with Intel Corporation, first in its legal department and later in its sales and marketing division. I moved on to a series of...

Nicole M. Whitaker, owner of Whitaker Legal, LLC, is also an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law where she teaches Legal Analysis, Research and Writing. After living in Madrid, Spain, Ms. Whitaker speaks Spanish fluently. In her free time, she teaches English as a Second Language for the Community College of Baltimore County.

Ms. Murray’s practice focuses on all aspects of insurance defense litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Murray was an associate at a complex insurance defense litigation firm and has experience in several areas including toxic tort litigation, premises liability, personal injury, and construction litigation.

Jeff graduated from Boston University School of Law’s Tax LLM program and practice as a tax, business, and estate planning attorney.

Jeff advises clients on legal and tax issues relating to business transactions, start-ups, corporate mergers & acquisitions, business successions, estate planning, and real estate. Jeff practices both federal and state tax law, and he assists individuals and businesses with tax audit defense and tax planning in the areas of income, corporate, partnership, franchise, sales and use, property, and estate taxes. Jeff's background allows him to consider clients' personal, business, and tax needs. Jeff was the 2013 president...

MD-DC licensed. Practicing for 35 years. Former securities attorney in DC, New York, Philadelphia. Moved to Calvert County 13 years ago and established private practice focused on estate planning and business law. Author, LIVE SECURE: FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR WOMEN. Regular columnist, Chesapeake Current's "Your Money Matters".

My practice includes employment law, business law, and open records laws.
As former federal attorney in addition to two decades of running my own practice, I bring expert experience to my matters. Each legal matter presents its own unique facts and gets my specific attention. Identifying the legal issues is of paramount importance. My focus is to analyze the legal issues and provide my clients with candid, detailed and well considered advice and representation. My clients and I have direct communication throughout their representation. It is important that my clients understand what...

Former prosecutor. Winning cases for over thirty five years. Consistently delivering successful results and satisfying clients beyond expectations.

Why me? Experience and intensity; honed through years of representing clients at trial and on appeal in state and federal courts. Pragmatic, results-oriented representation as an advocate and as legal counsel. Straight answers. Vigorous advocacy. I'll get you through the wilderness.

Peter is recognized as a national authority on consumer protection law, with a special emphasis on debt buyer lawsuits. He teaches consumer law at the University of Maryland law school, and is a frequent lecturer at state and national consumer protection conferences. He is regularly sought out by other lawyers for mentoring, advice and counsel, and he has been co-counsel in class action lawsuits resulting in the dismissal of thousands of lawsuits filed by debt buyers and by automobile finance companies. Peter discussed collection abuse and harassment as a featured panelist at the “Life of a Debt: Data...

Jessica Russell was born and raised in Frederick, Maryland, and is now committed to providing excellent legal services to her community. In 2010, Ms. Russell interned at the Office of the Public Defender for Baltimore City's Juvenile Justice Division. From 2011- 2013, Ms. Russell competed for her school's Alternative Dispute Resolution Team, taking third place in the 2012 International Competition for Mediation Advocacy in Toronto. While in law school, Ms. Russell served on the executive board of the Law Students for Reproductive Justice, University of Maryland Chapter and was active in the International Law Society. Prior to...

In an increasingly complex and specialized world, it is important to keep a specific focus. Our focus is the law involving estates and trusts. Within this practice area, however, we do it all: planning, administration, and litigation. We have over 30 years of experience advising individuals, families and closely held businesses on a variety of matters related to wealth accumulation, preservation and transfer. We prepare wills, trusts, powers of attorney, business planning documents, estate tax returns, and many other documents to address our clients’ estate planning and administration needs. We also litigate estate and trust matters and serve as the...

Mr. Dales is a Cornell University graduate who received his law degrees from the University of Maryland and the University of Miami. He is a solo practitioner located in Annapolis, Maryland.

The firm offers hands-on direct lawyer to client personal service and access. We have been to all of local county courts and have helped clients with a wide variety of problems from personal injuries arising as a result of a defective product, vehicular or boating collision, fall, bite, or health care error as examples, to real estate issues over property lines, title defects, easements, transferable development options, to divorce...

Mandeep S. Chhabra is the managing member of Cochran and Chhabra, LLC. He practices criminal defense and plaintiff’s personal injury law in the state of Maryland. Mr. Chhabra’s interest in law dates to his freshman year in high school. He decided then that practicing as a civil litigator and criminal defense attorney would be his future. He believes growing up as a minority in Maryland and his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology allow him to better understand many of the underlying issues his clients endure. The sincere empathy Mr. Chhabra feels for his clients fosters a strong attorney-client...

Katherine Kole Thompson has been a resident of Harford County for her entire life. Katie graduated cum laude and as a Scholar of the College from Boston College in 1990 with degrees in biology and psychology. While at Boston College, she competed on the varsity swimming team and completed the Boston Marathon in 1990. Katie graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1993 and was admitted to the Maryland Bar that same year. While attending law school full-time, Katie was a student attorney representing juvenile offenders, served as associate editor for The Business Lawyer Law Journal, and...

Dirk Schwenk is a Maryland real estate attorney focusing on waterfront issues including riparian rights, piers, variances and permits, boundary disputes as well as maritime and marine contracting issues. He also assists with boat purchase, sale and tax issues. He is an honors graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law and has been in private practice in Annapolis since 2000.

Cory Silkman is a nurse attorney who represents clients with professional license defense, licensing board, and family law matters.

Oleg Gherasimov draws from over a decade of experience in the legal field and working with immigrants to help them reach their U.S. immigration goals. Oleg is not only a trained and skilled attorney who is capable of giving you the best advice, he is also an immigrant who has experienced firsthand many of the frustrations and triumphs associated with the U.S. immigration law system. Oleg sees the bigger picture of the impact that his advice has on the lives of his clients and their families both here in U.S. and in their home countries. In Oleg you have an...

Derek A. Hills is a Maryland attorney whose practice focuses on the representation of homeowners in construction disputes. With twenty years of experience in the contracting industry, he understands how to navigate the relationships between contractors, subcontractors, and homeowners. He prides himself on excellent client communication skills and works with the client in a collaborative approach to evaluate all options and achieve the best outcome. As a result of his exposure to consumer protection laws concerning construction matters, he also represents consumers in cases involving harassment by debt collectors, debt buying cases, and auto fraud...

Attorney Joshua T. Ortega has dedicated his career to protecting the rights of others in the face of complicated legal situations. Mr. Ortega has experience in a wide range of criminal and civil matters - including criminal and civil defense, family law, and personal injury cases. Mr. Ortega's most valuable asset, which sets him apart as an attorney, is his dedication to the needs of his clients. As a zealous advocate, Mr. Ortega gives his clients a powerful voice in and out of the courtroom.

Matthew A.S. Esworthy is a partner in the Firmâs litigation department. He concentrates on general civil and criminal litigation, including white collar criminal defense, complex commercial litigation, securities litigation, partnership disputes, employment law, and appeals. In recognition of his accomplishments, Martindale-Hubbell awarded Mr. Esworthy its AV Peer-Review Rating, the highest rating available. Mr. Esworthy has achieved favorable results in a number of high profile cases. In recent years, he has successfully defended a Baltimore law firm in a multi-million dollar defamation/invasion of privacy lawsuit brought by a public official; successfully represented minority shareholders of a Fortune 500 company in a complex...

I joined Silverman Thompson in 2025, bringing with me a wealth of experience in various aspects of family law, including protective orders, contested divorces, and marital settlements. I have consistently secured positive outcomes for my clients through thorough preparation and strong advocacy. My primary focus as a family law attorney is to achieve the most favorable results for my clients. I am recognized for my meticulous research, robust writing skills, and confident presence in the courtroom. My ability to effectively communicate arguments and draft compelling motions has been instrumental in securing final protective orders for victims of abuse and favorable resolutions...

Ingerman & Horwitz, LLP is a full-service, Maryland personal injury law firm with over 100 years of collective experience. As a Better Business Bureau A+ rated, accredited firm and also named as one of Maryland’s leading workers’ compensation firms by The Baltimore Sun, Ingerman & Horwitz, LLP is recognized for our commitment to justice and dedication to excellence.

Charlotte K. Weinstein is a family law attorney working in private practice throughout the State of Maryland. Ms. Weinstein has 15 years’ experience representing clients in all aspects of family law, including, divorce, child custody, child support, same sex issue, and domestic violence. Ms. Weinstein will make every attempt to resolve the issues through an agreement but if litigation is necessary Ms. Weinstein is a skilled litigator and she will vehemently advocate for her client.

Ms. Weinstein is a member of the Anne Arundel County Bar Association, the American Bar Association the Maryland State Bar Association,...

One of Maryland’s “Super Lawyers,” Paul Tolzman received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Loyola University Maryland and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. He was admitted to practice before Maryland Courts in 1977. Mr. Tolzman is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the Maryland Association for Justice, and the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association. He has also been recognized as one of the country’s “Top 100 Trial Lawyers”, a “Top Lawyer in Maryland”, and in 2015,...

After receiving a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, I decided to pursue a career as an attorney, earning my law degree from the University of Buffalo Law School in New York.

In 1992, I became a member of the Maryland Bar, and in 1993, the District of Columbia Bar. Not long after that, I opened my first office at 8630 Fenton Street in Silver Spring, Maryland.

I currently serve as a sole practitioner focusing on the following areas of law: Bankruptcy, Social Security Disability, Auto Accidents, and Workers' Compensation. I have offices in Silver Spring, Columbia, Baltimore, and...

An attorney licensed in Maryland and DC, Ms. Ontaneda-Bernales has also been admitted to the United States Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. She has founded the Law Offices of Sylvia Ontaneda-Bernales (Maryland), Ontaneda-Bernales Law (Nevada), and Ontaneda-Bernales LLC (New Mexico). Her Immigration practice includes Relative Petitions, Fiance Visas, Naturalizations, Green Card Applications, Business and Investor Visas, and DACA, among other Immigration-related services. As a mediator, she has worked for the District Court of Maryland ADR Program. She is also a Spanish language consultant, translator, and interpreter listed in the Maryland Court Interpreter...

Maryland Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey R. Butschky represents clients injured in car, truck, and pedestrian accidents and work-related accidents in Maryland and throughout the Mid-Atlantic region (including serious injuries such as brain and spinal cord injury). He also handles wrongful death cases, Medical Malpractice and negligence cases, and Nursing Home abuse and neglect cases.

He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law and his bachelor of science degree in Business and Economics from Lehigh University.

Attorney Jeffrey Butschky is the son of founding partner Attorney Roger Butschky (ret.), who established the firm in 1982 in Baltimore,...

Saidah is an associate at Murphy, Falcon & Murphy. She specializes in commercial litigation, product liability, medical malpractice, and civil rights violations. For a free consultation, please contact Murphy, Falcon & Murphy today.

Mr. Roche founded Ballenger & Roche, LLC in 2019 with a mission to help seriously injured clients achieve exceptional results. Mr. Roche represents plaintiffs across the State of Maryland in trial courts, the appellate courts and in federal district court. Mr. Roche has received numerous awards and have earned the trust and respect of their peers through representing countless individuals in automobile accidents, medical malpractice, slip and falls, and from defective products. Mr. Roche has recovered millions for his clients and has received legal honors, including but not limited to the prestigious Super Lawyers “Rising Star” designation for 2017-2019 and 2021-2024....