Legal Services & Lawyers

Using her combined experience of over 15 years, first as a CPA and now as an attorney, Sonya Smith-Valentine has had a successful legal career winning cases against credit bureaus, credit card companies, banks and collection agencies for unlawful activity.

Sonya has built her firm to have a significant presence and practice helping consumers with credit reporting errors, debt collection harassment, identity theft, credit card lawsuit defense and bankruptcy credit reporting errors. Her expertise on credit and debt laws include: the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA), and the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA).

Sonya is also a powerful keynote speaker. Having been a victim of identity theft, she is passionate about empowering her audiences understand the importance of protecting sensitive personal and financial information. She excels at empowering individuals to embrace organizational change for better compliance with consumer protection laws.

Sonya blends her experience as a practicing attorney with her energetic speaking style to enlighten and inspire her audiences. Her presentations are rich with ideas, suggestions and stories which have made her a sought after keynote speaker by colleges and corporations and at events throughout the country. Audiences walk away with the knowledge, resources and tools needed to change their approach to handling most identity theft and personal finance issues.

Eli represents owners, general contractors, subcontractors and materialmen with construction issues including acceleration, resequencing, mechanics’ liens, bonding, bankruptcy and commercial matters.

Demonstrated project experience and representation encompasses public, commercial and private entities.

Admitted to practice in the State of Maryland, District of Columbia, as well as before the United States District Court for the District of Maryland and the United States Court of Federal Claims.

Law Offices of Ross D. Hecht, located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland provides professional and dedicated legal services in Criminal Defense, Civil Litigation, Civil and Criminal Appellate Practice, Personal Injury, Business Law, Creditors Bankruptcy Practice, Probation Revocation, Sealing Records,Traffic Violations, and DUI / DWI Defenses.


Attorney Ross Hecht is actively admitted and licensed to practice law in all Courts of the State of Maryland and in the District of Columbia. His primary area of expertise is Litigation. He is experienced in all areas of criminal defense and trial work, both at the misdemeanor and felony levels to state and federal appellate level.


Law Offices also handles Juvenile Court Cases, Extradition Matters, in addition to Last Wills and Testaments, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney