Steve, originally from Baltimore, holds a JD and an MBA in Finance from the University of Maryland. In addition to advanced degrees, Steve has completed several training programs on representing taxpayers before the IRS including earning the NTPI Tax Fellow® and Certified Tax Resolution Specialist (CTRS) designations. Before becoming the Managing Partner of Cromwell & Company, Steve was the Controller for NFR Security, Inc. As a key member of the management team, he contributed to the success of completing the sale of NFR Security to Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd., (Ticker CHKP) and the post-integration support of the two companies. Prior to that, he held controller positions with other high tech firms in the Baltimore Washington corridor and a senior analyst position in the treasury department of ICMA Retirement Corporation in downtown DC. Steve has significant experience in tax preparation, representing clients before the IRS, auditing, business valuation, and investment advisory. Occasionally when time permits, Steve has taught accounting courses at local universities and community colleges in the DC Metro area. In his free time, Steve enjoys being outdoors running, hiking, and biking. On Saturday afternoons in the fall, you can find Steve at University of Maryland football games cheering on the Maryland Terrapins.

We want to be your family’s attorneys — the trusted advisors you can turn to for guidance through life’s most important moments. In family law, that means having an advocate who will protect your rights, safeguard your children’s best interests, and work toward practical solutions that give you stability and peace of mind. In estate planning, it means ensuring your wishes are honored, your assets are protected, and your loved ones are spared unnecessary stress and conflict in the future. In Business Law we ensure that you make decisions that do not come back to hurt you financially By working with us, you gain more than legal documents or courtroom representation — you gain clarity, security, and a partner who understands the personal side of legal issues. We listen, we guide, and we stand beside you with both skill and compassion so that you and your family can move forward with confidence.

Johanna Kelley, founder of J Kelley Law Group, obtained her law degree in Colombia in 2001, where she practiced Labor, Constitutional, Administrative, Human Rights, International Law and International Business Law. She advised private companies, local and international human rights organizations, governmental agencies, the Colombian Army and grassroots community organizations, with a broad portfolio that included innovative initiatives and the improvement of Colombia’s image abroad. She prepared and accompanied cases of Colombian citizens before the Organization of American States (OAS). After immigrating to the United States, she found that the policy and Immigration Law of this country were a perfect fit for her professional development project and after graduating with Master’s degrees in Law (Duke University) and International Development Policy (Sanford School of Public Policy), she founded in 2013 a non-profit organization aimed at protecting and promoting immigrant rights and social justice. In July 2015, she left the nonprofit sector to serve in government. She began working for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a supervisor, a wonderful experience professionally and personally, which allowed her to participate in ensuring the integrity of the US immigration system, provide immigration benefits and support the country’s Homeland Security. In November 2017, Johanna Kelley said goodbye to USCIS to kick off the biggest of her work projects: building her own law firm. The founder of our firm believes in legal development and empowerment, therefore, she has been involved in public discussions at mass events and through the media. She hosted the television program ‘Batalla Política’ for the international news channel NTN24 and is a frequent analyst on radio stations and Hispanic channels such as Telemundo, Caracol Televisión, Univisión and RCN News. Mrs. Kelley leads a team committed to the cases of clients and investors, and we are grateful every day for the opportunity to serve our community with professionalism, ethics, and positive results generated through teamwork.

Mr. Akech assists the firm’s clients with a broad range of legal matters including Landlord-Tenant, Consumer Protection, Bankruptcy, Divorce and Custody, Immigration and Civil and Criminal Litigation Matters.