Meet Our Team

I grew up in a large family with parents who were both cancer researchers. From them, I inherited a curiosity and a drive to continually expand my knowledge and skills to help others.

I began my legal career at a small Annapolis firm, where I assisted clients with everything from divorce and custody to personal injury, business disputes, and civil rights cases.

After several years of mentorship and hands-on experience, I decided to establish my own firm. In 1997, I founded the Holland Law Firm, driven by a mission to help individuals stand up to corporate bullies. My goal was to wield the law not just as a shield to protect consumers but also as a sword to hold corporations accountable for unfair, abusive, or deceptive practices.

Focusing on consumer financial and credit issues opened my eyes to how fraud or even minor mistakes by creditors can devastate someone’s life—impacting their ability to get a job, secure housing, or obtain fair interest rates. I knew I had found my calling when I helped a young woman win a significant jury verdict against a car dealer who sold her a new used car.

Now, more than 25 years later, what continues to drive me is the ability to level the playing field and secure the compensation my clients deserve.

Emanwel “Manny” Turnbull manages the firm’s Fair Debt and Fair Credit Litigation Practice. Many of his clients are victims of identity theft, false credit reporting, or illegal debt collection (and often all three).

Manny was named Rising Star by Super Lawyers and has lectured to other consumer lawyers from around the country.

Manny currently serves as the Treasurer of Economic Action Maryland, and he is a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates.

Originally from the United Kingdom, Manny earned his law degree at St. Hugh’s College, Oxford University, a diploma in legal practice from the College of Law in London, and earned an LLM focused on Consumer Law from the University of Maryland School of Law. Previously, he taught American and English Legal History in the Legal, Ethical, and Historical Studies division at the University of Baltimore. He has published law review articles in the Vermont Law Review and the Widener Law Review.

Jessica ”Jess” Russell manages the firm’s Debt Collection Defense Practice. Her clients are people being sued on everything from student loans, repossession deficiencies, medical debt, landlord-tenant debt, and credit cards. In addition to providing an aggressive defense in court, she screens every case for counterclaims and class actions on issues ranging from unauthorized fees, identity theft, inaccurate credit reporting, and violations of the statute of limitations.

Before joining The Holland Law Firm, Jess spent eight years at Russell and Heffner, LLC. in Frederick, where she focused on family law, including mediation, divorce, custody, visitation, and child support.

Jess was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. She is a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates and a graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. In law school, Jess was active on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Team, competing on the team and taking 3rd place in the 2012 International Competition for Mediation Advocacy. She was also active in the school’s Law Students for Reproductive Justice chapter.

Derek Hills practices out of Easton, Maryland, and is of counsel to the Holland Law Firm. He prides himself on excellent client communication skills and works collaboratively with the client to evaluate all options and achieve the best outcome.

Derek brings to his cases 20 years of work in the construction industry. This unique experience provides him with an additional knowledge base and added leverage when he represents homeowners in construction disputes and construction defect lawsuits. Derek is a problem solver who knows from personal experience what it feels like to walk in the shoes of contractors, subcontractors, and homeowners. And because so many construction disputes involve various consumer protection laws, Derek is also on the cutting edge of emerging legal issues, such as unfair and deceptive trade practices related to solar panel financing and installation.

In addition to construction litigation, Derek also provides the following services to homeowners: Bid and Scope Review of architectural plans, Contract Review, representation at Administrative Hearings before the Maryland Home Improvement Commission, and defenses to petitions to establish Mechanics’ Liens.

As a result of his exposure to consumer protection laws concerning construction matters, Derek also represents consumers in cases involving debt collection, auto fraud, and other consumer challenges.