Chelsea Ortega

Chelsea Ortega is a partner at the law firm of Santoni, Vocci & Ortega, LLC. She regularly defends consumers and brings affirmative claims for violations of Maryland’s consumer protection statutes and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in debt collection cases, including landlord/tenant cases, and predatory loans. Chelsea has been helping consumers who are being sued and harassed by debt collectors and debt buyers since 2012. Her practice also focuses on issues involving tenants’ rights, representing tenants who have been illegally locked out of their homes or lived in uninhabitable conditions She has obtained relief for those who have been cheated or the victims of fraud under Maryland’s consumer protection laws. Chelsea has brought and settled several class action cases against large property management companies, debt collectors, and auto finance companies. As part of her practice, she also assists the injured in their personal injury cases. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Chelsea Ortega included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors The Daily Record's 2020 Leading Women, 2020 Civil Justice Network Member of the Year, 2018 Law Firm named Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service's Firm of the Year, 2019 Law Firm awarded Pro Bono Firm of the Year Award by Baltimore County Bar Association, 2019 Law firm honored with Law Firm Pro Bono Award by the Pro Bono Resource Center, 2018 Other Sources of Feedback About Chelsea Ortega Included on the 2026Maryland Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Maryland Super Lawyers list 2022 Maryland Super Lawyers list 2021 Maryland Super Lawyers list 2020 Maryland Super Lawyers list 2019 Maryland Super Lawyers list 2018 Maryland Super Lawyers list

• Partner

• Williams & Santoni, LLP, Associate, 2012 - 2016

• "Best Practices for Settlement of Plaintiff Cases", Maryland State Bar Association, 2020
• "Obtaining Significant Awards for Non-Economic Damages", Maryland State Bar Association, 2020
• "FDCPA Claims Arising from Landlord/Tenant Cases", National Consumer Law Center, 2020
• "Carceral Capitalism: Challenging the Profiteers of Money Bail in Maryland", Partners for Justice Conference, 2019
• "Discovery and Trial Preparation", Maryland Legal Aid, 2019

• Maryland Legal Aid, Current Board Member
• Volunteer Attorney with Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland in Consumer Protection Program, 2013 - Present
• Volunteer Attorney with Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, 2013 to Present, Prior Board Member 2022-2025

• Maryland, 2012
• U.S. District Court District of Maryland, 2016
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 2018

• National Association of Consumer Advocates, 2012 - Present (Member, Current Maryland State Chair)
• Maryland State Bar Association, 2012 - Present (Member)