Attorneys

John H. Bedard, Jr.

John is an AV rated attorney and nationally recognized authority on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. He serves as counsel to several professional trade associations, including the Georgia Collectors Association. John is a published writer on industry topics and a former member of the Board of Directors of the industry's leading professional trade organization, ACA International, The Association of Credit and Collection Professionals. John is recognized by Collection Advisor magazine as one of the nation's top 50 most influential people in the collection industry. He serves as the State of Georgia Compliance Chairperson for ACA International and is a former Chairperson and Program Designation award recipient of ACA International's Members Attorney Program.

John is a nationally recognized speaker and travels the country training collectors and educating industry associations, clients, and vendors who provide products and services to the industry. John is licensed to practice law only in Georgia and Tennessee. John received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University College of Law. He has spent his entire career serving the credit and collection industries.

Michael K. Chapman

A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Michael K. Chapman primarily practices in the areas of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act compliance and defense litigation. In addition to his experience in corporate compliance, he has represented numerous clients in insurance defense, personal injury, product and premises liability, and contract actions.

Michael is licensed to practice law in Georgia and Louisiana. He received two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Georgia and a Master of Arts degree in History from the University of Nebraska. Michael earned his Juris Doctor degree from Pennsylvania State University in 2002.

Jonathan Aust

Jonathan Aust represents debt collectors, creditors, and asset buyers focusing his practice on civil defense litigation and assisting clients with their compliance needs. Prior to joining the firm, Jonathan represented individuals bringing mass tort asbestos claims involving federal court multi-district litigation. Jonathan is licensed in North Carolina and Georgia and admitted to state and federal courts in each state.

Jonathan received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Appalachian State University, graduating cum laude, and with departmental honors. He then earned his Juris Doctor from Elon University School of Law. During law school, Jonathan was a member of Elon’s moot court team and was involved in the Legal Aid clinic. Jonathan had the opportunity to represent clients in eviction hearings in Magistrate Court and in unemployment benefits hearings with the North Carolina Employment Security Commission.

David Kleber

David brings to Bedard Law Group more than 20 years' experience as a collection attorney, including 5 years as the managing attorney of a nationally recognized law firm. David has tried hundreds of cases and successfully defended creditors and asset buyers against consumer claims under state and federal consumer protection laws. David is a frequent speaker and published author on topics such as bankruptcy and garnishment law. David is proud to serve as one of only three Board Certified creditors' rights specialists in the State of Georgia. David is an active member of ACA International and has served as President of the Georgia Collectors Association.

David is licensed to practice law in Georgia and is authorized to appear before all Georgia courts. He is also a registered Georgia mediator and arbitrator and manages Bedard Law Group's Insight voice analytics service. David received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia.

Of Counsel - Ronald S. Canter, Esq.

Ronald S. Canter established The Law Offices of Ronald S. Canter, LLC in 2008. Mr. Canter has been engaged in the private practice of law since 1980. He is a recognized authority on creditor rights and the regulation of collection practices. He has represented creditors, attorneys and collection agencies in complex litigation including class action defense in both Federal and state courts.

Mr. Canter has successfully defended lawsuits and prosecuted appeals before state and federal courts on significant issues involving the credit and collection industry. He appeared, as counsel of record, for the National Creditors Bar Association (NCBA) in Heintz v. Jenkins, the first Fair Debt Collection Practices case to reach the Supreme Court.

Mr. Canter has been qualified as an expert witness by several judges in areas including creditor rights, compliance duties of creditors, and the obligations of creditor rights attorneys.

Mr. Canter’s experience has earned him an “AV” rating from Martindale Hubbell’s Judicial Edition. Mr. Canter is also recognized as a “Super Lawyer.”

Of Counsel - John K. Rossman

John K. Rossman the owner and founding member of Rossman Attorney Group, PLLC. Mr. Rossman is a nationally acclaimed authority on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the labyrinth of laws that impact the debt industry. He is a counselor and advisor to national and international companies and noted for his intelligent, creative and successful representation of collection agencies, debt buyers, creditors and fellow attorneys in cases across the country.