How it all began
Gary A. Bemis started this law practice in Southern California in 1995, focusing on commercial and consumer debt collection. Specifically, his team has extensive experience with business litigation, construction law, bankruptcy law, creditors rights, and international law.
The team of attorneys, paralegals, and debt collectors provide the foundation that supports our client-oriented service. Skilled attorneys provide collection and litigation services to recover outstanding commercial debt, consumer debt, medical debt, insurance subrogation, and other collectable accounts.
Where we are now
When your refer an account to the Law Offices of Gary A. Bemis, it receives the immediate attention of our experienced staff. The real difference in the services offered and performed by the Law Offices of Gary A. Bemis, when compared to others, is found in our dedication and commitment to satisfying you as our client. Modern technology can ease the process of providing clients with exceptional services, however, it fails if it is not built upon a foundation of knowledge, enthusiasm, dedication, and diligence. Our highly aggressive attorneys and staff are dedicated to maximizing your debt collection returns.
Gary A. Bemis
PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY
State Bar#: 92508
Undergraduate: California State University, Dominguez Hills
Law School: Western State University College of Law, CA
Admitted to the State Bar of California on May 30, 1980.
Courts: All Courts in California (since 1980); United States District, Court-Central and Southern Districts of California (since 1988).
Experience: Gary A. Bemis hails from the South Bay area of Southern California. His law career began in 1980 as in-house counsel in a small medical collection agency. The legal department caseload increased dramatically in 1985 when First Interstate Bank assigned credit card and motor vehicle deficiency accounts, at the time of charge-off, directly to the legal department. This continued until 1991. He served as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act counsel/advisor for Citibank (South Dakota), N.A. until 1996. In 1995 focus changed to purchased credit card debt and the Law Offices were opened with commercial collections added in 2002. The Law Offices now handle retail and commercial collections. Mr. Bemis also serves as senior counsel/consultant for a large consumer collection agency in Paso Robles, California.
John Scott Carter
ASSOCIATE MANAGING ATTORNEY
State Bar#: 220077
Also Admitted Washington DC Bar: 483195
Undergraduate: Southern Illinois University, Cabondale IL
Law School: University of San Diego, School of Law, San Diego, CA
Master of Business Administration Chapman University,
Admitted to the State Bar of California on 6, 2002.
Courts: All Courts in California (since 2002); United States District Courts: Central, Northern, Eastern and Southern Districts of California; Bankruptcy Courts: Central, Northern, Eastern and Southern Districts of California.
Experience: John Scott Carter moved to California, from Florida, while enlisted in the US Navy. After being honorably discharged from the US Navy, John worked as a Quality Engineer of electronic components at a large San Diego electronics manufacturer. While working as an Engineer, John attended law school, part time, at The University of San Diego, School of Law.
After completing his law degree, John began his legal career in San Diego as medical malpractice attorney. John has over 25 years of legal experience including litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. John has represented, or performed work for individuals, small, medium, and large companies in commercial litigation, including collections, as well as Bankruptcy.
John is a Certified Mediator with National Conflict Resolution Center in San Diego, California, and has successfully completed the Institute of Conflict Management’s Certified Arbitrator training. John performs work as an Arbitrator for FINRA. John has represented individuals in family law cases, and in addition, has performed multiple divorce mediations. John has additional training in Restorative Justice and Collaborative Divorces.
Robert Tyler
Director of Operations & Client Services
Over 45 years in the credit and collection industry working in both agency and law firm collections and marketing. Highly recognized for his experience in sales and marketing for legal services in the collection industry. Robert is the current chair of the Commercial Law League of America (CLLA) Western region 2024-2025 and 2025 -2026 and the Recording Secretary of the Commercial Law League of America (CLLA) Board of Governors 2025-2026.