Our Attorneys

PETER W. SHAFRAN was born in 1958, and graduated from State University of New York at Binghamton (now known as Binghamton University) with a bachelor's degree in Psychology in 1980.  He obtained his J.D. in 1984 from Hofstra University School of Law, distinguishing himself as the Editor-in-Chief of CONSCIENCE, the law school's award-winning newspaper. Peter established his own firm in 1990 after practicing at two reputable area law firms. Throughout the years, Peter has expanded the practice to offer a full spectrum of legal services. The firm handles litigation, matrimonial, criminal and traffic law, commercial law, business transactions, computer and internet law. The practice also focuses on all aspects of real estate, including representing purchasers, sellers, lenders, mortgage companies, landlords and tenants, and land developers and builders. Peter is an approved attorney for more than 150 different mortgage lenders and banks and continues to represent local, regional and national lenders in real estate transactions throughout the tri-State area.  Peter is admitted to practice in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey as well as United State District Court and is a member of the Connecticut, New York State and New Jersey Bar Associations as well as the Connecticut and American Trial Lawyers Associations and the Fairfield County Bar Association.  As chairman of the Website Committee, Peter was directly responsible for the creation of the Bar Association's website. Peter also chairs the Internet Law Committee, is a member of the Law Day Committee and serves as a judge in the Fairfield County Bar Association's Annual Regional High School Mock Trial Competition.     Of Counsel Bonnie L. Canty is an attorney with an extensive background.  She is licensed in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia and, the state of her current residence, Florida.  In 1984 she graduated from Ramapo College in Mahwah, NJ with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration where she was Student Government President and coordinated the school’s Orientation Program.  Bonnie utilized her position for not only the weekly governmental activities, but to promote social awareness on a variety of issues such as muscular dystrophy where she organized a 24-hour marathon.  Raising ten thousand dollars for the disease remains one her personal favorite accomplishments.  Following undergraduate school, Bonnie then attended Hofstra School of Law where she worked in the school library and later clerked at a small family firm.  She also was on the Moot Court Board providing research for judges of the court in mock trials.  This drive and ambition suited her well when she graduated from law school with her Juris Doctorate, immediately passing the bar exams for New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.  She began to work full time at the firm, now as an attorney.  Here she gained experience in areas of real estate, matrimonial law, child support, bankruptcy and collections. She soon opened her own general practice specializing in family law and collections for large businesses. In 1996, Bonnie began assisting consumers with debt related issues. Her reputation for having close and professional relationships with her clients lead her to an offer of becoming Executive Director for Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp. (DMCC), a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to educating and assisting individuals in debt. At DMCC Bonnie found a position that melded her love of law and her love of assisting people in financial and social need.  As regulations differed from state to state, Bonnie became an expert in debt related law  throughout the continental United States.  Working on the opposite side of the credit-collection practices this time, Bonnie was able to negotiate with creditors for the benefit of thousands of consumers.  Her instinctive leadership abilities made her a natural in the corporate environment where she oversaw the day-to-day operations.  It also gave her the opportunity to help implement DMCC’s Charitable Services Program, the DMCC Scholarship Fund, the DMCC Charity of the Month while overseeing the day-to-day operations of this successful and renowned agency.  As Executive Director, she made the highest level of corporate decisions while finding time for the smaller pleasures of her work, such as walking for juvenile diabetes.  Meanwhile, Bonnie would also take on personal counseling needs for clients with the greatest of hardships, and it was not uncommon for her to personally speak with clients and provide counsel.  During her successful six year run at DMCC, Bonnie observed first hand how increasingly strict regulations lobbied by the banking industry and government officials were diluting the quality and level of credit counseling service that agencies were able to provide.  She witnessed overzealous collection agencies and unfair credit reporting affect the lives of individuals and families who suffered financially due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control.  Accordingly, Bonnie elected to open her own practice, taking her mission to the next level.  It would allow her to continue to assist financially distressed consumers, though in an even more significant way.  No longer focusing solely on debt management plans, her firm now assists clients in a wider scope of financial issues concerning the law while advocating for consumer rights. Bonnie Canty is a member of the National Association of Female Executives (NAFE) and the American Society for Quality from which she received an award of excellence.  Among her many recognitions throughout her career, she has been featured in numerous Who’s Who including Nationwide Registers in American Executives and Businesses and most recently, Cambridge’s.  She served as Community Development Committee in N. Lauderdale, Fl.  She is a member of the Bar Associations of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia and Florida.  Bonnie currently resides in Boca Raton, Florida where she is a proud mother and wife.