Robert Mactavish

Robert Mactavish serves as the Florida Managing Attorney for the LLG National Law Firm. Over the course of his career, he has built a reputation as a steady, thoughtful advocate with deep respect for the rule of law and the rights of every individual. Before joining the LLG, he spent more than sixteen years as an Assistant Public Defender in Tampa and later worked as an Attorney Advisor for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals.

In Florida’s state courts, Robert represented hundreds of clients facing charges that ranged from misdemeanors to homicide. He tried more than seventy-five jury trials as lead counsel, developing an ability to pinpoint key legal issues, craft persuasive arguments, and think quickly under pressure. Whether arguing a motion to suppress or cross-examining expert witnesses, he earned a reputation for diligence, fairness, and skill in the courtroom. During his years handling cases under Florida’s Involuntary Civil Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators Act, Robert was known for ensuring that even the most difficult cases were handled with professionalism and respect for due process.

At the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals, Robert reviewed complex appellate records and drafted hundreds of written decisions for Administrative Law Judges. His work required precise legal reasoning, careful research, and the ability to translate dense statutory and regulatory language into clear, practical guidance. Colleagues often describe him as a “law lawyer,” someone who not only knows the law but also understands how to make it work for clients.

Robert was drawn to the LLG’s national reach paired with its local commitment and to the number of attorneys who, like him, came from criminal defense backgrounds. He values working alongside colleagues who share his belief that strong advocacy and preparation are essential to fairness in the legal system.

A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Robert served eight years as an Electronics Technician, reaching the rank of Petty Officer First Class and earning two Navy Achievement Medals for exemplary service. That experience shaped his disciplined, analytical approach to legal work and his respect for teamwork under pressure.

When he’s not practicing law, Robert enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, camping, skiing, and golfing. He is an avid Bruce Springsteen fan and enjoys reading military history and visiting Civil War battlefields. Robert is active in his community as an Elder, Treasurer, and Chair of the Budget and Stewardship Committee at the First Presbyterian Church of Taos.

He earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Florida State University College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from Furman University.

Mr. Lento did not enter the profession on an easy path. He worked full-time while attending Temple University’s Beasley School of Law at night, often studying after long workdays and showing up the next morning ready to do it again. He trained with nationally-renowned criminal defense attorneys and the prestigious Defender Association of Philadelphia, gaining hands-on experience in how cases are actually won. His work as a private attorney for the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender added even more depth, giving him a clear understanding of what clients face when the stakes are high.

With that foundation, Mr. Lento built his first practice from the ground up. He handled negotiations when that was the strongest path forward and pushed harder when a client’s situation demanded a ‘take no prisoners’ approach. Over time, he recognized a wider pattern. People across the country were encountering institutions with enormous power and no incentive to provide individuals with a fair process. That realization led him to create the LLG National Law Group. The firm was designed to give clients a place where they could count on careful preparation, clear communication, and attorneys who understood how to navigate complex systems.

While the firm has grown into a national law practice supported by a large team, it still reflects the ideas Mr. Lento set down at the beginning. The emphasis on research, strategy, and straightforward guidance came from his own pragmatic approach to practicing law. The processes and standards he developed as a young attorney now anchor the firm’s work across many practice areas.

Mr. Lento has always welcomed challenges, whether that meant balancing school and work, blazing a non-traditional path, or taking on roles that kept him connected to the communities he served. His early experience with the School District of Philadelphia and his work with at-risk youth shaped his understanding of how institutions operate and the importance of standing up for people who are unheard.

His contribution today is found in the structure he built and the mission he set in motion. The LLG National Law Group continues to grow, but its foundation remains the same. The firm’s commitment to diligent work, practical guidance, and strong advocacy stems from the principles Mr. Lento established when the firm was founded.