Robert Anthony Alvarez
Founding Member | Trial Attorney | Civil Rights Advocate
Admitted in Michigan and multiple federal jurisdictions, including the U.S. Supreme Court
Robert Alvarez co-founded Avanti Law Group, PLLC in 2010 with a singular mission: to stand shoulder to shoulder with workers, immigrants, and underrepresented communities in their fight for justice. With over two decades of courtroom experience, Robert is a seasoned litigator who has built a reputation for going toe-to-toe with some of the nation’s most powerful institutions and premier law firms in high-stakes, high-impact litigation.
His practice is national in scope, with a focus on employment law, civil RICO, immigration and deportation defense, federal criminal defense, and general civil litigation. He has represented plaintiffs in multi-million-dollar class and collective actions across the country, recovered millions in unpaid wages, and won key decisions before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Robert’s trial experience includes:
- Serving as lead defense counsel in an eight-day federal jury trial where he successfully dismantled class action claims under federal and state labor trafficking statutes—limiting recovery to five individual plaintiffs and avoiding millions in exposure.
- Litigating and winning a three-day trial under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, ensuring the return of a child to her mother in Brazil after an international custody dispute.
Known for his bilingual advocacy (English/Spanish and some Brazilian Portuguese), Robert has long been a champion of immigrant and workers’ rights, particularly within the Hispanic community. His previous work at the Michigan Migrant Legal Assistance Project laid the foundation for a career defined by strategic, relentless litigation on behalf of vulnerable populations.
He is admitted to practice before multiple federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court, and he has been recognized as Hispanic Person of the Year for his leadership in civil rights litigation. Robert also serves as General Counsel to Latino Leaders for Enhancement and Development and was twice appointed to the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.
Through his firm and newly launched nonprofit Avanti Cares, Robert is also committed to the next generation—mentoring young legal professionals and offering scholarships, internships, and career-building resources to aspiring Hispanic and immigrant lawyers.
When Robert isn’t fighting Goliaths in court, he’s a devoted husband, father of four, and grandfather of three who finds joy in grilling, family road trips, and quoting Star Trek (sometimes mid-trial). A proud “mama’s boy” raised by a single immigrant mother, he brings the values of loyalty, hard work, and resilience into every courtroom he enters. Family first is ingrained in his soul and while he may wear a suit and tie during the week, his weekend uniform consists of dad tshirts gifted to him by his wife and children.
Robert’s philosophy mirrors his favorite captains: creative like Kirk, logical like Spock, and relentless like Seven of Nine. He proudly lives by the Vulcan Hello: open to diplomacy, but always ready for a fight. His personal mantra? There’s no such thing as a no-win scenario.
Whether mentoring young attorneys, spending time with his family, or advocating on behalf of his clients, Robert leads with heart, humor, and unshakable purpose.
