Getting to Know: Robert J. Lantzy

Trial attorney Robert J. Lantzy has been with the Buckfire Law Firm in Southfield for 15 years.

An experienced trial attorney, he concentrates his practice in several areas of civil litigation, including lead paint exposure and child lead poisoning, mold exposure and
cases involving other general environmental contamination.

He has been named a "Super Lawyer" for his accomplishments.

A member of the American Bar Association, the Michigan Association for Justice, and the Macomb County Bar Association, Lantzy attended Macomb Community College before transferring to Central Michigan University.

He is a cum laude graduate from the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University, and was inspired to attend law school by his cousin, Jeff Buehner, who initially worked at the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office and now has a private practice.

Lantzy was born and raised in Macomb County. His father was a high school teacher and football coach. 

His mother raised three children, worked in retail businesses at Lakeside Mall, and later was a police dispatcher and human resource specialist for Shelby Township.

Lantzy and his wife of 20 years, Barbara, live in Washington Township in Macomb Township with their son, 10, and daughter, 8.


By Jo Mathis
Legal News

Favorite local hangouts?  With two children, favorite local hangouts have been sport field, local bounce houses, trampoline parks, and establishments that celebrate birthdays for kids. Friday nights are usually reserved for watching my father’s football teams:  Utica Eisenhower (42 years) and Rochester Stoney Creek (two years).

Favorite websites? Buckfirelaw.com; Yahoo.com and Digg.com for daily national news and entertainment.

What is your most treasured material possession? Our family home—it has provided so many awesome memories, from raising children to spending time with our families and friends.

What are your proudest moments as a lawyer? Having my cousin Jeff Buehner move for my admission to the practice of law in the Oakland County Circuit Court; being personally complimented by a federal judge concerning a federal court trial when I was a young lawyer; and all the wonderful calls, letters and reviews from clients. There is nothing better than a heartfelt thank you from a client telling me how happy they were with my representation and how I personally made them—and their family members—feel throughout the litigation process. 

What was always written on your grade school report card? “Bobby is a pleasure to have in class.  He is a hard worker and motivated to succeed at whatever he does.  He gets along well with all of his classmates.”

What is your happiest childhood memory? Summers at our family cottage in Caseville.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received? My mother was checking out a local business recently. The women behind the counter asked if I was her son. She told my mother she didn’t have many friends in school and was often teased. She told my mother I was always friendly and kind to her. 

When you were considering law school, what was Plan B? Buy a fast food franchise or build some quarter car washes.

What would surprise people about your job? That it never feels like work. I often tell my kids to find a career they love no matter what it is or how much it pays.

What do you wish someone would invent? Something that would create everlasting global peace, mutual respect, and compassion, and a respect for our environment.

When you look back into the past, what do you miss most? Youthful spirit and body.

What is your most typical mood? Joyful.

If you could have witnessed any event in history, what would it be? Whatever was happening the 24 hours before the Big Bang.

What were you doing in your last selfie? Celebrating my son’s 10th birthday at Osaka in Shelby Township.

Who is on your guest list for the ideal dinner party? My family.

What question do you most often ask yourself? My family's happiness is of the utmost importance to me. There’s nothing better than putting a smile on their faces. So I often ask myself, “What else can I do to make my wife and kids happy?”

If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would that be? No one.

What’s the most awe-inspiring place you’ve ever been? Anywhere with a view of a starry night sky.

What’s something you changed your mind about recently? Whether or not I was willing to move to a new home.

What word do you overuse? “Great” or “dude." My wife and kids would say the latter. 

What is one thing you would like to learn to do? Pilot a plane.

What is something most people don’t know about you? There is not one musical style I do not enjoy.

What is the best advice you ever received? To focus on today, and live in the present.