LOURDES SÁNCHEZ RIDGE practices in the areas of government enforcement, corporate compliance and internal investigations, government related civil litigation, and the False Claims Act. She counsels and investigates corporations and individuals on matters of domestic and international concerns such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), health care fraud, bribery and corruption, securities fraud, ethics and fraudulent conveyances. She also practices in the areas of municipal law including land use, civil rights, employment law, zoning, code enforcement, First Amendment matters, permits and licenses, building code violations, and the Torts Claims Act.

She has substantial trial experience in both state and federal court where she has tried numerous bench and jury trials in a multitude of jurisdictions. She has also represented a myriad of clients before state and federal grand juries.

Prior to joining Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP, Ms. Sánchez Ridge was the Chief Legal Counsel/City Solicitor for the City of Pittsburgh where she was responsible for all legal matters concerning the City of Pittsburgh while supervising the law department. She has substantial experience in representing elected and appointed officials in high profile matters and has experience in handling the media.

Ms. Sánchez Ridge served as a Federal prosecutor in Washington, DC where she handled a myriad of cases including financial crimes, narcotic rings, violent crimes and homicides. As an Assistant United States Attorney, she conducted numerous grand jury investigations, argued motions, conducted bench and jury trials and sentencings. In the mid-1980s, Ms. Sánchez Ridge served as a prosecutor in Miami-Dade County, Florida also handling violent crimes and narcotic prosecutions.

Ms. Sánchez Ridge has spoken on a variety of topics before varied audiences. She has spoken on internal investigations, the FCPA, the False Claims Act, financial fraud and constitutional issues before local, national and international audiences. Ms. Sánchez Ridge has also served as a Subject Matter expert and lecturer at Carlow University’s Fraud and Forensic Master’s Degree Program. She has earned a certificate of completion from Harvard Law School for their Mediation and Conflict Management Program.

Ms. Sánchez Ridge was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for her work in Criminal Defense: White-Collar. She was also recognized as a 2024 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer for her work in Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Ms. Sánchez Ridge was recognized in the 2024 Chambers USA Guide for her work in Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations in Pennsylvania.

Ms. Sánchez Ridge is also deeply involved in the community. She currently serves as Chair of the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Professional Ethics Committee and serves on the Pennsylvania Bar Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee. Ms. Sánchez Ridge was previously a Governor for the Allegheny County Bar Association, as well as a Board Member of the Board of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh. She served as the Chair of FamilyLinks, a social service non-profit organization, the Chair of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce where she was the Founder of the Hispanic Scholarship Program; she was a Trustee at Carlow University; a Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs; and, a Director at the Allegheny County Community College Foundation and Global Pittsburgh. Ms. Sánchez Ridge has also earned several awards: the Carol Los Mansmann Helping Hand Award, National Football League (NFL) Hispanic Leadership Award and the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Hispanic Bar Committee El Sol Award.

She speaks, writes and reads fluently in Spanish.

View our White Collar Criminal Defense Group Blog