Pietragallo‘s Municipal and Government Law team provides a broad range of services to businesses, organizations and individuals needing to navigate government, its laws and processes. The team also provides legal services to local, state and federal entities in their day-to-day operations and litigation. Attorneys who have worked in both the public and private sector can better represent, not only municipalities and government agencies, but also businesses and non-government clients who must face the challenges of navigating intricate government processes.

For businesses, organizations and individuals, having counsel who understands the processes, regulations, ordinances and politics of the public sector is key to their success in getting things done. The Pietragallo Municipal and Government Law team knows the pitfalls involved in negotiating the government maze and have successfully attained clients’ goals.

For municipalities, state and local governmental entities such as, cities, townships, authorities, commissions, councils, boards and committees, having counsel who understands the private sector, the State Ethics Code, the political landscape and who has experience mitigating damage is instrumental to achieving its goal of meeting its residents’ needs and improving their experience with government.

Our team is led by Lourdes Sánchez Ridge, the former City Solicitor/Chief Legal Counsel for the City of Pittsburgh, who counseled Pittsburgh’s Mayor, City Council and City Departments in all legal matters pertaining to the City of Pittsburgh. Our team represents both government/municipal entities and non-government business and corporate clients, such as developers, contractors, and social-services providers in:

• internal investigations
• grand jury investigations
• zoning and land use
• labor and employment
• civil litigation matters including
  • civil rights claims
  • First Amendment issues
  • construction
  • contract disputes
• real estate disputes
• government contracting
• compliance and risk management
• the purchase of government real estate such as in a Treasurer’s or Sheriff’s Sale
• the promotion of or opposition to ordinances, rules and regulations
• the appearance before zoning boards and other government boards and commissions
• appeals of government administrative agencies
• local, state and federal ethics laws
  • defense of ethics laws
  • drafting of ethics codes
  • drafting compliance programs
  • development of ethics boards
  • the defense to enforcement of codes
  • Right-To-Know & Sunshine Laws
  • Mediation between government entities and community groups
  • Qui Tam Actions (False Claims Action)