Attorney

With over 40 years of legal experience, Patricia Ritzert focuses on governmental law, public finance, and business law as a member of the firm’s Corporate and Business Law group. Her extensive background includes serving as an assistant law director for the cities of Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, as well as various Ohio port authorities.

Ms. Ritzert’s experience spans a wide range of local government issues, including employment, land use, taxation, finance, claims for and against townships and municipalities, and matters concerning non-profit organizations. She has litigated property rights and real estate development cases, successfully taking two cases to the Ohio Supreme Court. Additionally, she has acted as independent outside counsel in investigations involving alleged misconduct by municipal employees. Her litigation experience covers business, financial, tax, property, and employment issues, with representation before administrative agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals, and the Ohio State Employment Relations Board.

Patricia is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the United States Tax Court, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the Ohio Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In addition to her legal credentials, Ms. Ritzert holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Akron. She also earned two post-Juris Doctor degrees: a Master of Taxation from the University of Akron and an LL.M. in taxation from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

Patricia has contributed to legal education as a presenter at the Cleveland Tax Institute and as an adjunct professor at Cleveland State University School of Law, teaching individual, corporate, and partnership taxation. Recognized for her accomplishments, she was named a “Woman of Distinction” by her Akron high school, Our Lady of the Elms, in 2023.

Outside of her legal career, she enjoys reading, landscaping, hiking, and bicycling. Pat and her husband, Robert Bulford (U.S. Attorney’s Office, NDO, retired), along with their five children, are active members of the Akron Highland Square neighborhood. She has served on the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Review Board since 2003, including 15 years as Chair, and has been involved in women’s community soccer and coaching youth sports for two decades. With a passion for outdoor activities, Ms. Ritzert and her husband are proud grandparents to nine grandchildren in Ohio, Maryland, and the Philippines.