Ridge Blanchard is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where his practice focuses on government investigations and congressional oversight. He regularly provides strategic counsel to major tech companies, financial institutions and other industry-leading clients facing corporate crises and high-stakes reputational matters. He has deep experience in advising clients in connection with public affairs challenges and regularly prepares CEOs and other senior executives to appear before Congress. Additionally, Ridge counsels clients facing regulatory and litigation-related inquiries brought by state attorneys general, and he provides prospective high-level public officials with advice related to government ethics and financial disclosure requirements.Ridge has also served as a Lecturing Fellow at his alma mater, Duke University School of Law, teaching a course entitled "Congressional Investigations in the Private Sector."Prior to joining Kirkland, Ridge practiced at another major law firm, which he joined following a clerkship for Judge Lance M. Africk of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Before attending law school, he was a legislative aide to then-Representative and now-Governor Jeff Landry from his home state of Louisiana; in that role, he managed a substantial portfolio of issues, including oversight, financial services, technology and privacy, small business, education and labor. He also worked as a legislative assistant for a leading public policy group, focusing on local government advocacy representing cities, counties, transportation agencies, education districts and other municipal entities across the United States on a variety of issues such as transportation, healthcare and public safety.LessMore