Richards H. "Dick" Ford

Richards H. Ford is a Managing Partner in the firm’s Orlando office. In his 35+ year career, Mr. Ford has engaged in active civil trial practice, focusing on the defense of professional and corporate institutions. He has tried over 100 civil jury trials, including professional negligence, products liability, construction litigation, medical malpractice, automobile liability, transportation liability, general civil litigation and environmental cases.

Mr. Ford earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Florida in 1976 and a Juris Doctor from Boston University in 1979. An AV® Preeminent rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, Mr. Ford is also a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, certified with The National Board of Trial Advocacy, a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist and as of 2012, a Board Certified Civil Pretrial Practice Advocate by the National Board of Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy. In addition, he actively lectures on trial advocacy techniques and various legal issues throughout the state.

Mr. Ford joined Wicker Smith in 1983 and except for a six month hiatus, has been with the firm ever since. In 1988, he was asked to open the Orlando office, which has since grown to become one of the largest of the firm’s twelve Florida locations. Among several honors, Mr. Ford has been named a “2017 Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers of America and a Florida Super Lawyers from 2006 to 2017. He has also been listed among Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite” from 2004 to 2007, 2009, 2013, and 2015 as well as Best Lawyers in America 2012-2017. In 2006, he was appointed to the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, an exclusive legal organization that limits its membership to one-third of one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction.

His professional and community involvement includes serving on the Orlando Health Foundation Board, the Central Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America Board, the Vestry of All Saint’s Episcopal Church, Trinity Preparatory School Board and Interlachen Country Club Board of Directors.Legal Certifications: Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney, The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and EducationBoard Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial AdvocacyBoard Certified as a Civil Pretrial Practice Advocate by the National Board of Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy