Richards H. Ford

 Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford, P.A.

Richards H. Ford is a Managing Partner in the Wicker Smith’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. He has achieved recognition as an AV® Preeminent rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell and a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by The Florida Board of Legal Specialization. He is also certified with The National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate and by the National Board of Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy as a Board Certified Civil Pretrial Practice Advocate. 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 is now one of the firm’s 16 offices across the nation. Among several honors, Mr. Ford was selected as a “Top 50: 2021 Orlando Super Lawyer” and has been recognized as a “Best Lawyer in America” within Orlando Magazine’s 2021 Best Lawyers List and a “2017 Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers of America. He has also earned selection to Florida Super Lawyers from 2006 to 2021. In 2017 he was elected a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a preeminent body limited to 500 fellow in the United States.

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, Interlachen Country Club Board of Directors, and will soon be a board member of the Florida Audubon.