Richards H. Ford

  • Undergrad School: University of Florida- Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) - Political Science and Eastern European Studies
  • Law School: Boston University School of Law
Headshot of Richards H. Ford
Firm: Wicker Smith (Central Florida)
390 N. Orange Avenue
Suite 1000
Orlando FL 32801
United States

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. 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 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 has since grown to become one of the largest of the firm’s twelve Florida locations. 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. Additionally, he has been listed among Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite” from 2004 to 2007, 2009, 2013, and 2015 as well as Best Lawyers in America 2012-2021. 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.

Resources & Articles

Wicker Smith’s Richards Ford and Patrick Mixson obtain defense verdict in medical malpractice trial

Wicker Smith’s Richards Ford and Patrick Mixson obtain defense verdict in medical malpractice trial

Posted May 1, 2023

Wicker Smith Orlando shareholders Richards Ford and Patrick Mixson recently obtained a defense verdict following an eight-day medical malpractice trial in Hernando County, Florida. They represented the hospital in a case involving the alleged failure to diagnose a bowel perforation following a laparoscopic gynecological surgery performed on the day before the first of three… Continue Reading

Wicker Smith Orlando partners Richards Ford, Patrick Mixson obtain defense verdict

Wicker Smith Orlando partners Richards Ford, Patrick Mixson obtain defense verdict

Posted January 1, 2023

Wicker Smith Orlando partners Richards Ford and Patrick Mixson obtained a defense verdict following a seven-day wrongful death medical malpractice case in Osceola County, Florida. The plaintiff, the estate of the deceased, claimed on behalf of his surviving spouse that the 57-year-old decedent died from a pulmonary embolism two days… Continue Reading

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