About Ford Law PLLC

Darren has extensive litigation experience, representing clients in complex disputes in federal and state courts nationwide. He has represented media clients in more than three dozen cases before state and federal appeals courts in Ohio and Kentucky, achieving precedent-setting victories that enhanced public and press access to government records and judicial proceedings. Darren also played a pivotal role in securing a $100m judgment in an abusive tax shelter case after a seven-week bench trial—one of the largest judgments in Northern Kentucky history.
Beyond litigation, Darren advises businesses on compliance, governance, and contracts. He offers outside general counsel services to small and medium-sized businesses and assists employers with policies and compliance matters, including worker classification and wage and hour regulations.
Darren serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, where he teaches conflict of laws and guest lectures on public records law and First Amendment issues. Over the past decade, Darren has regularly contributed to Media Law Resource Center publications and others. His professional accomplishments include the Ohio State Bar Association’s Best Brief Award and the Society of Professional Journalists’ First Amendment Award. He currently serves on the Kentucky Bar Association’s Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee and the board of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky John Weld Peck Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. He lives in Northern Kentucky with his wife and two children.
Supreme Court of the United States | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio |
Supreme Court of Ohio | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky |
Supreme Court of Kentucky | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio |
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky |
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana |
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio,
Juris Doctor, magna cum laude
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Bachelor of Music, Composition (with an emphasis on film scoring)
Honored Listee Marquis Who’s Who (2023) | First Amendment Award Society of Professional Journalists – Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter (2019) |
Certificate of Appreciation U.S.D.C. for the Southern District of Ohio (2023) | Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers (CALL) Cincinnati Bar Association (Class of 2016) |
Rising Stars Super Lawyers (2017-2020) | Order of the Coif University of Cincinnati College of Law (2010) |
Leadership Northern Kentucky Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (Class of 2020) | The Lawrence Maxwell Advocacy Prize University of Cincinnati College of Law (2008) |
Best Brief Award Ohio State Bar Association (2019) | Henry A. Morrill Constitutional Law Prize University of Cincinnati College of Law (2008) |
- Federal Bar Association – John W. Peck Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Chapter Board Member (2015-2021 & 2024-Present)
- Kentucky Bar Association Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (2018-Present)
- Salmon P. Chase Inn of Court (2016-2020)
- Potter Stewart Inn of Court (2012-2019)
- Cincinnati Bar Association
- Media Law Resource Center – Defense Counsel Section
University of Cincinnati Law Review
- Public Access to Police Body Camera Footage: It’s Still Not Crystal CLEIR (2018)
- Secondary Liability Under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (2010)
- Getting Past Function and Focusing on Results: When Should a Proceeding Before a State Administrative Agency Be Removable Under 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a)? (2009)
Media Law Resource Center
- 2018 MLRC Media Law Conference – Facilitator
- Ohio Supreme Court Brings Curtain Down On Covid Data (Media Law Letter, May 2024)
- It’s “OK” To Call a Police Officer Racist (Media Law Letter, Jan. 2024)
- Courthouse News Service Continues Its Winning Streak (Media Law Letter, Mar. 2023)
- Ohio Senate Candidate Can Run, But Not Hide (Media Law Letter, Oct. 2022)
- Fair Report 50-State Survey - Ohio & Kentucky (Aug. 2022)
- Kentucky’s New Anti-SLAPP Legislation a Welcome Addition (Media Law Letter, Apr. 2022)
- Court Orders Disclosure of Redacted Briefs in Constitutional Challenge to Substance Use Treatment Law (Media Law Letter, Feb. 2022)
- Covington Catholic Students’ Cases Dismissed (Media Law Letter, Feb. 2021)
- Ohio Court Considers Whether a “Suspect” Is a “Robber” (Media Law Letter, Dec. 2019)
- Fake News, Yelpers, and Tweets, Oh My!: Section 230 Case Law Update (Bulletin, May 2017)
- The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of Recent CDA Decisions (Bulletin, May 2016)
- Getting Hyper Over the Single Publication Rule (Media Law Letter, Oct. 2015)
- Ohio Juvenile Court Judge Held In Contempt (Media Law Letter, Sept. 2013)
National Business Institute
- Kentucky Employment Law: Hiring, Firing, and Disciplining Employees (Feb. 2024)
Ohio State Bar Association
- 2021 Law & Media Conference Panelist – Your Right to Know
- A Worthy Addition to the Endangered Species List (Ohio Lawyer Mag., Apr. 2014)
American Bar Association
- 2019 ABA Forum on Communications Law Panelist – Hot Issues in Libel & Privacy Workshop
Kentucky Bar Association
- 2013 Annual Convention Presenter – ESI for Judges: Myths v. Reality
In the Press
- WCPO.com, Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission partly cloudy on Ohio Sunshine Laws (Jan. 8, 2024)
- Cleveland.com, Legal publication sues Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts over same-day access to filings (July 5, 2023)
- DaytonDailyNews.com, Rape case involving former Montgomery County prosecutor unsealed after Dayton Daily News asks questions (Feb. 28, 2023)
- Scioto Valley Guardian, The Guardian sues Pike Co. Judge in Wagner trial (Sept. 22, 2022)
- WCPO.com, Nearly two months after conviction, possible juror misconduct still hangs over P.G. Sittenfeld trial (Aug. 29, 2022)
- WCPO.com, P.G. Sittenfeld's corruption trial is over, but emergency issues on jury and transparency go to appeals court (Aug. 16, 2022)
- WCPO.com, Judge decides fate of 'Juror X' in P.G. Sittenfeld corruption case by secret order (Aug. 9, 2022)
- Ideastream.org, In Ohio, Videos Are Public Records But Police Sometimes Refuse To Release (July 27, 2021)
- WVXU.org, Open Records Keep Government Transparent. After Local Corruption Scandals, Are They Working Here? (July 22, 2021)
- WCPO.com, Appeals court: Ohio broke public records law by not releasing nursing home COVID deaths (June 3, 2022)
- Cincinnati Enquirer, Enquirer named top news staff by Ohio Associated Press Media Editors association (Apr. 11, 2022)
- WCPO.com, Ohio spent $56K and counting to keep COVID deaths in nursing homes hidden from public (Nov. 30, 2021)
- WCPO.com, Ohio has spent more than $45K to fight WCPO's request for nursing home deaths to be made public (Nov. 18, 2021)
- WCPO.com, Have mask mandates, remote learning led to more interest in local government's inner workings? (Sept. 3, 2021)
- Cincinnati Enquirer, State keeps medical marijuana grow applications secret (June 29, 2017)
- LINKnky.com, Kenton Judge Awards $100 Million to Northern Kentucky Businessman (Nov. 8, 2013)
In the Press
- WCPO.com, Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission partly cloudy on Ohio Sunshine Laws (Jan. 8, 2024)
- Cleveland.com, Legal publication sues Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts over same-day access to filings (July 5, 2023)
- DaytonDailyNews.com, Rape case involving former Montgomery County prosecutor unsealed after Dayton Daily News asks questions (Feb. 28, 2023)
- Scioto Valley Guardian, The Guardian sues Pike Co. Judge in Wagner trial (Sept. 22, 2022)
- WCPO.com, Nearly two months after conviction, possible juror misconduct still hangs over P.G. Sittenfeld trial (Aug. 29, 2022)
- WCPO.com, P.G. Sittenfeld's corruption trial is over, but emergency issues on jury and transparency go to appeals court (Aug. 16, 2022)
- WCPO.com, Judge decides fate of 'Juror X' in P.G. Sittenfeld corruption case by secret order (Aug. 9, 2022)
- Ideastream.org, In Ohio, Videos Are Public Records But Police Sometimes Refuse To Release (July 27, 2021)
- WVXU.org, Open Records Keep Government Transparent. After Local Corruption Scandals, Are They Working Here? (July 22, 2021)
- WCPO.com, Appeals court: Ohio broke public records law by not releasing nursing home COVID deaths (June 3, 2022)
- Cincinnati Enquirer, Enquirer named top news staff by Ohio Associated Press Media Editors association (Apr. 11, 2022)
- WCPO.com, Ohio spent $56K and counting to keep COVID deaths in nursing homes hidden from public (Nov. 30, 2021)
- WCPO.com, Ohio has spent more than $45K to fight WCPO's request for nursing home deaths to be made public (Nov. 18, 2021)
- WCPO.com, Have mask mandates, remote learning led to more interest in local government's inner workings? (Sept. 3, 2021)
- Cincinnati Enquirer, State keeps medical marijuana grow applications secret (June 29, 2017)
- LINKnky.com, Kenton Judge Awards $100 Million to Northern Kentucky Businessman (Nov. 8, 2013)
Supreme Court of the United States | U.S.D.C. for the Southern District of Ohio |
Supreme Court of Ohio | U.S.D.C. for the Eastern District of Kentucky |
Supreme Court of Kentucky | U.S.D.C. for the Northern District of Ohio |
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit | U.S.D.C. for the Western District of Kentucky |
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit | U.S.D.C. for the Southern District of Indiana |
Honored Listee Marquis Who’s Who (2023) | First Amendment Award Society of Professional Journalists – Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter (2019) |
Certificate of Appreciation U.S.D.C. for the Southern District of Ohio (2023) | Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers (CALL) Cincinnati Bar Association (Class of 2016) |
Rising Stars Super Lawyers (2017-2020) | Order of the Coif University of Cincinnati College of Law (2010) |
Leadership Northern Kentucky Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (Class of 2020) | The Lawrence Maxwell Advocacy Prize University of Cincinnati College of Law (2008) |
Best Brief Award Ohio State Bar Association (2019) | Henry A. Morrill Constitutional Law Prize University of Cincinnati College of Law (2008) |
- Federal Bar Association – John W. Peck Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Chapter Board Member (2015-2021 & 2024-Present)
- Kentucky Bar Association Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (2018-Present)
- Salmon P. Chase Inn of Court (2016-2020)
- Potter Stewart Inn of Court (2012-2019)
- Cincinnati Bar Association
- Media Law Resource Center – Defense Counsel Section
University of Cincinnati Law Review
- Public Access to Police Body Camera Footage: It’s Still Not Crystal CLEIR (2018)
- Secondary Liability Under the Fair Deby Collections Practices Act (2010)
- Getting Past Function and Focusing on Results: When Should a Proceeding Before a State Administrative Agency Be Removable Under 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a)? (2009)
Media Law Resource Center
- 2018 MLRC Media Law Conference – Facilitator
- Ohio Supreme Court Brings Curtain Down On Covid Data (Media Law Letter, May 2024)
- It’s “OK” To Call a Police Officer Racist (Media Law Letter, Jan. 2024)
- Courthouse News Service Continues Its Winning Streak (Media Law Letter, Mar. 2023) (co-authored)
- Ohio Senate Candidate Can Run, But Not Hide (Media Law Letter, Oct. 2022)
- Fair Report 50-State Survey - Ohio & Kentucky (Aug. 2022)
- Kentucky’s New Anti-SLAPP Legislation a Welcome Addition (Media Law Letter, Apr. 2022)
- Court Orders Disclosure of Redacted Briefs in Constitutional Challenge to Substance Use Treatment Law (Media Law Letter, Feb. 2022)
- Covington Catholic Students’ Cases Dismissed (Media Law Letter, Feb. 2021)
- Ohio Court Considers Whether a “Suspect” Is a “Robber” (Media Law Letter, Dec. 2019)
- Fake News, Yelpers, and Tweets, Oh My!: Section 230 Case Law Update (Bulletin, May 2017)
- The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of Recent CDA Decisions (Bulletin, May 2019)
- Getting Hyper Over the Single Publication Rule (Media Law Letter, Oct. 2015)
- Ohio Juvenile Court Judge Held In Contempt (Media Law Letter, Sept. 2013)
National Business Institute
- Kentucky Employment Law: Hiring, Firing, and Disciplining Employees (Feb. 2024)
Ohio State Bar Association
- 2021 Law & Media Conference Panelist – Your Right to Know
- A Worthy Addition to the Endangered Species List (Ohio Lawyer Mag., Apr. 2014)
American Bar Association
- 2019 ABA Forum on Communications Law Panelist – Hot Issues in Libel & Privacy Workshop
Kentucky Bar Association
- 2013 Annual Convention Presenter – ESI for Judges: Myths v. Reality
- https://www.wcpo.com/news/homefront/hamilton-county-veterans-commission-partly-cloudy-on-ohio-sunshine-laws (Jan. 2024)
- https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/2022/09/22/the-guardian-sues-pike-co-judge-in-wagner-trial/ (Sept. 2022)
- https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/p-g-sittenfelds-corruption-trial-is-over-but-emergency-issues-on-jury-and-transparency-go-to-appeals-court (Aug. 2022)
- https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/judge-decides-fate-of-juror-x-in-p-g-sittenfeld-corruption-case-by-secret-order (Aug. 2022)
- https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/sittenfeld-trial/near-two-months-after-conviction-juror-misconduct-still-hangs-over-p-g-sittenfeld-trial (Aug. 2022)
- https://www.ideastream.org/community/2021-07-27/in-ohio-videos-are-public-records-but-police-sometimes-refuse-to-release (July 2022)
- https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/appeals-court-ohio-broke-public-records-law-by-not-releasing-nursing-home-covid-deaths (Jun. 2022)
- https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2022/04/04/enquirer-wins-general-excellence-ohio-associated-press-media-editors/7267534001/ (Apr. 2022)
- https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/ohio-spent-56k-and-counting-to-keep-covid-deaths-in-nursing-homes-hidden-from-public (Nov. 2021)
- https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/ohio-has-spent-more-than-45k-to-fight-wcpos-request-for-nursing-home-deaths-to-be-made-public (Nov. 2021)
- https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/have-mask-mandates-remote-learning-led-to-more-interest-in-local-governments-inner-workings (Sept. 2021)
- https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/29/ohio-medical-marijuana-grow-applications-secret/435856001/ (June 2017)
- https://linknky.com/uncategorized/2013/11/08/kenton-judge-awards-100-million-northern-kentucky-businessman/ (Nov. 2013)

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