About Ford Law PLLC

After more than a decade with respected regional law firms, Darren W. Ford founded Ford Law to provide high-quality legal counsel with the flexibility, efficiency, and personal attention of an independent practice. His work focuses on business litigation, media and First Amendment law, labor and employment matters, and business transactions, tailoring his approach to meet each client’s unique objectives.

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 StatesU.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
Supreme Court of OhioU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
Supreme Court of KentuckyU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth CircuitU.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitU.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)

University of Cincinnati Law Review

Media Law Resource Center

National Business Institute

Ohio State Bar Association

American Bar Association

Kentucky Bar Association

In the Press

In the Press

Supreme Court of the United StatesU.S.D.C. for the Southern District of Ohio
Supreme Court of OhioU.S.D.C. for the Eastern District of Kentucky
Supreme Court of KentuckyU.S.D.C. for the Northern District of Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth CircuitU.S.D.C. for the Western District of Kentucky
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitU.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)

University of Cincinnati Law Review

Media Law Resource Center

National Business Institute

Ohio State Bar Association

American Bar Association

Kentucky Bar Association

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