Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Commercial Disputes

Partner

A trial lawyer in the truest sense, Rob Ford has led the defense and prosecution of complex civil cases at every phase of litigation, from discovery and pretrial motion practice through trial, final judgment and appeal. Licensed in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, Rob practices in state and federal courts throughout Texas and the greater Gulf Coast, where he represents plaintiffs and defendants in an array of high-stakes civil litigation, including complex commercial litigation, trade-secrets cases, fiduciary disputes, business torts, personal-injury suits, product-liability claims, and construction litigation. In the professional-liability context, Rob also defends lawyers and law firms accused of legal malpractice.

Having handled all facets of trial as lead counsel, it is his extensive trial experience that sets him apart. From arguing the pretrial conference to picking a jury; from delivering opening statements and closing arguments; from examining witnesses to arguing the jury charge — Rob has done it all from the “first chair.” As a result, he prides himself on building a case for trial thematically, from the ground up. And, while he appreciates that not all cases call for a courtroom resolution, Rob also is keenly aware that his trial readiness and comfort in the courtroom optimizes his client’s chances of resolving a matter favorably, whether through trial, dispositive motion, or settlement.

Notably, Rob has established himself as one of a handful of subject-matter experts in cases involving Chapter 95 of Texas’ Civil Practices & Remedies Code (which limits commercial premises owners’ liability for injuries and deaths sustained by independent contractors) and motions and appeals under the Texas Citizens’ Participation Act (TCPA), Texas’s anti-SLAPP statute.

State Bar of Texas

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Committee, 2017-present

Advanced Personal Injury Course, Director, 2019; Planning Committee, 2017

Business Disputes Course, Director, 2019

Masters of Litigation Course, Director, 2017

Advanced Civil Trial Course, Planning Committee, 2020

Business Law Course, Planning Committee, 2020

Texas Bar Foundation, Houston Nominating Committee, Co-chair, 2017-present

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), Fellow

Texas Association of Defense Counsel (TADC)

Houston Bar Association

CLE Committee, Co-chair, 2017-2018

Bench Bar Conference, 2017-present

Minority Opportunities in the Legal Profession (MOILP) Committee (Diversity & Inclusion Committee), 2016

Communities in Schools (CIS) Committee, 2013-2014

University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 2009, with honors; Associate Editor, Texas Law Review

Loyola University, B.A., Philosophy and Political Science, 2006