Jackie Ford
Practice Areas
- eControl
- Information Technology, New Media and Advertising
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Labor and Employment
- Employer Internal Investigations
- Employment Litigation
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Employment Relations, Policies, and Regulatory Practice
- Covenants Not to Compete and Trade Secrets
- Drug and Alcohol Policies and Testing
- Employee Discipline and Termination
- Employment Counseling
- Employment Policies and Manuals
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- Management Training
- Wage and Hour/Fair Labor Standards Act
- Whistleblower Protection
- Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act ("WARN")
- Workplace Harassment, Including Sexual Harassment
- Workplace Technology Policies
- Workplace Safety
- Litigation
- Privacy & Data Security
Industries
Education
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
Case Western Reserve University Law Review, Member, Notes Editor - Oberlin College, A.B.
- Harvard University, Visiting Undergraduate
Bar & Court Admissions
Jackie is a partner in the Vorys Houston office and practices primarily in the field of labor and employment law, with an additional practice in online seller enforcement and privacy issues. She is the founder and former chair of the firm's Women’s Initiative and the host of the “Vorys at Work” podcast.
Much of Jackie’s practice focuses on the retail industry. In her employment law practice, Jackie helps retailers and other clients address issues of harassment and discrimination, workplace and online privacy, internal investigations, and employment-related administrative charges and litigation. She has conducted internal investigations for a wide variety of clients, ranging from Fortune 500 retailers to schools, universities, small businesses, and non-profits on issues ranging from harassment claims to data breaches. She also works with clients to coordinate crisis management and legal matters. As part of the Vorys eControl team, Jackie counsels businesses on issues related to e-commerce and online brand protection.
One of Jackie’s passions is creating and delivering effective, meaningful training programs designed to prevent a broad range of workplace problems and help companies protect their brands. She is called upon dozens of times each year to provide educational programming on a broad range of employment law topics, including internal investigations, social media, sexual harassment, workplace privacy, accommodating disabilities, and LGBT issues in the workplace. She has also developed “Employment Law 101” training for both supervisory and non-supervisory personnel, and adapts her training programs to fit the specific needs of individual clients.
Career highlights include:
- Successfully defending employers in numerous cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, state discrimination agencies, and in state and federal courts involving all forms of employment discrimination.
- Working as a trusted business partner on the full range of employment-related issues.
- Representing the plaintiff in a major (and successful) challenge to Ohio's Medicaid reimbursement system for residential services for the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled.
Jackie is a frequent writer and commentator on a wide range of issues important to employers. Her recent publications include article in Law360 concerning best practices in harassment investigations and an article in the Houston Business Journal regarding “compassionate compliance” in the workplace following Hurricane Harvey. She has also been featured on Houston public radio discussing sexual harassment issues and strategies for preventing workplace violence. Jackie is a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Texas Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association, the Houston Bar Association, The Houston Association of Women Attorneys, and the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP).
Jackie received her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law magna cum laude where she was a member of the Order of the Coif and notes editor for the Case Western Reserve University Law Review. She received her B.A. from Oberlin College.
Professional and Community Activities
- Houston Grand Opera, Trustee, 2013-15
- Girls, Inc of Greater Houston, Advisory Board Member; Luncheon Co-Chair, 2015
- Phillips Exeter Academy, Class Agent
- Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio PAC, Treasurer, 1997-2014
- Columbus Speech and Hearing Center Board of Directors, 2001-2010
- Friends of the Homeless Board of Directors, 1997–2006
- Southeast Mental Health Board of Directors, 2006-2008
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law - Management, 2012-2020
- The Best Lawyers in America, Labor Law - Management, 2013-2020
- The Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law - Individuals, 2013-2020
- Ohio Lawyers Weekly Lawyers of the Year Award, 2003
News
- 8/15/2019One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020.
- 7/8/2019The rapid growth of Amazon and other online marketplaces has created a new ecosystem in which brands struggle to control their product sales. Brands now find their products sold by anonymous online sellers and face new challenges on an unprecedented scale. The eControl360 Summit is a first-of-its-kind event that will bring together thought leaders in each of the disciplines necessary to tackle these challenges and allow brands to retake control of their online sales.
- 6/5/2019In the gig economy, workers make their living through irregular short-term assignments, typically on an independent contractor basis.
- 4/18/2019
- 3/19/2019Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP today announced the launch of the firm’s first podcast “Vorys at Work.”
- 3/14/2019Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and member of the labor and employment group, was interviewed fror a story for WVTF titled “LG Fairfax Still on Leave as His Law Firm Investigates.”
- 10/25/2018Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, was recently a guest on the MA Invincible Brand Podcast.
- 9/6/2018Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, was interviewed for a Houston Public Media (KUHF) story titled “Family of Man Killed in Workplace Shooting Sues Company for Negligence.”
- 8/17/2018Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, was quoted in an Agenda story about two recent legal cases that involved companies that were sued because of how they handled misconduct complaints
- 8/15/2018One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019.
- 6/15/2018Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, was a guest on Houston Public Media’s Bauer Business Focus.
- 8/17/2017One hundred and eight lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018.
- 4/28/2017Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, was a featured guest on Bauer Business Focus.
- 11/23/2016Jackie Ford, a partner in the Houston office, was quoted in an Austin American-Statesman story about the political discussions in the workplace.
- 8/15/2016One-hundred and eleven lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017.
- 5/13/2016Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, was recently a guest on Houston Public Media’s Bauer Business Focus radio show.
- 9/11/2015Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, was a featured guest on Houston Public Media’s Bauer Business Focus program.
- 8/17/2015One-hundred and eighteen lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016.
- 7/30/2015Jackie Ford, a partner in the Houston and Columbus offices, was quoted in a Houston Chronicle story titled “Labor Department Takes Harder Line on Classifying Workers.”
- 5/28/2015Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, was quoted in a Houston Chronicle story titled “Job Security When Disaster Hits.”
- 4/27/2015Jackie Ford, a partner in the firm’s labor and employment group, was quoted in an Akron Legal News story titled “Battle Over New Overtime Pay Regulations for Direct Care Workers Continues.”
- 3/5/2015Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices and a member of the labor and employment group, was quoted in a Computer World story regarding Hillary Clinton’s use of private email while serving as the Secretary of State.
- 2/24/2015Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Columbus and Houston offices, was quoted in a Columbus C.E.O. story titled “How Businesses Can Avoid Legal Risks of Utilizing Social Media.”
- 12/18/2014Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, was quoted in a SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) story titled “Unlimited Paid Time Off: A Good or Bad Idea?"
- 11/6/2014Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, was quoted in a Houston Chronicle story titled “Wage Data is Getting Out into the Open.”
- 8/18/2014One-hundred and ten lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015.
- 7/21/2014Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, was quoted throughout a Houston Business Journal story about recent statement issued by the Department of Labor.
- 6/24/2014Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices and a member of the labor and employment group, was quoted in a JCK Magazine story about policies that Jewelers can put into place to avoid discrimination claims.
- 3/31/2014Jackie Ford, a partner in the Columbus and Houston offices and a member of the labor and employment group, spoke with News 92FM Houston about a recent decison from an NLRB regional director.
- 3/19/2014Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Columbus and Houston offices, was a guest on Good Day Columbus. During the show, she discussed things that employers need to keep in mind during March Madness basketball season.
- 10/4/2013Jackie Ford and Ari Zytcer, attorneys in the Vorys Columbus office, were quoted in a Columbus Business First story about strategies that small businesses can use to reduce the risk of a lawsuit.
- 8/14/2013One hundred and eleven lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014.
- 4/4/2013Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Columbus and Houston offices, was interviewed by Houston News 92FM about the things employers can learn from the firing of the Rutgers’ basketball coach.
- 2/22/2013Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Columbus and Houston offices, spoke with News 92FM Houston about Texas Governor Rick Perry’s efforts to entice California jobs to Texas.
- 12/13/2012Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Columbus and Houston offices, spoke with 92FM Houston about the right-to-work legislation recently signed into law by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.
- 12/6/2012Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, was quoted in a PR News story titled “Just Like Petraeus, PR Pros Must Deliver the Right E-Mails at the Right Time.”
- 11/16/2012Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, participated in an interview with News 92FM Houston about the proper use of electronic communication in and out of the workplace.
- 8/23/2012One hundred and twenty-six lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013.
- 7/11/2012Jackie Ford, a partner in the labor and employment group in the Vorys Columbus office, appeared on the Ohio News Network’s Ohio Means Business television show to discuss social media policies for employers.
- 5/29/2012Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted throughout a Chillicothe Gazette story regarding proposed Ohio legislation that would prevent an employer from asking for access to an employee and/or potential employee’s social media accounts.
- 3/14/2012Ford Featured in Columbus Business First Story About March Madness' Impact on Workplace ProductivityJackie Ford, a partner in the firm’s Columbus office, was featured in a Columbus Business First story regarding workplace computer use policies and NCAA basketball tournament viewing.
- 9/6/2011
- 5/6/2011
- 9/17/2010
- 7/12/2010
- 6/28/2010
- 5/17/2010
- 3/10/2010
- 12/9/2009
- 11/30/2009
- 6/15/2009
Events
- 11/6/2019The rapid growth of Amazon and other online marketplaces has created a new ecosystem in which brands struggle to control their product sales. Brands now find their products sold by anonymous online sellers and face new challenges on an unprecedented scale. The eControl360 Summit was a first-of-its-kind event that brought together thought leaders in each of the disciplines necessary to tackle these challenges and allow brands to retake control of their online sales.
- 10/25/2018Vorys Partner Jackie Ford spoke at a Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce Lunch & Learn on October 25, 2018. She presented tips for avoiding the most common forms of employer liability.
- 9/7/2018On September 7, 2018, Vorys Partners Jackie Ford and Dick Schwartz presented at the Houston Bar Association’s Ethics of Settlement seminar.
- 8/22/2018Vorys Partner Jackie Ford presented, Lessons Learned from Harvey: Compassionate Compliance in Disaster Response, to the Association of Corporate Counsel on August 22, 2018.
- 8/14/2018Vorys Partner Jackie Ford presented, Lessons Learned from Harvey: Compassionate Compliance in Disaster Response, to the Houston Association of Corporate Counsel on August 14, 2018.
- 4/26/2018On April 26, 2018, Vorys hosted its annual Cincinnati Labor and Employment Update.
- 4/19/2018On April 19, 2018 Vorys attorneys hosted the program, What #MeToo Means For You: A Guide to Navigating Civility, Harassment, and Other Workplace Minefields in partnership with the Central Ohio Association of Corporate Counsel.
- 2/7/2018Vorys partner Jackie Ford and associate Alex Bluebond presented Sexual Harassment: What Companies Should Know in the #MeToo Era on February 7, 2018.
- 11/10/2017Vorys partner Jackie Ford spoke at the 25th annual Texas Minority Counsel Program (TMCP) on November 10, 2017. Jackie presented the Employment Law Update for 2017.
- 10/13/2016Vorys and The Ohio State University presented a two-day program, In-House Essential Conference on October 13-14, 2016.
- 10/16/2015Vorys Partner Jackie Ford was a speaker at the 23rd Annual Texas Minority Counsel Program on October 16, 2015.
- 10/1/2015Vorys attorneys Jackie Ford and Monica Oathout were speakers at the 2015 American Petroleum Labor Lawyers Association Annual Meeting on October 1, 2015.
- 9/30/2015Vorys Partner Jackie Ford was a speaker at the Association of Corporate Counsel Houston Chapter Meeting on September 30, 2015.
- 9/8/2015Vorys Partner Jackie Ford presented a CLE titled “Employee Privacy – Or the Lack of It – In the Digital Age” hosted by the Association of Corporate Counsel Houston Chapter on September 8, 2015.
- 4/24/2014Vorys partners Ronald A. "Rocky" Robins and Jackie Ford presented "Crisis Preparedness for In-House Counsel" to the Central Ohio Chapter - Association of Corporate Counsel on April 24, 2014.
- 10/9/2012Vorys attorneys Elizabeth Smith, Jackie Ford, Martha Brewer and Christopher Ingram spoke at the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools 6th Annual Conference on October 9-10.
- 4/26/2012On April 26, Vorys and the Central Ohio Association of Corporate Counsel hosted the program, Privilege. Privacy. Preservation. Managing Risks with Electronic Communications.
- 10/14/2011
- 4/7/2011
- 5/13/2010
- 3/10/2010
- 2/23/2010
- 6/16/2009
Insights
- 4/16/2019Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, authored an article for Corporate Counsel titled "America’s Opioid Crisis: What Employers and Their Counsel Need to Know."
- 10/24/2018Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office, authored an article for Employment Law360 titled "How Employers Can Address Secret Workplace Recordings."
- 10/2/2018As we previously reported, New York State recently enacted expansive changes to its sexual harassment law.
- Spring 2018Sexual harassment is illegal. It has been illegal for a long time — over 40 years, in fact. It is, in other words, not new.
- 6/1/2018Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, authored an article for the Houston Business Journal titled “How to Prepare and Protect Your Office From an Active Shooter.”
- 4/17/2018On April 12, 2018, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the state’s 2018-2019 budget bill, which includes sweeping changes to the state’s sexual harassment law.
- 2/27/2018On February 16, 2018, Austin, Texas became the latest jurisdiction to adopt a paid sick leave ordinance.
- 1/17/2018The tax bill signed by the president on December 22, 2017, changed the rules for deducting settlement payments and attorney’s fees related to sexual harassment or sexual abuse claims.
- 1/5/2018Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, authored an article for Employment Law360 titled “Conducting Harassment Investigations with Outside Counsel.”
- 11/1/2017Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, authored an article titled “Will New Laws Change Your Employee Handbook?” for Texas Lawyer.
- 10/20/2017The California Fair Employment and Housing Act currently requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide all supervisory employees with at least two hours of training and education regarding sexual harassment and abusive conduct.
- 9/26/2017Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, authored an article for the Houston Business Journal about the employee related issues companies face after natural disasters.
- 8/10/2017For years, pet owners have implanted RFID (radio frequency identification) microchips in their dogs and cats to help track the animals if they get lost.
- 12/8/2016For most of its existence, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has focused on fairly traditional issues related to unionization and other efforts by employees to collectively address the terms and conditions of their employment.
- 9/19/2016Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, authored an article for Corporate Counsel titled “What University Scandals Teach In-House Counsel About Protecting Attorney-Client Privilege.”
- 9/16/2016According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), retaliation is now the most frequently alleged basis of discrimination.
- 5/9/2016The EEOC has issued a Fact Sheet on “Bathroom Access Rights for Transgender Employees Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” It notes that “a person does not need to undergo any medical procedure to be considered a transgender man or a transgender woman.”
- 4/19/2016The Mississippi Supreme Court had recognized only two limited exceptions to the at-will doctrine: employees cannot be discharged for refusing to participate in illegal acts or for reporting an employer’s illegal acts. It recently recognized a third exception for employees storing firearms in their vehicles on an employer’s property.
- 4/5/2016Jackie Ford, a partner in the firm’s Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, authored an article for the April 2016 edition of Texas Lawyer titled “Prepare for Significant Changes in Employment Law.”
- 2/10/2016As part of an ongoing effort to improve the federal government’s cybersecurity practices, President Barack Obama signed two executive orders this week establishing a Federal Privacy Council to be filled by Senior Agency Officials from at least 24 federal agencies, and a Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, to be composed of up to 12 members appointed by the President.
- 12/21/2015On January 1, 2016, the Texas Open Carry Law becomes effective. The new law allows a person with a concealed handgun license to carry a holstered handgun in plain view in any public place where a concealed handgun is otherwise permitted.
- 12/15/2015Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, authored an article for Texas Lawyer titled “Houston HERO Defeat Doesn't Mean End of Discrimination Protections for LGBT.”
- 7/2/2015Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the labor and employment group, authored an article titled “Same-Sex Marriage Decision a Win for Employers?” for Texas Lawyer.
- June 2015Jackie Ford and Elizabeth T. Smith, attorneys in the Vorys Columbus and Houston offices and members of the litigation and labor and employment groups, co-authored an article titled “Crisis Management Takes a Team.” It was featured in the June 2015 edition of the AICUO Affiliate Member Newsletter.
- 5/14/2015Jackie Ford, partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, authored an article for Law360 on whether traditional definitions of property and ownership include social media accounts.
- 4/13/2015Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, authored an article for the National Law Journal titled “What Clinton's Email Troubles Can Teach Employers.”
- 4/8/2015The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced the results of a 2014 enforcement initiative that focused on the oil and gas industry in New Mexico and west Texas. According to the DOL, it recovered more than $1.3 million owed to some 1,300 employees as a result of this investigation. This is not the first DOL foray into wage-and-hour practices within the oil and gas industry. In December 2014, the DOL announced that employers engaged in natural gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania and West Virginia agreed to pay $4,498,547 in back wages to 5,310 employees.
- 3/30/2015Underscoring a national trend, Virginia joined 18 states (Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin) limiting employer access to the social media accounts of job applicants and employees.
- 10/17/2014One person with Ebola, technically known as the Ebola hemorrhagic virus, and sometimes called the Ebola Virus Disease, has died in the United States. Two others, health care workers who treated the first patient, have been diagnosed with the illness.
- 7/7/2014Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, authored an article for Texas Lawyer titled “NLRB, Fifth Circuit Sacrifice Employee Privacy for Speculation.” The article was about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit's decision to uphold the National Labor Relations Board finding in Flex Frac Logistics v. NLRB.
- 5/13/2014Jackie Ford, partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, authored an article for Privacy Law360 about privacy rights of individuals engaged in a private communication. In the article, Ford uses the Donald Sterling story as a vehicle for analyzing what forms of private communication are and are not legally protected.
- 3/14/2014Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, authored an article for the Houston Business Journal about new law in Texas that attempts to balance employers’ liability concerns with society’s interest in getting criminals out of crime and into legitimate employment.
- 10/23/2013Jackie Ford, partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, authored an article for Employment Law360 about policies employers should have in place regarding regarding online reviews.
- 7/11/2013Jackie Ford, partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, authored an article for Employment Law360 about laws being passed by some state legislatures that ban employers from asking employees and/or job applicants for social media passwords.
- 7/2013Our July issue of the Vorys Shale Report provides an overview of how energy companies are facing specific, targeted scrutiny from the federal government on wage-and-hour issues.
- 1/25/2013Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, authored an op-ed for the Houston Chronicle about a proposed Texas law that would prohibit employers from asking employees and job seekers for passwords to their social media accounts
- November 2012Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, wrote an op-ed for the
- 11/2/2012Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Houston and Columbus offices, authored an op-ed for the Houston Business Journal . In the op-ed, Ford says that despite the growing significance of social media in everyday communication, employers still face increasing hazards in responding to its challenges.
- August 2012Jackie Ford, a partner in the Vorys Columbus and Houston offices, authored an article for the National Association of Independent Schools Advocate. In the article, Ford discuss two electronic challenges commonly faced by independent schools: the use of electronic background checks for employees and the policing student misconduct online.
- 6/23/2010
- 3/31/2010
- 11/29/2009
- 10/2/2009
- 9/16/2009
- 8/31/2009
- 8/1/2009
- 7/13/2009
- 6/15/2009
- 4/22/2009
- 4/1/2009
- 3/19/2009
- 2/23/2009
- 2/11/2009
- 11/30/2007
- July 2007
- December 2006
- July/August 2006
- June 2006
- February 2006
- May/June 2005