Jackie Ford

Jackie is a partner in the Vorys Columbus and Houston offices.  Her practice focuses on labor and employment issues, privacy, and online brand protection.  She is the co-founder of the firm's Women’s Initiative.

Much of Jackie’s practice focuses on the retail industry.  As part of the Vorys eControl team, Jackie counsels businesses on issues related to eCommerce and online brand protection.  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 serves as outside general counsel to independent K-12 schools.  One of Jackie’s passions is creating and delivering effective, meaningful training programs designed to prevent workplace problems, foster dialogue, and help companies protect their brands.  She provides educational programming to clients on a broad range of topics, including brand protection, social media, workplace privacy, and mandatory reporting.

Career highlights include:

• Successfully defending employers in numerous cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state discrimination agencies, and in state and federal courts involving all forms of employment discrimination.
• Working with employers as a trusted business partner on the full range of employment-related issues.
• Representing numerous retailers and manufacturers in online brand-protection matters.

Jackie is a frequent writer and commentator on a wide range of legal issues.  Notable publications include an article in Law360 concerning best practices in harassment investigations, an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle regarding political conversations in the office, 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 Ohio State Bar Association, the Texas Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association, and the Houston Bar Association.

Jackie received her J.D. magna cum laude from Case Western Reserve University School of Law 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.

Honors & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law - Management, 2012-2023; Labor Law - Management, 2013-2023; Employment Law - Individuals, 2013-2023

The Best Lawyers in America, "Lawyer of the Year", 2023

Ohio Lawyers Weekly, Lawyers of the Year Award, 2003

Professional & Community Activities

Adjunct Professor, Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University, “Law of Cyberspace,” Spring, 2021

Phillips Exeter Academy, Class Agent, 2016-present

Houston Grand Opera, Trustee, 2013-15

Girls, Inc of Greater Houston, Advisory Board Member; Luncheon Co-Chair, 2015

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