Principal / Attorney • Portland, OR

Attorney Bio.

Susan L. Ford is the founder of Res Nova Law, with over 25 years of experience working with businesses of all sizes. A former shareholder at one of Portland's largest law firms, Susan started Res Nova Law to better serve her clients. Res Nova Law offers its clients Susan's big firm know-how, while giving them the personalized attention they deserve.

Susan is an experienced commercial litigator who applies what she learns through litigation to help her business clients avoid ending up in court. She also regularly provides advice and counseling relating to business formation, governance and ongoing operations; contracts and intellectual property, employment issues, business succession, estate planning and business exits. And when business disputes arise, Susan works closely with her clients to resolve them through settlement or trial. 

Susan is an AV Preeminent Peer Rated Attorney, having been rated by her peers as having Very High Ethical Standards and an A grade (4.5 or higher). She is also an active member of her community as a service provider member of Oregon Entrepreneurs Network and the Women Entrepreneurs Organization of Clark County. Susan currently serves as the Chair of the Oregon State Bar Business Litigation Section Executive Committee. She is admitted to practice in both Oregon and Washington, as well as before the U.S. District Courts for the District of Oregon and the Western District of Washington and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

When she's not practicing law, you'll likely find Susan spending time with her family (including a chihuahua named Rudy), on her road bike in wine country, or reading about entrepreneurship and law firm management.

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Education:

• J.D. – Georgetown University Law Center

  • Ford Foundation Fellow in International Studies to the United Nations

• M.S. in Foreign Service – Georgetown University

• B.S. – Northwestern University

Speaking Engagements:

• Estate Planning for Business Owners 
  • Res Nova Law (October 5, 2023 and January 25, 2024)

• Estate Planning From Three Key Perspectives
  • Women Entrepreneurs Organization of Clark County (November 16, 2022)

• Intellectual Property Bootcamp
  • Pregame (August 19, 2020)

• Contract Law (and Intellectual Property) for Interior Designers

  • Heritage School of Interior Design (July 9, 2020)

• Small Business Service Provider Panel Presentation,

  • Small Business Service Luncheon (November, 2019)

• Cybersecurity and Intellectual Property

  • Information Systems Audit and Control Association (May 22, 2019)

• Intellectual Property in the Era of Machine Learning

  • Oregon State Bar Technology Law Section (April 25, 2019)

• Contract Law and Intellectual Property

  • National Kitchen and Bath Association (April 18, 2019)

• Intellectual Property: Everything You Need to Know But Were Afraid to Ask

  • Multnomah Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division (February, 2019)

• Contract Law and Intellectual Property Bootcamp for Interior Designers

  • Interior Design Society Portland (June 12, 2018)

• Intellectual Property Bootcamp for Business Lawyers

  • OSB Intellectual Property Section (March 7, 2018)

• Trademark Litigation: Tricks and Traps in Federal Court and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board

  • Multnomah Bar Association (December 14, 2017)

• Essential Contracts

  • Pregame (December 11, 2017)

• Protect Your Unique Ideas and Offerings

  • Pregame (June 8, 2017)

• Let's Talk About Butts: A Conversation on Copying

  • Design Week Portland (April 28, 2017)

• IP Basics for Small Business Owners

  • Mercy Corps NW (April 19, 2017)

• Patents and Copyrights and Trademarks, oh my!

  • Portland Radio Project 99.1 FM Biz503 (April 24, 2017)

• Insurance Coverage for Intellectual Property Claims (2016)

Civic & Professional Involvement:

Current

• Oregon Entrepreneurs Network – Service Provider Member (2016-Present)

• Women Entrepreneurs Organization of Clark County (2022-Present)

• Chair-Elect of the Oregon State Bar, Business Litigation Executive Committee (2019-Present)

Former

• Leaders and Executives Across Professions (LEAP) (2018-2020)

• Oregon Trial Advocacy College (2019)

• Oregon State Bar House of Delegates (2016-2019)

• Oregon Women Lawyers (1997-2019)
•  

• Girls, Inc. of the Pacific Northwest, Go-To Girls (2013-2019)

• Member, Multnomah Bar Association: Judicial Screening Committee (2013-2016)

• Board Member, Oregon Law Foundation (2009-2010)

• Member, Executive Committee, Intellectual Property Section of the Oregon State Bar (2008-2010)

• Member, Executive Committee, Technology Section of the Oregon State Bar (1999-2001)

• Fellow, Oregon State Bar Leadership College (2008)

• Member, ABA, Intellectual Property Litigation, Trademark, and Copyright Committees (2008-2010)

• Board Member/Events Director, Women Entrepreneurs of Oregon (October 2012 to September 2013)

• Board Member and Executive Committee, Contemporary Crafts Museum and Gallery (2005 to 2009)

• Board Member, Bradley-Angle House (1997-1999)