Susan L. Ford

Principal / Attorney • Portland, OR

 
 

Phone: (503) 388-3110

Email: susan@resnovalaw.net

Get in Touch.

 

Attorney Bio.

Susan L. Ford is an experienced intellectual property and business lawyer, 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.

She regularly provides advice and counseling relating to business formation and ongoing operations; start-up financing, ramp-up and exits; employment issues, contracts and intellectual property. And when disputes arise, Susan works closely with her clients to resolve them through settlement or trial, and helps them avoid future litigation. Her experience includes complex business and IP litigation, including matters relating to business contracts and shareholder disputes, trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets.

Susan is an active member of her community as a service provider member to Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, and as a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners. She serves on the Oregon State Bar Business Litigation Section Executive Committee and 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.

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 books about entrepreneurship and law firm management.

 

Education:

  • J.D. – Georgetown University

    • Ford Foundation Fellow in International Studies to the United Nations

  • M.S. in Foreign Service – Georgetown University

  • B.S. – Northwestern University

  

Speaking Engagements:

  • 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)

 

Admissions:

  • State Courts of Oregon

  • State Courts of Washington

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

 

Civic & Professional Involvement:

Current

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

  • National Association of Women Business Owners Oregon (2019-Present)

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

  • Oregon State Bar, Business Litigation Executive Committee (2019-Present)

  • Oregon Women Lawyers (1997-Present)

Former

  • Oregon Trial Advocacy College (2019)

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

  • 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)