In 2010, Mr. Ford achieved the highest distinction available to an attorney practicing in the area of estate planning and probate in Texas. He has become Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, which is a coveted recognition bestowed on few attorneys who have demonstrated special competence in this area of law and who have received recommendations from fellow attorneys and judges with whom they have worked. In 2009, Mr. Ford completed the required course-work to become certified to serve as a mediator. In pursuit of this distinction, Mr. Ford attended the world-renowned Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California. He attended this intensive course with the goal of being able to conduct mediations in probate and guardianship cases, as few mediators in Texas specialize in these areas. In 2006, Mr. Ford was appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas to serve on the Guardianship Certification Board, which is a 15-member board that creates policy and oversees the regulation of private professional guardians in the State of Texas. At the inaugural meeting of the GCB, Mr. Ford was elected as the Chair of the Rules Committee, where he has served with distinction since that time. Mr. Ford’s recent distinctions are reflective of a dedication to the areas of estate planning, probate, and guardianship that began early in his education. In law school, Mr. Ford was fortunate to be able to concentrate his education in estate planning and business planning, not unlike a major in undergraduate school. His concentration in estate planning and business planning involved a curriculum designed around an in-depth study of those areas. Additionally, he was able to regularly work one-on-one with professors in those fields so that before he even graduated from law school he had experience in tax planning and will drafting. Mr. Ford graduated from Baylor University with degrees in Accounting and Law. He has also completed several post-graduate courses at Baylor in pursuit of a Masters in Taxation. Following law school, he began his career as a Tax Attorney for a large international accounting and consulting firm, where he assisted clients primarily in the areas of estate and gift tax and personal income tax. The combination of his tax-related degrees and his experience working as a tax attorney have given Mr. Ford a strong background in the areas of estate planning and probate, and he has focused his attention and expertise in these areas ever since. Mr. Ford devotes his knowledge and experience to maintaining the reputation of Ford+Bergner as a leading estate planning and probate firm in Texas.

Ryan Forman is an associate in the Real Estate practice of the firm’s New York office. Ryan represents clients in a broad range of complex real estate transactions, including, mortgage and mezzanine financing, joint ventures, and acquisitions and dispositions of hotels, office buildings, condominiums and other real estate assets. Prior to joining the firm, Ryan represented developers, investors, and owner/operators in transactions and litigation involving rent stabilized and rent regulated multifamily properties.

Dana’s practice predominately focuses on Family Law and Matrimonial although she is adept at tackling other areas of law when they intersect with a divorce action. Dana practiced commercial litigation before landing in Family Law. Early on in her career she left the private sector to work for the Administration for Children’s Services (“ACS”) where she prosecuted child abuse and neglect cases in New York City. In addition to focusing on child protection, Dana honed her trial skills doing countless hearings and advocating on behalf of her clients. After the birth of her first child, Dana left ACS in 2002 and returned to the private sector, practicing solely Family and Matrimonial Law and adding Mediation to her practice. Dana fully appreciates the emotional complexity involved in matters having to do with family, marriage, finances and domestic violence. Each case is unique and carries with it a particular set of circumstance. Dana is especially skilled at understanding the nuances of each matter and employs an unusual combination of strength and sensitivity for her clients.