Practice areas: Bankruptcy; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 1987
Education: University of Kentucky College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2025 Call today:
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Free Consultation Ford & Semach, P.A.
9301 W Hillsborough AveTampa, FL 33615 Visit website
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At the Law Offices of Ford & Semach, P.A., located in Tampa, Florida, attorney Buddy D. Ford stands out with his board certification from the American Board of Certification in business bankruptcy. He has navigated a diverse range of cases, from straightforward to intricate business bankruptcy reorganizations. His practice encompasses individual bankruptcies such as Chapter 7, Chapter 13 and Chapter 11 for both debtors and creditors. His clientele spans debtors, creditors, creditor committees, receivers, banks, lending institutions and trustees. Additionally, he has litigated in federal courts across the country, including Las Vegas, Medford, Atlanta, Boston, Wilmington, Lexington and throughout Florida.
Mr. Ford's journey includes clerking for the esteemed Honorable Joe Lee, a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge in Kentucky and serving as a Chapter 7 Trustee in Florida's Middle District for a decade. His roles have been multifaceted – advising creditors' committees, acting as a Chapter 11 Trustee, representing Chapter 7 Trustees and managing thousands of bankruptcy cases throughout his career.
While bankruptcy proceedings are the cornerstone of his practice, Mr. Ford also delves into commercial and business litigation beyond bankruptcy. Notably, he led a case in Las Vegas District Court, where he secured a $20 million judgment against a former officer of a public company, involving allegations of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and racketeering. He has also achieved remarkable success in reducing hefty tax liabilities for clients. In notable cases from 2004 and 2005, he successfully discharged significant tax obligations owed to the IRS, amounting to millions of dollars.
A 1977 graduate of the University of Louisville, Mr. Ford received his J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1984. He is licensed to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Tax Court. His professional affiliations include the American Bar Association, The Florida Bar and various local bar associations.
Beyond his legal achievements, Mr. Ford has served two terms as a County Commissioner in Pike County, Kentucky, and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Republican Senatorial Medal of Freedom and the Florida Businessman of the Year Award. His contributions have also earned him appointments to prestigious business commissions and leadership awards from national organizations.
Buddy D. Ford is a debt relief agent. He helps people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.
Practice areas
Bankruptcy: BusinessFocus areas
Bankruptcy Law, Credit Repair
- 100% Bankruptcy: Business
First Admitted: 1987, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://www.tampaesq.com/attorney/ford-buddy-d-esq/
- Florida, 1987
- Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association, Member
- Hillsborough County Bar, Member
- The Florida Bar, Member
- National Business Institute, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Tax Court, 1995
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2004
- BUDDY D. FORD, P.A.SUCCESSFUL CHAPTER 11 REORGANIZATIONFOR NATIONWIDE TRUCKING COMPANY On August 26, 2020, Buddy D. Ford, Esq. and Jonathan A. Semach, Esq. of the Law Offices of Buddy D. Ford, P.A. confirmed a Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization in the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division Bankruptcy Court for a large, nationwide trucking company with several locations. The reorganization afforded the company the opportunity to continue to operate its business. Heather M. Reel, Esq. also performed substantive services in the case. Filed in July, 2019, this case was complex, with a multitude of challenges. The company’s creditors, most of which had secured interests in over 265 tractors and trailers and other equipment, were owed approximately $48,000,000.00 in secured debt. There was over $13,000,000.00 in unsecured debt. A “pot plan” of $150,000 was confirmed, meaning that the general unsecured creditors will be paid a pro-rata amount of the “pot.” This is just over 1% of the unsecured debt, a stellar outcome. A Chapter 11 Reorganization was necessary due to the downturn in the economy a few years ago, purchase of equipment found to be defective, and expiration of a line of credit. The reorganization and securing of post-confirmation financing will allow the company to successfully emerge from the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and continue to operate. Its employees and subcontractors will continue to work. The company has approximately $16 million in annual revenue. The attorneys negotiated with creditors, had a plan of reorganization successfully confirmed, and gave the company’s officers insight on moving the reorganized business forward. The successful reorganization saved not only the company, but future income for over 160 families, plus a lot of independent subcontractor haulers., 2020
- European American Resources, Inc. v. Martin Sportschuetz et al., 2004, Las Vegas District Court, CV-S-01-0128-KJD-PAL
- Naturally Beautiful Nails v. Wal-Mart, 8:98-ap-727
- BUDDY D. FORD, P.A. MANEUVERS STATEWIDE TRUCKING COMPANY TO SUCCESSFUL CONFIRMATION IN CHAPTER 11 REORGANIZATION On January 23, 2019, Buddy D. Ford, Esq. and Jonathan A. Semach, Esq. of the Law Offices of Buddy D. Ford, P.A. confirmed a Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization in the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division Bankruptcy Court for a large, statewide trucking company with several locations. The reorganization afforded the company the opportunity to continue to operate its business. Filed in March, 2018, this case was complex, with a multitude of challenges. The company’s creditors, most of which had secured interests in over 200 tractors and trailers and other equipment, were owed approximately $14,000,000.00 in secured debt. There was over $8,000,000.00 in unsecured debt. Due to the downturn in the economy a few years ago, a Chapter 11 was necessitated. The reorganization allowed the company to successfully emerge from the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and continue to operate. Their 200 employees will continue to work. The company has approximately $20 million in annual revenue. The attorneys negotiated with creditors, clawed back monies paid to funding companies, and gave the company’s officers insight on moving the reorganized business forward. The successful reorganization saved not only the company, but future income for over 200 families., 2019
- What Success Looks Like in a Small Chapter 11:Cruising with a New ProductAs published in Court Connection, Volume No. 9 – Issue No. 1, January 2020 Cruising Guide Publications, Inc. (“CGP”) is a long-standing, family-owned publisher of guidebooks to the Caribbean, targeted to the cruising sailor. In late 2017, the demand for guidebooks to cruise the Caribbean took a powerful hit in the form of Hurricane Irma. The devastation she caused to the Leeward Islands and the Virgin Islands led to a reduction in CGP’s sales, its accounts receivables becoming difficult to collect, and advertising revenues becoming virtually non-existent. Consequently, CGP turned to chapter 11 in 2018 to try to save its business by restructuring its secured and unsecured debt while attempting to get a guidebook back into production as the islands got back to rebuilding. And that plan worked. As Judge McEwen (the presiding judge on the case) is seen holding in the accompanying picture (*picture not posted with this reprint of this article), the 2020 Post-Irma Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands is a reality! Its sales page on Amazon says, “This 2020 edition will mark our 38th year of assisting sailors and vacationers cruising the tropical waters of both the British and U.S. Virgin Islands.” CGP’s principals are an older couple who have worked in the business for years. No doubt they are grateful that the bankruptcy system gave them the opportunity to right their boat, so to speak. Now CGP has cruised out of bankruptcy, its final decree having been entered at the end of December. Instead of shutting down, this nearly 40-year business was saved by bankruptcy. Doesn’t this sweet small business success story make you want to hug the Bankruptcy Code? http://www.flmb.uscourts.gov/newsletter/2020/January/04-CPMWhatSuccessLooksLikeinaSmall11.pdf , 2019
- Board Certified - Business Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification
- Provided pro-bono bankruptcy representation for Ch. 7 and 13 clients for Bay Area Legal Services, 2013
- Top Rated Bankruptcy Lawyer, Avvo, 2021
- Congressional Business Commission
- National Leadership Award
- Florida Republican of the Year Award, NRCC
- Presidential Business Commission, NRCC
- Florida Businessman of the Year Award, Business Advisory Council of the National Republican Congressional Committee
- Republican Senatorial Medal of Freedom
- Attorney of the Year, Top 100 Registry, 2020
- Top Rated Lawyer, Avvo, 2020
- Top Rated Lawyer, Avvo, 2019
- Excellence in Bankruptcy Law, Lawyers of Distinction, 2019
- Top 100 Bankruptcy Lawyer Florida, The American Society of Legal Advocates, 2018
- Excellence in Bankruptcy Law, Lawyers of Distinction, 2018
- Best of Tampa Bay - Profile Series, Tampa Bay Times, 2017
- Awarded the 2013 SBA Best of Business award for Tampa Bankruptcy Lawyer, Best of Business, SBA, 2013
- Mr. Ford was requested to be on the legal panel to give an overview of bankruptcy relief and procedure to the hospitality industry and conduct a Q&A session with regard to same., Legal Panel, Indo US, 2013
- “Early Analysis of a Chapter 11 Debtor’s Prospects: Can the Dog Hunt (and can SBRA help the small business dog?)” Panel Member - Webinar 09/15/2020 (TBBBA) Judge Williamson, along with fellow panelists Buddy Ford, Amy Harris, and David Jennis will discuss factors for an early evaluation of the prospects for a successful chapter 11 reorganization, as complicated by the COVID-19 economy, and how the new small business provisions of sub-chapter V of the recently enacted and amended Small Business Reorganization Act provisions impact that analysis, or might make that lazy pooch get off the porch, 2020
- Hospitality (Hotels)
- Small Businesses
- Trucking Companies
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2025
