Angela B. Freeman is a Partner and Intellectual Property (IP)/Patent Attorney in the Indianapolis office of the law firm of Barnes & Thornburg LLP, an Am Law 100 firm. Prior to her legal career, Angela had over 15 years as a biologist in research and clinical development at Eli Lilly & Co. and a Louisville, Kentucky birth defects center. Angela began her legal practice as a law clerk while attending Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law at night, working full-time, and raising a family. In 2023, Ms. Freeman made history when she became only the second African-American female to ever become equity/capital partner at Barnes & Thornburg from their associate ranks, the first in the firm’s headquarters office in Indianapolis, and the first in the firm’s IP department. Currently, Ms. Freeman assists clients in procuring patent rights in the U.S. and worldwide for highly technical subject matter, particularly in the food, agricultural, pharmaceutical, life sciences/biotech, and renewable energy industries. Angela’s practice also includes preparing contractual agreements and opinions, performing IP due diligence during sales, mergers, and acquisitions, as well as procuring trademark and copyright registration to protect her client’s interest. In addition to her large clients, Angela’s practice specifically focuses on educating and assisting women, diverse, and small business owners in protecting their IP and addressing their business needs. Throughout her career, Ms. Freeman has been a staunch advocate of increasing women, particularly diverse women, in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. She has been recognized as a STEM and legal diversity champion. For her career accomplishments, Ms. Freeman was recently recognized as one of Diversity’s Top 100 – Influential Women by World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR), as well as the 2023 Inaugural Wonderful Women’s list by Lawyers of Color and The National Black Lawyer’s Top 100. Angela has also been recognized on the 2021-2024 Best Lawyers in America Inaugural “Ones to Watch” list for Patent and IP Law, the 2020 Lawyers of Color Hot List, with a Minority Achiever’s Award in Science & Technical Disciplines, an Up and Coming Lawyer Award, and was a law finalist for the Indy’s Best and Brightest Award. In the workplace, Ms. Freeman has also been recognized with Barnes & Thornburg’s Camille B. Conway Diversity Award and the Lilly Chairman’s Ovation Award for Global Leadership in Diversity. Angela B. Freeman, M.S., J.D. Partner, IP/Patent Attorney & Podcast Host In her community, Ms. Freeman was recently recognized as a 2023 Champion of Diversity by the Indiana Minority Business Magazine. Angela is also an Emeritus Member after 7 years of volunteer service that included her being the first diverse and African-American President in the 20+ year history of a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Women & Hi Tech (www.womenandhitech.org), who recognized her with the 2020 Inaugural Equity and Inclusion Champion Leading Light Award. She was also named a Trailblazer at the 2020 Torchbearer Awards from the Indiana Commission for Women, the most prestigious recognition of women by the state. In addition, Ms. Freeman is the host of Indianapolis Business Journal’s award-winning, monthly podcast, The Freedom Forum with Angela B. Freeman. This podcast explores the intersection of business, race, and gender in the Hoosier state by interviewing influential leaders and executives making real impact in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space. In only its third year, The Freedom Forum with Angela B. Freeman has earned local and national media recognition, including the 2023 Gold Award for Best Podcast by the Alliance of Area Business Publishers. Ms. Freeman’s proudest accomplishments, however, are being a wife and mother to two young adult sons. Angela is also a supportive basketball mom to a college freshman. In her limited spare time, she is an avid water baby who loves to sunbathe and snorkel at the beach, as much as boating, tubing, and fishing at the lake.