Angela Freeman
Key details
- Job title: Partner
- Firm: Barnes & Thornburg
- Jurisdiction: US
Angela Freeman’s career is defined by scientific expertise and exceptional determination in pursuing a career in intellectual property law.
Before entering the legal profession, Freeman spent 15 years as a molecular biologist and clinical research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry. She made the transition into law while continuing to work full-time in science, studying law in the evenings and balancing the competing demands of her career, family life and legal training over several years. This commitment enabled her to qualify as a patent attorney, grounded in both scientific and legal expertise.
Freeman joined Barnes & Thornburg in 2012, becoming the first African-American/Black female attorney to practise patent law at the firm. She later became an equity partner, marking another milestone within both the firm and the wider US patent profession.
Her practice focuses on protecting and commercialising IP in highly technical fields, including life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food and beverage, optical and electrical communications, and clean and renewable energy. Her scientific background gives her particular strength in translating complex technical innovation into robust IP strategy.
Freeman is a board member of the Indianapolis chapter of the ChIPs Network and on the Indianapolis Bar Association IP Executive Committee. She is also deeply involved in mentoring initiatives for students and early-career professionals across STEM and law, including work connected to the Patent Pathways programme.
A strong advocate for inclusion in IP and STEM, Freeman hosts The Freedom Forum with Angela B. Freeman, a podcast examining the intersection of business, race and gender.
