Dawn Rosemond, Angela B. Freeman and Kenneth Inskeep Named to Indiana Lawyer Diversity in Law Class of 2024

The Indiana Lawyer has named Barnes & Thornburg partners Dawn R. Rosemond and Angela B. Freeman, as well as retired of counsel Kenneth H. Inskeep, to its 2024 class of Diversity in Law.

Recipients were selected from a list of attorneys and judges from across the state and practice areas who have "contributed to efforts to diversify the Hoosier legal profession through mentorship, law firm committees, bar association initiatives, educational programs and more. Diversity was defined broadly to include racial/ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, geographic and other types of diversity."

Since joining the firm nearly 30 years ago, Rosemond has established a strong commercial litigation practice and risen the ranks to become the first African-American female equity partner at the firm. She is a partner and the firm's full-time diversity partner, where she is charged with activating the firm's long-standing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, which aims to effect real change.

Rosemond has been a key figure in a number of the firm's successful DEI initiatives, including the creation of Project Keymaker, a mentorship program aimed at helping young attorneys effectively navigate their success journey at the firm; the launch of an enhanced parental leave benefits policy, affording all firm talent 16 weeks of leave at 100 percent pay, inclusive of adoptions; implementing firmwide diversity equity and inclusion training; the evolution of the firm's Talent Resource Groups (TRGs); and more.

Freeman is a member of the firm's Intellectual Property department and Life Sciences practice group. With a background of nearly 15 years as a biologist, she is instrumental in procuring IP rights in the U.S. and worldwide for client inventions. Freeman assists clients in protecting highly technical intellectual property, particularly in the food and beverage, agricultural, pharmaceutical, life sciences, biotech and renewable energy industries.

Freeman advocates for DEI in the legal profession to ensure access and opportunity to the best and brightest minds. As host of the Indiana Business Journal podcast, The Freedom Forum with Angela B. Freeman, she works to further diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within the central Indiana business community. She is also a member of Barnes & Thornburg's DEI Committee.

Recently retired, the core of Inskeep's practice was defending and managing nationwide, complex litigation involving sophisticated medical, bioengineering and other scientific issues.

Inskeep was an active member of the DEI Committee. In recognition of his many contributions, the firm created the "Kenneth H. Inskeep Mentoring Award" conferred annually to one of the firm's lawyers. He has actively participated in many civic activities, including performing extensive pro bono work for The Nature Conservancy (for which he received its highest volunteer award). Inskeep is passionate about advocating for and providing support to the LGBTQ community, and particularly LGBTQ youth.

Rosemond, Freeman and Inskeep are being recognized at The Indiana Lawyer Diversity in Law recognition breakfast on Oct. 2 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. They will also be featured in a supplement included with the Oct. 9 issue of Indiana Lawyer and the Oct. 11 issue of the Indianapolis Business Journal.

With more than 800 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, Boston, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, South Florida, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us at www.btlaw.com.