Freedom Smith Mobile Image

Freedom S.N. Smith

Partner

Freedom S.N. Smith is an environmental partner in the firm’s Real Estate, Environmental & Energy Law (REEL) Group and works in the areas of compliance and risk management, environmental and toxic tort litigation, brownfields and development, agriculture, procurement, and general litigation. Freedom’s clients are involved in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, energy, real estate, and construction. 

Freedom has experience representing companies, municipalities, and citizens in a wide variety of areas in both state and federal courts as well as in administrative proceedings across the country. She has litigated cases for both public and private clients involving contracts, accidental releases of contamination, property transfers, leaking underground storage tanks, cost recovery actions, environmental and other insurance and coverage claims, environmental enforcement actions or clean-ups under a wide variety of regulatory programs, including CERCLA/SUPERFUND. She has also handled numerous complex lawsuits involving business disputes, including cases involving breach of contract, products liability, and fraud.

    Education

    • DePauw University (B.A., with honors, 2001)
      • Biology and Computer Science
    • Indiana University Maurer School of Law (J.D., 2004)

    Admissions

    • Indiana
    • United States District Court - Northern District of Indiana
    • United States District Court - Southern District of Indiana
    • United States Court of Appeals - Seventh Circuit

    Professional Affiliations

    • Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL), 2024
    • Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), 2019
    • Graduate, NITA Deposition Skills Training
    • Graduate, United Way Leadership Series
    • Member, Indiana State Bar Association
    • Member, Indianapolis Bar Association
    • Member, American Bar Association (ABA)
    • Member, Federal Bar Association
    • American Bar Association
    • Indianapolis Bar Association
    • Indiana State Bar Association
    • Impact 100 Indianapolis

    Awards & Recognition

    • The Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law, Environmental & Natural Resources Law, 2024-2026
    • The Best Lawyers® in America, Environmental Law, 2024-2026
    • Indiana Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2017-2019
    • 100 Black Lawyers - Indiana
    • Phi Beta Kappa
    • Managing Editor, Indiana Law Journal, 2003-2004
    • Finalist, Center for Leadership Development (CLD) Achievement in Professions Award
    • Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Environment Law, 2023-2026

    Community Involvement

    • Chair, Board of Directors, Foster Success
    • Board of Directors, Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council
    • Board of Directors, Early Learning Indiana
    • Board of Directors, Impact 100 Indianapolis
    • Member, Community Engagement Committee Women's Fund of Central Indiana
    • Member, IU Maurer School of Law BLSA Alumni Board
    • Board of Governors, Indiana State Bar Association (ISBA)
    • Chair of the ISBA Environmental Law Section
    • Member, ISBA Planning Committee for the Leadership Development Academy Program.
    • Chair, ABA Pesticides, Chemical Regulation, and Right to Know Committee
    • Fellow and Current City Representative of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), 2019
    • Former member, Alumni Association Board of Directors, DePauw University
    • Former Member Board of Directors, AYS, Inc.
    • Former Advisory Member of Board of Directors, Second Helpings

Firm Highlights