James D. Freedman is Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Progress Software Corporation (PSC). In this role, he is responsible for managing a legal department which provides a full range of legal services supporting the company's global operations. Freedman has more than 25 years of corporate legal experience in law firm and inside counsel positions.

Freedman originally joined PSC as general counsel in 1992. He was promoted to vice president in 1994 and to senior vice president in 2004. Previously, he served as general counsel of Computer Corporation of America, practiced corporate law with several Boston area law firms, and served as a judge advocate in the United States Air Force.

Freedman earned a bachelor of science degree in engineering management from the United States Air Force Academy, and a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School.

"Progress has spent the past several years carefully acquiring technologies that will complement its existing offerings and help its partners stay ahead in an industry that moves at a dizzying pace," Freedman said. "As a result of these acquisitions, we have added new operating companies that bring with them new demands and challenges for those of us who focus on the legal aspects of the software industry."

"Our business faces important but complex challenges in areas such as intellectual property and licensing issues, partner and customer contracts, litigation, the acquisition and integration of other businesses, and employee relations, all across our various operating companies and jurisdictions throughout the world," said Joseph Alsop, co-founder and chief executive officer of PSC. "For global corporations such as Progress Software, a high level and broad range of legal skills are essential to achieving growth in revenue and earnings. The quality and depth of expertise Jim and his team provide have been of great value to PSC over a decade of expansion, and will be critically important as PSC works to extend its track record of outpacing the industry in revenue and profitability growth."

Freedman is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA), the American Bar Association (ABA), the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) and the New England Corporate Counsel Association (NECCA). He served on the board of NECCA from 1990 to 2001, and as president from 1994 to 1996.