mbassador Russell F. Freeman was a senior partner with Nilles, Hansen & Davies, Ltd., Fargo, North Dakota, one of the top regional law firms, where he has practiced law for over 32 years. Ambassador Freeman has represented and negotiated on behalf of a wide variety of clients in the areas of business planning, business organizations and estate planning, including negotiating trade and commercial agreements on behalf of clients with foreign companies. He previously served as President and as a Director of his firm as well as a shareholder. He is a member of the North Dakota State Bar Association and the Cass County (North Dakota) Bar Association. In addition, Ambassador Freeman has served as a director on the boards of several local corporations.

Prior to joining Nilles, Hansen & Davies, Ltd., Ambassador Freeman served in the U.S. Army for four years in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, where he served with distinction, rising to the rank of Captain before being discharged honorably with two citations for his work.

Ambassador Freeman has been very active in community volunteer activities and has served on numerous civic boards. For over twenty-five years, he served as a board member of Childrens Village Family Services, or its supporting foundation. Children's Village is a human services organization that provides counseling and support services to children and families in the Fargo area. Ambassador Freeman has also served as President and Vice President of the foundation. He was also elected to the Fargo Board of Education for two terms and served as its President. In addition, Ambassador Freeman served as the attorney for the Fargo Cass County Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting economic development in Fargo and Cass County, North Dakota.

Ambassador Freeman was born and raised in Fargo, North Dakota. He graduated from Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, in 1961 earning an A.B. degree and earned a J.D. degree from Northwestern University School of Law in 1964. Ambassador Freeman and his wife, Susan, have a son and a daughter and three grandchildren.