Leslie Nettleford-Freeman is Associate General Counsel, Vice President of Legal Affairs and Brand Protection for the National Association of REALTORS®.
Prior to joining NAR, Nettleford-Freeman served as Associate General Counsel at AARP, where she led major trademark enforcement campaigns protecting one of the most trusted brands serving Americans 50 and older. Her efforts included shutting down fraudulent websites and unauthorized entities claiming to offer AARP discounts or partnerships, including one case where she dismantled a network of over 50 domain names misusing the AARP trademark.
Under her leadership, AARP built a cross-departmental brand protection team—spanning digital, marketing, and IT—to respond quickly to emerging threats and protect seniors from scams and misuse of the brand. Beyond enforcement, Nettleford-Freeman provided extensive internal training, developing intellectual property programs to educate AARP staff on copyright and trademark compliance, licensing practices, and risk mitigation.
In addition to her corporate achievements, Nettleford-Freeman is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, where she teaches intellectual property monetization and brand protection strategies. Her thought leadership and commitment to legal excellence have earned her multiple accolades, including the Outstanding In-House Counsel Award from the Association of Corporate Counsel and the Top Assistant General Counsel Award from the First Chair Awards Conference.