Home / Press / Freeman Announces Retirement of Chief Legal Officer Dawnn Repp; Cara Milligan Promoted to General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer

Freeman Announces Retirement of Chief Legal Officer Dawnn Repp; Cara Milligan Promoted to General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer

Dawnn Repp to Serve in Advisory Role through 2026

Dallas, TX – February 4, 2025 – Freeman, the global leader in events, announced today that Dawnn Repp, Chief Legal Officer, has retired after 22 years with the company. She has been succeeded by Freeman’s Deputy General Counsel, Cara Milligan, who has been appointed General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer. Repp will transition into an advisory role through 2026, providing support to Milligan to ensure a smooth transition as well as ongoing support to Freeman’s CEO, Janet Dell.

Dawnn Repp joined Freeman in 2001 as the company’s first in-house counsel and has worked on the largest deals in the company’s history, including Freeman’s acquisition of Wheelhouse Solutions in 2011, the sale of Encore Event Technologies in 2019, and the acquisition of Sparks in 2023.

Dell said, “Dawnn has been an integral part of Freeman for the past 22 years and has been a steady hand helping the company transform itself and the events industry over that time. Dawnn has made invaluable contributions in so many areas, but she was especially pivotal in helping us navigate the pandemic, acting with integrity and staying true to Freeman’s values when making difficult decisions. I have always admired Dawnn’s ability to solve complex business problems in a commercial and practical manner. I wish Dawnn all the best for a relaxing and fulfilling retirement, and in the meantime, am excited to continue benefiting from her wisdom and expertise as she steps into an advisory role.”

Carrie Freeman Parsons, Chair of the Board, added, “Dawnn has been a driving force behind the company’s success and growth, not only through her impactful leadership but also by championing the advancement of women in the workplace. She spearheaded Freeman’s Women’s Development program, promoting the development of female leaders across all levels of the organization. Dawnn has been an indispensable partner, always striving to achieve positive outcomes for the company, our employees, and our clients, while staying true to Freeman’s values.”

Repp said, “It has been an incredible journey working with such a talented and dedicated team. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and am confident that Freeman will continue to thrive under the visionary leadership in place, including the exciting and well-deserved appointment of Cara as Freeman’s new General Counsel and CLO.”

Milligan brings extensive legal experience across experiential, creative, entertainment, and content production services, providing strategic counsel to clients on matters ranging from complex contracts, employment law, data privacy, intellectual property, and generative AI. Since joining Freeman in July 2024, she has been instrumental in advancing Freeman’s corporate initiatives such as evolving Freeman’s approach to complex contracts and leading development of Freeman’s AI governance efforts, including strategy and compliance, while balancing innovation with risk management.  

Freeman’s growth and labor relation teams have also benefited from her expertise working with the company’s customers and partners in a dynamically changing environment.

Prior to joining Freeman, Milligan served as General Counsel of the Advertising and Commerce divisions of Omnicom. 

Dell continued, “In a short period of time, Cara has established herself as a trusted partner and earned the respect of not only Dawnn and the legal team but the whole Freeman Leadership team by making impactful contributions across our business. Carahas already gained an appreciation for the legal and strategic complexities across our portfolio, and I am confident that shewill help support Freeman’s future growth and continued success.”

Milligan added, “I am honored to be appointed General Counsel and CLO and appreciate the endorsements from Dawnn, Janet and the Board. I look forward to building on the strong foundation that Dawnn has established and continuing to benefit from her guidance. I know big things are ahead for Freeman and couldn’t be more excited to part of this incredible journey.”

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About Freeman:

Freeman is a global leader in events, on a mission to redefine live for a new era. With a data-driven approach and the industry’s largest network of experts, Freeman’s insights shape exhibitions, exhibits, and events that drive audiences to action. The integrated full-service solutions leverage a 98-year legacy in event management as well as new technologies to deliver moments that matter. For more information, please visit https://www.freeman.com/.