The Karen Read trial has always felt more like a Hollywood thriller than a standard Massachusetts criminal proceeding. You have the high-stakes "Free Karen" movement, a dead police officer in the snow, and a defense team that looks like a legal Avengers squad. But toward the end of 2024, a new name started popping up in court filings that made legal observers do a double-take: Robert Alessi.
Honestly, it was a weird move at first glance.
Why would a high-profile New York partner from DLA Piper—one of the biggest law firms on the planet—suddenly jump into a local murder retrial in Dedham? Alessi isn't your typical local "street" lawyer. He’s the Global Vice Chair of the Energy Sector at his firm. He usually spends his days dealing with Fortune 100 companies, massive environmental litigation, and high-level financial fraud. Yet, there he was, standing in front of Judge Beverly Cannone, arguing about microscopic glass fragments and hair samples.
The Science Specialist: What Robert Alessi Brought to the Table
If you've followed the case closely, you know the defense strategy hinges on one thing: debunking the prosecution's technical timeline. The Commonwealth argued that Karen Read’s Lexus SUV hit John O’Keefe. The defense says that’s physically impossible based on the data.
This is exactly where Robert Alessi comes in.
While Alan Jackson is the firebrand who handles the dramatic cross-examinations, Alessi is the "science nerd" of the group. He actually has a background as a licensed pharmacist. That’s a rare credential for a trial lawyer, and it gives him a unique edge when it’s time to grill forensic experts.
During the 2025 retrial, Alessi was the one who went toe-to-toe with Maureen Hartnett, a forensic scientist with the Massachusetts State Police. He didn't just ask questions; he picked apart the timeline of her investigation. He pointed out that despite "finding" glass and hair on the bumper, the undercarriage of the SUV tested negative for blood.
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"And negative for what?" Alessi asked during the trial.
"Those results were negative," Hartnett replied.
It was a quiet, methodical dismantling of the physical evidence. By focusing on the lack of DNA testing on certain swabs, Alessi planted the seed of doubt that the "evidence" might have been planted or compromised.
Why the Pro Bono Move Matters
A lot of people on Reddit and Twitter (or "X") were speculating about how Karen Read could afford a guy who probably bills $2,000 an hour. The truth is simpler but more interesting: Alessi joined the team pro bono.
In the legal world, "pro bono" often means a firm taking on a small civil rights case to meet a quota. But this was different. Alessi joined because he reportedly saw what he believed was a major injustice. When David Yannetti—Read’s original local attorney—brought Alessi in, he described him as having "specialized skill and knowledge" that would be imperative to the defense.
It’s a massive commitment. A trial like this takes months of preparation and weeks of sitting in a courtroom away from your home base in NYC. For Alessi, it wasn't about the money; it was about the "scientific and technical" challenge of proving a cover-up.
Robert Alessi vs. the Commonwealth’s Experts
One of the most intense moments of the retrial involved the crash reconstruction experts. Judge Cannone had previously questioned the defense about how they were paying their experts, and Alessi was the one who had to stand up and defend the integrity of their team’s finances.
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He basically told the court that the truth shouldn't be gated by a price tag.
Later, Alessi took the lead in cross-examining the prosecution's technical witnesses. While the prosecution tried to use the SUV’s "black box" data to show a high-speed reverse, Alessi worked to show that the data didn't match the physical reality of the scene.
You’ve gotta realize that in a case this complex, the jury gets overwhelmed by numbers. Alessi’s job was to translate that "expert-speak" into something a regular person could understand—and then show why it was wrong. He famously pushed back against the idea that the Lexus damage was "consistent with a collision," suggesting instead that the damage didn't align with the injuries John O’Keefe actually suffered.
The Dynamic of the Legal Team
It’s worth looking at how Alessi fit into the existing hierarchy. You had:
- David Yannetti: The local anchor. He knows the Massachusetts courts, the players, and the vibe of Norfolk County.
- Alan Jackson: The "Big City" Los Angeles powerhouse. He provides the star power and the aggressive trial tactics.
- Elizabeth Little: Jackson’s partner who handles the heavy lifting on motions and legal research.
- Robert Alessi: The technical architect. He’s the one making sure the science holds up under pressure.
This wasn't just a group of lawyers; it was a curated strike team. Adding Alessi late in the game was a signal that the defense was moving away from just "he-said-she-said" and toward a pure, data-driven defense.
What Most People Get Wrong About Alessi’s Role
There’s a common misconception that Alessi was just there for the "fame" or to help the firm's branding. While it’s true that his performance skyrocketed him to a sort of "legal superstar" status among trial watchers, his actual work was incredibly tedious.
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We’re talking about thousands of pages of lab reports.
Hours of analyzing sensor data from a Lexus.
Detailed study of dog bite patterns vs. blunt force trauma.
He wasn't there for the cameras; he was there for the microscopic details that the prosecution hoped nobody would notice. Honestly, his presence probably changed the tone of the entire retrial. It made the Commonwealth’s "experts" look less like impartial scientists and more like employees of the state who might have missed the forest for the trees.
Actionable Insights: What This Means for the Future
If you’re following the Karen Read case or any high-profile criminal matter, there are a few things to take away from Robert Alessi’s involvement.
First, never underestimate the power of a technical specialist. In 2026, cases aren't just won on closing arguments; they are won on the "digital fingerprints" and forensic gaps. If you ever find yourself in a legal bind, finding an attorney who understands the science of your case is just as important as finding one who can speak well in court.
Second, the "Dream Team" approach is becoming the standard for high-profile defense. By splitting the work between a local expert, a trial specialist, and a scientific specialist, the defense was able to cover every possible angle of the Commonwealth’s case.
The retrial results—including the acquittals on major charges—speak for themselves. Robert Alessi might have been the "new guy" in the Dedham courtroom, but his influence on the outcome was undeniable. He brought a New York intensity and a pharmacist's precision to a case that desperately needed both.
To stay updated on the ongoing civil litigation and the fallout from the Read case, you should monitor the Norfolk Superior Court filings. The defense team, including Alessi, has already signaled they aren't done fighting, especially as wrongful death lawsuits and civil actions begin to take center stage. Keep an eye on the motions regarding the "prejudicial" nature of the state's initial investigation; that's where the next legal battleground lies.