You’ve seen the "Free Karen Read" shirts. You've heard about the pink-clad crowds outside the Dedham courthouse. But if you really want to know how Karen Read went from being a "cop killer" in the eyes of the Commonwealth to a woman acquitted of murder in June 2025, you have to look at the people standing right behind her.
Lawyers usually aren't celebrities. Most of the time, they're just folks in bad suits arguing over paperwork. But the group representing Karen Read? They've become something else entirely. We're talking about a legal squad that dismantled a prosecution narrative involving a dead Boston police officer, a blizzard, and a Lexus SUV.
So, who are Karen Read’s attorneys, and why does everyone seem to have an opinion on them?
The Heavy Hitter: Alan Jackson
If this were a movie, Alan Jackson would be played by a guy like Matthew McConaughey. He’s smooth, he’s aggressive, and he’s got that "I’m the smartest guy in the room" vibe that either makes you love him or want to throw a shoe at the TV.
Jackson didn't start in Massachusetts. He’s a Los Angeles heavyweight from the firm Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP. He’s a former prosecutor—he actually put Phil Spector behind bars—but he’s made his biggest waves as a defense attorney. Think Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey. Basically, if you’re a high-profile person in a very deep hole, you call Alan.
Honestly, his involvement changed the entire energy of the case. He wasn't just defending Karen; he was going after the investigators. He called out Trooper Michael Proctor for those "unprofessional" (and that’s putting it nicely) texts. He stood in front of the cameras and basically told the world that the police were the ones who should be on trial. By the time the 2025 retrial rolled around, Jackson's closing arguments were being called some of the best in modern legal history.
💡 You might also like: 39 Carl St and Kevin Lau: What Actually Happened at the Cole Valley Property
The Local Anchor: David Yannetti
While Alan Jackson brings the Hollywood flash, David Yannetti is the local backbone. He was the first one on the case. Back in January 2022, when Karen Read called him during a literal blizzard because she thought she might be in trouble, Yannetti was the one who picked up the phone.
Yannetti is a Boston guy through and through. He’s a former Middlesex ADA, which means he knows exactly how the local system works. He’s the one who initially spotted the "holes" in the story. You know the one—the theory that John O’Keefe was beaten inside 34 Fairview and then dumped on the lawn. Yannetti has this calm, steady presence that balanced out Jackson’s fire.
He’s often talked about how his history in law enforcement made this case particularly painful. He has friends in blue. But he’s been vocal about how this specific investigation was, in his view, a "sham." He’s the guy who stayed the course through the mistrial of 2024 and pushed all the way to the acquittal in 2025.
The Secret Weapon: Elizabeth Little
You’ll often see her sitting next to Jackson, quietly taking notes or leaning in to whisper a strategic point. Elizabeth "Liza" Little is a partner at Jackson’s L.A. firm, and she is far more than just a "second chair."
She’s handled some of the most technical and grueling parts of the case. While the guys are doing the big speeches, Little is often the one digging through the digital forensics or cross-examining the smaller, technical witnesses that can actually make or break a case. In the world of high-stakes defense, she’s the one making sure the foundation is solid.
📖 Related: Effingham County Jail Bookings 72 Hours: What Really Happened
The New Faces for the 2025 Retrial
The team didn't stay static. After the 2024 mistrial, things got even more intense. They needed more specialized help to deal with the sheer volume of data and the new "special prosecutor" the state brought in.
Robert Alessi: The Data Guy
Ahead of the second trial, the team added Robert Alessi, a partner at DLA Piper. He’s a New York attorney who specialized in the complex stuff—specifically the "Techstream" data from Karen’s Lexus and the medical examiner’s findings.
During the 2025 trial, Alessi was the one who really dug into the experts. He was tasked with explaining to the jury why the car's computer didn't necessarily mean what the prosecution said it meant. If the case was won on "reasonable doubt" regarding the physics of the crash, Alessi deserves a lot of the credit.
Victoria George: The Ultimate Insider
This was easily the weirdest move of the whole trial. Victoria George is an attorney who actually served as an alternate juror in the first trial.
Because she sat through every single minute of the 2024 testimony but didn't deliberate, she had a unique perspective on what was landing with the jury and what wasn't. The defense brought her on as a consultant for the retrial. It was a brilliant, if controversial, move. Who better to tell you how a jury sees the case than someone who was literally sitting in the jury box?
👉 See also: Joseph Stalin Political Party: What Most People Get Wrong
Why This Team Worked
The "Dream Team" label gets thrown around a lot, but for Karen Read, it actually fit. They didn't just play defense; they played offense. They used a "third-party culprit" defense, which is incredibly hard to pull off. They had to convince the jury that it wasn't just that Karen didn't do it, but that someone else did and the police covered it up.
It cost a fortune. Karen has mentioned in recent interviews, like her 2026 sit-down on the Rotten Mango podcast, that she is still facing massive financial struggles. You don't hire Alan Jackson for cheap.
What’s Next for the Legal Team?
Even though she was acquitted of murder and manslaughter in June 2025, the legal battles aren't over. Karen was found guilty of OUI (Operating Under the Influence) and got a year of probation. More importantly, the civil side is heating up.
- The O'Keefe Family Lawsuit: The family of John O'Keefe has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. It’s a lower "burden of proof" than a criminal trial, so the defense team isn't done yet.
- The Accountability Lawsuit: Karen is now suing the people and agencies she claims framed her. Alan Jackson is still leading the charge on this, even helping organize a defense and accountability fund.
- The Book: Read and her team are reportedly working on a book about the trial, expected within the next few years.
Actionable Takeaways for Following the Case
If you’re still tracking the fallout of this case into 2026, here is what you should keep an eye on:
- Watch the Civil Filings: Civil cases move slower but often reveal more documents that weren't allowed in criminal court. Search for "Read v. Norfolk County" updates.
- Follow the Federal Investigation: There has been an ongoing federal probe into the Norfolk County DA's office. The results of that could change everything for the "accountability" phase of Karen’s journey.
- Check the "Rotten Mango" Interview: For the most recent, raw look at her mindset post-acquittal, that two-hour podcast from January 2026 is the best source currently available.
The attorneys—Jackson, Yannetti, Little, and Alessi—didn't just win a case; they created a blueprint for how to fight a "blue wall" of silence in the digital age. Whether you think she’s innocent or just "not guilty," there’s no denying that her legal team was one of the most effective squads to ever step into a Massachusetts courtroom.
The story is far from over, but the names on the legal briefs aren't changing anytime soon.