Attorneys

Mr. Trexler obtained his LL.M in Taxation from New York University School of Law, where he served as Graduate Editor of the New York University Journal of International Law and Politics. He obtained his J.D., magna cum laude, from the Mitchell|Hamline School of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of the Law Review. Since he began practicing law in 2004, Mr. Trexler has gained considerable expertise in commercial litigation, bench and jury trials, international trade, tax, and construction and real estate matters. He has represented individuals as well as a wide variety of business entities, and routinely obtains favorable results in courtrooms and closing rooms. New York and New Jersey

Maria Leonard Olsen graduated magna cum laude from Boston College (Bachelor of Science in Business Management, 1985) and the University of Virginia School of Law (Juris Doctor, 1988), where she chaired the Student Legal Forum (and was a commissioner in the famed UVa softball league). Upon graduation from law school, she worked as a commercial litigator at Dow Lohnes, which was then one of the largest law firms in Washington, D.C. In 1992, she was appointed by President Clinton to serve as Special Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General (AAG) for Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), to advise the AAG on legal matters of special interest to the Administration. She served as a DOJ liaison to the Judiciary Committees, advised the AAG, prepared testimony for government witnesses, co-drafted the DOJ’s first Pro Bono Policy, represented the AAG at White House and other governmental meetings, gave presentations on DOJ matters to visiting legislators from other countries, organized citizen outreach sessions, and researched and presented on civil justice reform issues until 1995. During her time there, she was honored by Attorney General Janet Reno to speak as the highest-ranking Asian American political appointee at the Justice Department at the annual Asian American Celebration. From 1995 to 1997, Ms. Olsen served on the Access to Justice Task Force and as the DOJ’s first Pro Bono Program Manager, under the Assistant Attorney General for Policy Development, having helped design the model pro bono program for federal government agencies. After her second child was born in 1997, she continued to do pro bono legal work for the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project and the East Coast Migrant Head Start Program, and to work as a freelance journalist, as well as an editor and writer at Bethesda Magazine.

Douglas Abernethy represents clients in a range of complex corporate finance and M&A matters, with a particular focus on public takeovers and take-private transactions. Mr. Abernethy delivers pragmatic and commercially driven advice on M&A matters to multinational private equity firms, financial institutions, and UK-listed companies. He represents clients in connection with significant acquisitions and divestitures involving assets in a diverse range of industries. Mr. Abernethy also advises financial institutions serving as lenders and advisors to parties on M&A transactions. Mr. Abernethy’s practice encompasses: Public to private transactions Listed company board advice in takeover situations Takeover Code aspects of acquisition financings Cross-border transactions Private equity and leveraged buyouts Mr. Abernethy brings a sophisticated understanding of the regulatory environment for takeovers of UK-listed companies garnered from his experience on secondment with the UK Takeover Panel from July 2018 to July 2020. In this role, he assisted in the regulation of some of the highest-profile takeovers in the UK market and developed an in-depth knowledge of the Takeover Code and how it is applied by the Takeover Panel.

Megan Alessi represents private equity firms and their portfolio companies across a broad range of complex, cross-border transactions. Ms. Alessi draws on her comprehensive understanding of private equity clients’ objectives and her robust connections across the industry to advise clients on sophisticated tax structures and matters involving: Equity compensation design and documentation, including profits interest arrangements Change in control, retention, and bonus documentation Employment and separation agreements She also prepares the executive compensation disclosure for proxy statements and other securities filings and advises on other tax and corporate law issues associated with executive compensation and employee benefits matters. Before joining the firm, Ms. Alessi worked for a Big Four accounting firm, where she provided advisory services on executive compensation matters.

Mary Rose Alexander, Managing Partner of the firm’s Chicago office, represents Fortune 500 companies in their highest-stakes litigation and trials, often in the most hostile jurisdictions in the US. A nationally recognized trial lawyer and American Lawyer Litigator of the Week, Ms. Alexander leverages her extensive experience to help clients navigate complex commercial litigation and trials in state and federal courts and arbitration forums across the country involving: Public nuisance / toxic torts / product liability and consumer fraud Class actions Environmental regulations Major industrial accidents Energy and oil and gas contracts Insurance coverage In representing clients, she draws on considerable success defending against multi-state, multi-plaintiff litigation, particularly with energy, manufacturing, and chemical company clients. She is especially skilled in cases involving complicated scientific matters related to chemicals. Ms. Alexander regularly garners recognition for her trial work from leading industry publications, including Chambers USA, Lawdragon, The American Lawyer, The Legal 500, Crain’s Chicago Business, Benchmark Litigation, and Best Lawyers in America. Her diverse platform and unique skill set led to her appointment as the firm’s Vice Chair of both the Litigation & Trial and Environment, Land & Resources Departments. Ms. Alexander is also the former Global Chair of the firm’s Women Enriching Business committee.

Nineveh Alkhas is a member of Latham & Watkins' Executive Compensation, Employment & Benefits Practice focusing on labor and employment law. Ms. Alkhas advises clients in corporate transactions, capitalizing on her employment litigation and counseling experiences to assess risks and strategize with respect to all labor and employment matters implicated in the deal. Ms. Alkhas currently serves on the firm’s EEO Review Board Committee. Prior to joining Latham, Ms. Alkhas worked at another leading law firm in Chicago.