Alex takes pride in developing creative strategies to promote and protect her client’s interests. Her diverse, nationwide practice includes smoking and health, medical device, environmental and general product liability defense matters. Alex leads and manages sizable teams; devises trial, jurisdictional and case strategy; and participates in critical hearings and depositions. Alex has served on more than a dozen trial teams. In these roles, she has led junior attorneys; drafted opening and closing arguments, direct and cross-examination outlines for fact and expert witnesses, and jury instructions and verdict forms; and participated in the charge conference.

Alex excels at legal issues work, where she develops strategy regarding pre-trial and trial motions, briefs and dispositive motions. She routinely counsels clients regarding how best to present complex issues to the court. Alex co-leads a team managing legal issues work for a Fortune 500 global toy company in litigation spanning multiple jurisdictions that involves product liability and wrongful death actions related to recalled infant products. Alex also leads a team coordinating legal issues work for smoking-and-health cases in a particular jurisdiction. In addition, Alex has assisted in crafting overall legal strategy for a series of individual and putative class action cases alleging environmental contamination. 

Alex is dedicated to pro bono work, as well. She has successfully represented pro bono clients in the following cases:

  • Representation of military veterans in appealing their level of military discharge, so as to receive the full benefits to which they are entitled.
  • Representation of client in guardianship proceeding, wherein client sought (and ultimately received) guardianship of minor grandchild following tragic death of client’s daughter.
  • Prosecution of an FOIA action against the U.S. Department of Justice seeking the release of certain documents in the control of the federal government.
  • Appeal of a grant of summary judgment in a Section 1983 excessive force case, including briefing and oral argument before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. In a published decision, the Court remanded the case in part, allowing the client to have his day in court. McCoy v. Meyers, No. 17-3093 (10th Cir. 2018).

Alex served as a supervising attorney for Shook’s Summer Associates program for multiple years and mentors junior associates. She is actively involved in Shook’s diversity and recruiting efforts and previously served as a member of the firm’s Associates Committee.

Publications

Alexandra L. Pratt, The Need for "Knowing": Why the Iowa Supreme Court Should Reject Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 100 Iowa L. Rev. 1327 (2015).