Specializes in economic and trade sanctions, with a focus on the application of those laws to transactional matters and private equity funds, hedge funds, credit funds, and other funds and corporate clients.
Advises clients on due diligence and the negotiation of underlying agreements to identify international trade-related liabilities and risks for mergers and acquisitions (M&A), financings and other corporate transactions.

Alexis focuses her practice on economic and trade sanctions laws and the application of those laws as well as other international trade laws to transactional matters. With her deep knowledge of fund structures, Alexis handles complex investor- and investment-related challenges related to Russia and other sanctions programs.

Alexis also focuses on addressing sanctions and other trade-related concerns in special situations transactions, counseling clients seeking to acquire, divest and/or restructure their investments, businesses and liabilities.

Prior to joining the firm, Alexis was an R. Michael Gadbaw Fellow in General Electric’s International Law and Policy Group. She gained familiarity with sanctions and export controls and implementation of compliance mechanisms to effectively mitigate against such risks.

Representative Work

Advised credit, private equity, hedge and other funds clients with respect to investor- and investment-related considerations under Russia sanctions and other sanctions programs.
Advised both lenders and borrowers on sanctions, export and import controls, anti-money laundering (AML), anti-corruption and other trade-related provisions in financings both at the time of negotiation of such provisions and upon findings of potential violations.
Advised on sanctions and international trade control risks in connection with M&A transactions and equity offerings, including negotiation of related agreements.
Assisted credit funds clients in developing a compliance framework for, and implementing, know-your-customer (KYC) and due diligence to effectively identify and address sanctions, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering issues and risks.
Advised multinational companies with global footprints on U.S. sanctions compliance issues, including compliance programs and licensing.

Education
J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 2009
B.A., Colgate University, cum laude, 2004

Bar Admissions
District of Columbia

Recognitions

The Legal 500 US, International Trade: Customs, Export Controls and Economic Sanctions, 2023-2024.

Speeches and Publications

“U.S. Sanctions and Enforcement,” Foreign Service Institute, Washington, D.C., August 2, 2022.
“U.S. Sanctions Against Russia and Belarus: Considerations for Chinese Lawyers,” International Law Institute, June 14, 2022.
“Private Credit Transactions in an Environment of Sanctions: The Evolving Importance of Sanctions Provisions in Today’s World,” Akin CreditSpeak Series, May 19, 2022.
“Sanctions & Export Controls Update,” Akin Quarterly Seminar, April 21, 2022.
“Sanctions & Export Controls Update,” Akin Quarterly Seminar, October 21, 2021.