Latham & Watkins LLP

Michèle Penzer is a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins and is a member of the firm’s Finance Department and the Banking & Private Credit Practice . Michèle has built a robust finance practice, advising a broad array of clients for over three decades.

Michèle’s practice focuses primarily on the representation of a wide range of banks and alternative lenders, as well as borrowers, in leveraged finance transactions, including acquisition financings, project financings, other senior secured lending transactions, and restructurings in a broad range of industries, including energy, communications, retail, technology, and industrials. She has significant experience in the structuring, negotiation, and documentation of secured and unsecured credit facilities, offering clients seasoned guidance at every turn.

Beyond her unwavering commitment to her clients, Michèle has continually overseen the firm’s commitment to the New York legal and business community. Michèle currently serves as Global Chair of the firm’s Recruiting Committee and has held multiple other leadership roles, including New York Office Managing Partner, Global Co-Chair of the Banking & Private Credit Practice, member of the firm’s Executive Committee, New York Chief Community Engagement Partner, and Chair of the firm’s Associates Committee. She also helped to found WEB, a firmwide initiative that was started to provide networking opportunities for women clients and attorneys and is now a powerful platform that broadly strengthens our client and alumni relationships.

Michèle is a member of the State Bar of New York, the New York State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. She is president of the Board of Directors of Sanctuary for Families, on the Board of Directors of the New York Women’s Foundation, a member of the Board of Advisors of the Yale Law School Center for the Study of Corporate Law, and a member of the Advisory Council of the Hastings Center.