Michèle O. Penzer

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 Practice. Michèle has built a robust finance practice, navigating clients through some of the most volatile market conditions over the past nearly 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.

Michèle is recognized as a leading attorney and is ranked for US banking and finance in Chambers Global, Chambers USA, and The Legal 500 US. In 2017, Michèle was named to the inaugural list of Leading Women Lawyers in New York by Crain’s New York Business.

Beyond the unwavering commitment to her clients, Michèle has continually overseen the firm’s commitment to the New York legal and business community and its sophisticated client base. Michèle currently serves as Global Chair of the firm’s Recruiting Committee and has held multiple other leadership roles, including as former New York Office Managing Partner, former Global Co-Chair of the Banking Practice, former member of the firm’s Executive Committee, former New York Chief Community Engagement Partner, and former Chair of the firm's Diversity Committee and Associates Committee. She also helped to found Women Enriching Business (WEB), a firm-wide initiative developed to help give women the tools to develop networks and business development skills.

Michèle is a member of the State Bar of New York, the New York State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. She is on 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.