Norris McLaughlin Appoints Melissa Peña as Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair

The law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is pleased to announce that it has named Melissa Anne Peña, a Member of the firm, member of its Management Committee, and Chair of the Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Practice Group, as Chair of the firm's Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

About the Norris McLaughlin Diversity and Inclusion Committee

As Chair, Peña will continue the firm’s efforts to develop an initiative for the recruitment, support, retention, and advancement of diverse attorneys at the firm. Other members of the committee include Kurt G. Briscoe, and William C. Menard.

“Commitment to diversity is no longer measured simply by the adoption of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies. It is now integral and essential to successful overall business strategies. We are excited to have Melissa coordinate and lead a number of efforts to advance and retain diversity within our firm and the community. We are committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse workforce that reflects the world in which we live and the clients that we serve,” said John N. Vanarthos, Chairman of the firm.

About Melissa Peña

Peña concentrates her practice in the areas of bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and mortgage foreclosures. Her practice covers all aspects of litigation and insolvency matters in both state and federal courts. She frequently represents secured lenders, creditors’ committees, debtors, trustees, landlords, and other creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings pending in New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.

In addition, Peña has extensive experience litigating cases involving UCC matters, actions to enforce promissory notes and guarantees, inter-creditor agreements, lien priority disputes, equipment leases, fraudulent conveyance actions, preferences, and various creditor enforcement matters. She regularly represents lenders in commercial mortgage foreclosure proceedings. Whether she is inside or outside the courtroom, Melissa’s goal is to find a practical business solution for her clients. She utilizes litigation as a tool to further her client’s business objectives in a cost-effective manner.

Peña serves on the Board of Directors for Meritas, the largest worldwide affiliation of high-quality law firms, and as Co-Chair of its Financial Services/CRABS Section. She is also a member of the Bankruptcy Inn of Court, New York County Lawyers’ Association, and National Association of Women Lawyers. Peña earned her J.D., cum laude, from The American University Washington College of Law in 2003 and her B.A., magna cum laude, in Political Science, from George Washington University in 2000.