Penny serves as the office managing partner in the firm’s Pittsburgh office. She is an accomplished lawyer with over two decades of experience representing financial institutions, private credit funds, and borrowers in a broad range of lending transactions.
Penny focuses her practice on debt financing and secured transactions, including the structuring and origination of asset-based and acquisition financing, leveraged finance, mezzanine finance and large syndicated transactions. Secured lenders as well as companies in the security alarm, medical alert, and other industries with a recurring revenue model, rely on Penny’s expertise in those sectors. Penny also has experience with floor plan and heavy equipment financings.
Penny also advises domestic and international banking clients and investment firms in the areas of microfinance and impact investing. Notably, McGuireWoods was “Highly Commended” in Financial Times’ Accessing New Markets and Capital category for Penny’s representation of Developing World Markets in connection with the origination, placement and investment of proceeds from a first-of-its-kind off-grid, renewable and climate action note (ORCA).
Penny’s leadership roles at the firm include co-chairing the firm’s Women in Private Equity & Finance initiative, co-chairing the firm’s Asset Based Lending team and serving on the ESG Executive Committee. Penny previously chaired the Women’s Lawyers Network and previously served on the National Recruiting Committee.
Experience
Middle Market Commercial Lending and ABL Financings
- Represented the administrative agent in connection with a $150 million term loan to a leading utility provider.
- Represented the administrative agent in connection with a $100 million revolving credit and floor plan facility to a bus dealership.
- Represented the borrower, an energy storage products and services company, in the refinancing of its $400 million credit facility.
- Represented a leading financial institution in connection with a $200 million revolving credit facility for a leader in customized security and home automation solutions.
- Represented a global leader in 3D printing machines, products, materials and services, in its $19 million sale-leaseback arrangement with a private, unaffiliated real estate investor.
- Represented a diagnostic imaging solutions company in refinancing a term loan and revolving credit facility with a Pennsylvania-based regional bank.
- Represented a pharmaceutical company in connection with its debtor-in-possession credit facility from a secured lender.
- Represented Valesco Industries, a private equity firm, in its debt investment in ACCESS Destination Services, a leader in destination management services and event production.
- Represented a global leader in advanced mine safety products and technology solutions in the refinancing of its $64 million debt facilities.
- Represented a named agent in its participation in a $500 million unsecured credit facility for an engineering simulation software company to finance its acquisition of a software company.
- Represented a premier provider of security solutions in a $450 million syndicated credit facility.
- Represented lender in a $22 million senior financing for a borrower in the personal emergency response services industry.
- Represented agent in a $150 million secured revolving credit facility for a borrower in the electronic security alarm industry.
- Represented lender in a $35 million financing for a borrower in the home security alarm industry.
- Represented the administrative agent in a $600 million secured asset-based credit facility for a borrower in the wire and cable, communications and security industry.
- Represented two food distributors in an asset-based financing.
Impact Investing
- Represented CONSOL Energy (NYSE: CEIX), a coal producer and exporter, in its $2.5 million debt and equity investment in CFOAM, an Australian-based carbon material producer.
- Represented an investment fund in a note offering in the renewable energy sector.
- Represented an investment fund in a microfinance loan program.
- Represented a private credit fund providing financing to a women-owned aerospace business.
- University of Pittsburgh School of LawJD
- University of Pittsburgh Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of BusinessMBA
- Cornell UniversityBSIndustrial and Labor Relations
Member, Board of Trustees, Chatham University
Member, Women in Secured Finance Committee, Secured Finance Network
Member, Pittsburgh Chapter, Association for Corporate Growth
Member, Allegheny County Bar Association
Member, Business Law and International Law Sections, American Bar Association
Member, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania Women’s Executive Leadership Council
Member, Board of Directors, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Committee Member, Western Pennsylvania Girl Scouts Women of Distinction, 2019-2024
- Speaker, ESG: Regulatory, Practice Initiatives, Deal Landscape and Opportunities, September 19, 2024
- Host, "Growing Businesses in Underserved Communities, With Sheila Emami of St. Cloud Capital," Deal Us In Podcast Series, August 26, 2024
- Host, "Empowerment Through Maternal Guidance – Nurturing Confidence, Building Networks and Mentorship, With Amy and Julia Weisman," Deal Us In Podcast Series, May 10, 2024
- Speaker, "The State of Sell-Side M&A," The Evolving M&A Landscape, Smart Business Dealmaker Conference, February 29, 2024
- Panelist, "ESG: Making Sense Out of the Evolution," SFNet Webinar, December 2, 2022
- Co-presenter, "ESG – Navigating the Sustainable Syndicated Lending Landscape," On Demand Session during SFNet’s 78th Annual Convention, November 7, 2022
- Moderator, "State of the Credit Markets and Nuances with Different Types of Lenders," 2022 Independent Sponsor Conference, October 26, 2022
- Presenter, "Takeaways and Wrap Up: What Should Your Company Be Doing on ESG?," ESG: What Companies Need to Know, February 16, 2022
- Presenter, "ESG and the Global Financial Markets," ESG: What Companies Need to Know, February 2, 2022
- Guest Speaker, "The Importance of Cultivating Borrower-Lender Relationships," Across the Table, A Healthcare Private Equity Podcast, August 25, 2021
- Panelist, "Building and Maximizing Enterprise Value on the Sell-Side," 2021 Virtual Dealmakers Conference, Virtual Conference, March 4, 2021
- Mentor, 2021 Bizwomen Mentoring Monday, Pittsburgh Business Times, February 22, 2021
- Panelist, "Private Markets Outlook," Big Path – Global Virtual Impact Capitalism Summit, Virtual Conference, April 21, 2020
- Moderator, 2019 Independent Sponsor Conference, October 3, 2019
- Speaker, "How Lawyers are Contributing to Inclusive Innovation in Pittsburgh," Inclusive Innovation Summit, March 29, 2019
- Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Banking and Finance Law, 2018-2025; Corporate Law, 2021-2025; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2023, 2024, 2025; Woodward/White, Inc.
Selected for inclusion in “Legal 500 United States,” Commercial Lending, 2020, 2023, 2024
Selected for inclusion in America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Banking & Finance, Pittsburgh, Chambers USA, 2019-2024
Featured in The Secured Finance Network’s The Secured Lender – Women in Secured Finance, 2021
Named to “2020 Women of Influence”, Pittsburgh Business Times, 2020
- Author, Celebrating Women Dealmakers: Great Rock Capital, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, December 20, 2024
- Featured, "McGuireWoods: Teamwork Key to Firm’s Success," The Secured Lender, July/August 2024
- Author, Women in PE and Finance to Know: Geeta Vemuri, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 29, 2024
- Quoted, "How community banks are keeping small sustainable," Pittsburgh Business Times, July 4, 2024
- Author, Women in PE and Finance to Know: Dianna Carr-Coletta, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 25, 2024
- Featured, "Penny Zacharias, managing partner, McGuireWoods Pittsburgh," Pittsburgh Business Times, June 17, 2024
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Sarah Whitney, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 30, 2024
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Lucy King, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 16, 2024
- Author, SEC Adopts Final Rules on Climate-Related Disclosures, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 21, 2024
- Author, "Secured Finance Executives Predicting Modest Growth in 2024," The Secured Lender, January/February 2024
- Quoted, Secured Finance Executives Predicting Modest Growth in 2024, The Secured Lender, Jan/Feb 2024
- Author, Celebrating Women Dealmakers: Katie Kimble, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, December 27, 2023
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Michelle Fang Jordan, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, November 15, 2023
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Alyssa Daniel, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, October 30, 2023
- Featured, McGuireWoods’ Pittsburgh Leader Looks To Build Community, Law360, September 15, 2023
- Featured, McGuireWoods appoints first woman to lead its Pittsburgh office, Pittsburgh Business Times, September 14, 2023
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Ewelina Woloszyn, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 19, 2023
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Mary Beth Brosnihan, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 28, 2023
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Farrah Holder, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 6, 2023
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Alissa Walker, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 9, 2023
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Erin Andrew, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 23, 2023
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Elizabeth Weindruch, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 22, 2023
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Erin Lansky, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, December 1, 2022
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Pavithra Mahesh, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, November 3, 2022
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Alexis Vanstone, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, September 21, 2022
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Kelly Lineberger, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 13, 2022
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Jessica Hudson, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 6, 2022
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Caroline Stevens, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 26, 2022
- Author, SEC Releases Proposed New Rules on Climate-Related Disclosures, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 5, 2022
- Author, Celebrating Women Dealmakers: Courtney Midanek, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, August 24, 2021
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Julia Senior, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 27, 2021
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Samantha Gordon Webb, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 13, 2021
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Melissa Mounce, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 17, 2021
- Author, President Biden Issues Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial Risk, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 1, 2021
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Christie McFall, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 27, 2021
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Amanda Kim, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 3, 2021
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Yichen Feng, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 20, 2021
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Jennifer Ding, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 16, 2021
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Lauren Morera, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 3, 2021
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Pooja Goel, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 16, 2021
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Nicole Byers, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 8, 2021
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Gillian Francis and Angela Zenon, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, January 19, 2021
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Lindsay Ting, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, December 17, 2020
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Beth Rahn, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, November 17, 2020
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Katie Kornel, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, October 20, 2020
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Kaitlynn Akins, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, September 25, 2020
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Polly Mack, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, August 28, 2020
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Carrie DiLauro, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, August 18, 2020
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Katie-Rose Higgins, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 31, 2020
- Author, "Impact Investing’s New Role in the Age of COVID-19," Corporate Counsel Business Journal, July 27, 2020
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Priya Parrish, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 16, 2020
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Hilary Fleischer, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 19, 2020
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Ann Ferreira, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 21, 2020
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Naile Kovuk, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 31, 2020
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Leslie Frécon, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 18, 2020
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Allie Laborde, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 28, 2020
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Mina Pacheco Nazemi, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 18, 2020
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Kristin Archer, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, January 31, 2020
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Katie Harris Storer, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, January 21, 2020
- Author, Celebrating Women Dealmakers: Andrea L. Balogh, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, December 5, 2019
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Kim Hruby, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, November 19, 2019
- Author, Key Takeaways From McGuireWoods’ 2019 Independent Sponsor Conference, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, November 11, 2019
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Cindy Babitt and Beth Haas, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, November 4, 2019
- Author, Celebrating Women Dealmakers: Jeanne Proia, Cross Keys Capital Investment Banking, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, October 23, 2019
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Caroline Young, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, October 21, 2019
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Becca Schlagenhauf, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, October 4, 2019
- Author, Celebrating Women Dealmakers: CohnReznick, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, September 20, 2019
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Molly Williams Martin, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, September 12, 2019
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Renny Sie, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, August 28, 2019
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Meahgan O’Grady, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, August 2, 2019
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Anne Marie DeMent, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 25, 2019
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Emily Castle, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 18, 2019
- Author, McGuireWoods Women in Private Equity & Finance: Celebrating Women Dealmakers, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 3, 2019
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Sheila Schweitzer, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 28, 2019
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Ashley Chang, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 5, 2019
- Author, Women in Private Equity to Know: Angie Henson and Heather Hubbard, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 15, 2019
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in Private Equity to Know: Rachel Hannon, Summit Park, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 1, 2019
- Author, Up-and-Coming Women in PE to Know: Melinda Baglio, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 26, 2019
- Author, Women in PE to Know: Shoshana Vernick, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 11, 2019
- Co-author, McGuireWoods Authors Explain Growth of Women in Private Equity in Law360, Law360, February 4, 2019
- Author, Nine Trends Driving the Expansion of Women in Private Equity, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, January 29, 2019
- Author, Key Takeaways From the McGuireWoods 2018 Independent Sponsor Conference, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, December 3, 2018
- Author, Women in Private Equity to Know: Gretchen Perkins, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, August 2, 2018
- Author, Women in Private Equity to Know: Maureen Spivack, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 22, 2018
- Author, Women in Private Equity to Know: Rena Clark, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 3, 2018