Melissa A. Peña Email & Phone Number

As Chair of the Norris McLaughlin Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Law Practice Group, I concentrate my practice on commercial litigation and bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. My clients include financial institutions, private lenders, creditors, and accounting firms. I have successfully represented secured creditors and unsecured creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and state court insolvency proceedings. I frequently handle commercial foreclosure actions, actions to enforce promissory notes and guarantees, lien priority disputes, fraudulent conveyance actions, and creditor enforcement matters.I have also defended accounting firms in disputes regarding alleged failure to detect criminal and fraudulent activity in the state and federal courts of New Jersey and New York.Outside the courtroom, I handle commercial workouts and negotiate forbearance agreements on behalf of lenders. I frequently represent investors seeking to acquire defaulted loans from the due diligence stage to closing on the sale. I also help lenders to liquidate their collateral through UCC sales, including sales of co-ops.Whether inside or outside the courtroom, my goal is to find a practical business solution for clients. I utilize litigation as a tool to further my client’s business objectives in a cost-effective manner.I am a member of the Meritas Board of Directors, an established global alliance of more than 180 independent, full-service law firms in every U.S. state and in 90 foreign countries, and the Chair of the Meritas Financial Services section. I received my Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from American University, Washington College of Law in 2003; and my Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, summa cum laude, from George Washington University in 2000.

Listed skills include Attorney, Federal Courts, and Supervisor.