Penny E. Zacharias Partner

Penny is an accomplished lawyer with nearly 20 years 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 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 chairing the Pittsburgh Women’s Leadership Forum, co-chairing the firm’s Women in Private Equity & Finance initiative, co-chairing the firm's Asset Based Lending team, serving on the ESG Executive Committee and serving on the National Recruiting Committee.

Experience

Middle Market Commercial Lending

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 $15 million revolving credit facility.

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 agent for a borrower in the building products industry.

Represented lender in an acquisition financing to a borrower in the food products industry.

Represented lender in an acquisition financing to a borrower in the public safety industry.

Represented an administrative agent in its five-year $110 million senior revolving line of credit for a security solutions provider.

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.

Asset Based Lending

Represented agent in a $600 million secured credit facility for a borrower in the wire and cable, communications and security industry.

Represented an urgent care center in an ABL financing.

Represented a lumber company in an ABL financing.

Represented two food distributors in an ABL 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.

  • Cornell University, BS, Industrial and Labor Relations
  • University of Pittsburgh Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, MBA
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, JD

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

Member, Board of Directors, Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures

Committee Member, Western Pennsylvania Girl Scouts Women of Distinction, 2019-2021

  • Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Selected for inclusion in America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Banking & Finance, Pittsburgh, Chambers USA, 2019-2022

Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Banking and Finance Law, 2018-2023; Corporate Law, 2021-2023; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2023; Woodward/White, Inc.

Featured in The Secured Finance Network’s The Secured Lender – Women in Secured Finance, 2021

Selected for inclusion in “Legal 500 United States,” Commercial Lending, 2020

Named to "2020 Women of Influence", Pittsburgh Business Times, 2020

Back to top