May 18, 2011

Norris McLaughlin, P.A.
721 Route 202-206, Suite 200
P.O. Box 5933
Bridgewater, NJ 08807-5933
Contact: Edward C. Miller, Jr.
Chief Marketing Officer
(908) 722-0700 x4224
ecmillerjr@nmmlaw.com

Melissa A. Peña Selected as Meritas Young Lawyer Liaison

Bridgewater, NJ (May 18, 2011) – Melissa A. Peña, an Associate with Norris McLaughlin, P.A. in its New York office, has been selected to participate in the Meritas’ Young Lawyer Liaison Program (YLLP).

Meritas is an established global alliance of more than 170 independent, full-service law firms, worldwide, in over 60 countries. Firms become members through invitation and maintain membership by meeting standards of uniquely comprehensive Quality Assurance Program, ensuring that clients receive the same high quality legal work and service from every Meritas firm. The YLLP offers young lawyers a peer-level contact at each member firm who can act as an entry point to the firm and the firm’s market. The Young Lawyer Liaison (YLL) will complement the role of the Meritas member contacts and support non-referral-related peer-to-peer interactions for purposes of networking, sharing best practices, and answering simple questions. More than 100 Meritas firms have submitted candidates.

Peña, a resident of New York, New York, 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. She also 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.

Peña regularly represents lenders in commercial mortgage foreclosure proceedings throughout the State of New York. She handles all aspects of the litigation, including defending against counterclaims, negotiating forbearance agreements when appropriate, and representing the lender in any subsequent bankruptcy proceeding by litigating stay relief motions and representing the lender’s interest in the plan confirmation process.

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. While in law school, Peña was the Recent Development Editor of the Administrative Law Review and a member of the Law and Government Society and participated in the Washington College of Law Civil Practice Clinic. She was an intern for Searles Solicitors in London, England during the summer of 2001.

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