Professor Penn brings decades of experience at the intersection of law and finance to a role he has helped shape since the programme was launched in 2025. The appointment marks a new chapter in its leadership and vision as it continues to evolve. Applications are now open for the 2026/27 academic year.
For nearly 35 years, Professor Penn has delivered courses on UCL’s LLM programme in Corporate and Finance Law, guiding thousands of students who have gone on to leadership roles across the profession. His career combines rigorous academic research with international practice, including working as a partner and co-head of the Global Finance Practice at Sidley Austin LLP, one of the world’s largest law firms.
During his career, he has been consistently recognised as a “world-leading practitioner in Capital Markets, Structured Finance and Securitisation” by Euromoney, and a “top tier” lawyer by Chambers, which included him in its inaugural Chambers 100—a ranking of the 100 best business lawyers in the UK—where he was listed among the top five capital markets lawyers. He has also been acknowledged by the Financial Times as a Top Legal Innovator of the Year.
"I am delighted to take on the role of Programme Director,” said Professor Penn. “It has been a huge pleasure to develop this programme with colleagues across UCL. From the start, we wanted something distinct and transdisciplinary, showing how legal, financial, and regulatory thinking intersect. Working with leading firms and market practitioners, we have also developed two key learning experiences: placements with some of the world’s leading international corporate law and finance firms, and deal simulations, developed in collaboration with many of those same firms. This MSc combines intellectual rigour with applied learning, preparing students to step confidently into complex, real-world environments. I am excited to see how our first cohort and future students carry this transdisciplinary vision forward.
Professor Penn is joined by Dr Alexander Gorbenko, Deputy Programme Director and Professor of Economics and Finance at UCL. Dr Gorbenko brings a global perspective and a strong record in academia and practice, with previous teaching roles at London Business School and the University of Southern California.
The MSc Law and Finance also brings together other distinguished experts from UCL Faculty of Laws, UCL School of Management, and Department of Economics. Many of them serve as trusted advisors to governments, regulatory bodies, global law firms, and financial institutions. The programme offers students practical, experiential learning through deal simulations and structured placements with leading law firms, providing an insider’s perspective on how transactions are structured, negotiated, and executed, and equipping them with the practical skills to shape legal and financial markets.
Programme highlights
- Advanced interdisciplinary training from internationally renowned academics and expert practitioners who work in the international law and finance markets.
- Highly immersive ‘real life’ deal simulations and structured placements with top law and finance firms, giving students hands-on experience with live transactions that bridge theory and practice.
- Combines academic rigour grounded in a solid understanding of how legal, economic, regulatory, and financial frameworks interact in major corporate, finance, and restructuring transactions.
- Builds expertise in public and private M&A (including private equity), international debt finance, and complex restructuring.
- Includes real deal documentation and case materials used in the current market including the Loan Market Association (LMA) and other leading institutions.
Applications for the MSc Law and Finance for the 2025/26 academic year open on Monday, 20 October.
Applications are now open
Applications for the MSc Law and Finance for the 2025/26 academic year are open from Monday 20 October
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