Professor Graham Penn appointed Programme Director of UCL Laws’ MSc Law and Finance

UCL Laws has appointed Graham Penn, one of the world’s leading finance law practitioners, as Programme Director of the MSc Law and Finance

Professor Graham 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.

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.