Essence McGill Arzu, JD, MA

Essence McGill Arzu has extensive experience in corporate finance and both domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions.  With over 25 years of corporate experience, she is a highly-skilled, creative, and forward–thinking business advisor and leader, with a track record of developing effective strategies, building strong alliances with and among diverse constituencies, leading and managing complex projects and teams, and advising on risk management and corporate governance issues in both national and international arenas.  As an attorney licensed in multiple jurisdictions, she has worked as an associate, a partner and practice chair in the corporate practices of several top tier law firms, specializing in M&A, debt financing, and social venture transactions of all sizes.  She has also served in an outside general counsel capacity to multi-million dollar companies in a variety of industries including financial services, life sciences and technology, leading financings, reorganizations, divestitures, joint ventures, and acquisitions, and advising on corporate transactions, regulatory, and compliance matters.

Essence received her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, her M.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Davis Center for Russian Studies, and her B.A. from Harvard University. 

Essence is committed to mentoring and applies her skills toward community and mission-driven goals. She has been active in a number of legal, business, and civic organizations and has served on numerous nonprofit boards including the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, Boston Dance Alliance, The Partnership, Inc., Boston Bar Foundation, Harvard Club of Boston, Celebrity Series of Boston, Boston Children’s Museum, Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys, Boston Educational Development Foundation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education.  Essence was selected as a Boston Business Journal “40 Under 40” honoree, as a member of Boston Bar Association’s Public Interest Leadership Program, to The Partnership, Inc.’s Fellows and Next Generation Executive Programs, and to the Women’s Bar Association Leadership Initiative.  Essence is a member of the Boston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated and lives in Somerville, Massachusetts with her husband (an excellent chef!) and their golf clubs.