Coleen M. Penacho

Coleen M. Penacho is a business lawyer and Of Counsel at Sheehan Phinney in Portsmouth and works in the Corporate Department and Data Privacy and Security Group. She advises B2B and B2C companies on privacy obligations, data protection, compliance, and business transactions. Her work covers laws such as CCPA, PIPEDA, GDPR, and GLBA, along with privacy due diligence for mergers and acquisitions and practical counseling for organizations managing sensitive information.

Coleen earned a B.S. from Yale University, an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Boston College Law School. This combination of legal, business, and undergraduate study supports her work with companies facing operational and regulatory questions. Her education complements a practice that requires close attention to commercial goals, privacy requirements, transaction structure, risk management, and the practical implementation of internal data-protection programs.

Coleen counsels clients across technology, manufacturing, finance, education, recreation, healthcare, entertainment, and real estate. Her work includes privacy and cookie policies, privacy notices, written information security programs, acceptable-use policies, data processing agreements, breach response, and notifications. She has advised startups on US and international privacy laws, supported educational-service providers handling student data, and assisted buyers and sellers with privacy-related diligence in acquisitions and dispositions.

Coleen M. Penacho combines corporate counseling with focused privacy and security work for organizations of different sizes and industries. She is admitted in New Hampshire and before the US District Court for the District of New Hampshire and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Her professional involvement includes the International Association of Privacy Professionals, while her civic service has included board and volunteer roles supporting Seacoast and New Hampshire organizations.

Law Office Affiliations

• Of Counsel, Sheehan Phinney
• Member, New Hampshire Bar Association
• Board Chair, Town of Rye Beach Committee
• Past Board Member, Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, Optima Bank & Trust
• Past Board Chair, Seacoast YMCA
• Past Board Member, Granite YMCA
• Past Trustee, Trust Funds, Town of Greenland
• Past Board Member, American Red Cross – New Hampshire Region
• Member, New Hampshire DOVE
• Member, International Association of Privacy Professionals

Licensed State

• New Hampshire

Education

• Boston College Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD) (Magna Cum Laude)
• University of Chicago
  Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Yale University
  Bachelor of Science (BS)

Awards & Badges