Blank Rome partner Mirlande Telfort has been recognized in the Secured Finance Network's ("SFNet") Women in Secured Finance feature, published in the March 2025 edition of The Secured Lender.
The feature highlights "women who have carved their paths with determination, resilience, and unwavering vision." Each honoree is recognized with a profile about their careers, including advice for young professionals in the secured finance industry, and more.
To view the feature, please click here.
Mirlande's honoree profile, as published in The Secured Lender.
What advice would you offer to women just starting out in the industry? What is the best advice you ever received?
As a new finance professional, particularly as a woman in the industry, establishing yourself early on with the right skills, mindset, and network is crucial to long-term success. By positioning yourself as a knowledgeable, business-savvy, and strategic legal professional, you will not only thrive but also create opportunities for leadership and long-term career advancement. Stay proactive, seek mentorship, advocate for your own growth, and never stop learning.
Finance law is complex and constantly evolving. To build credibility and confidence, invest time in mastering corporate finance and stay updated on regulatory changes, emerging financial products, and global market trends. Reading industry publications and actively participating in continuing education seminars and conferences can set you apart. The stronger your technical foundation, the more valuable you will be to clients and colleagues. It is also important to build a strong and diverse network of various professionals inside and outside of your organization. Seek out mentors and sponsors to both provide guidance and actively advocate for your career progression. A strong network will help open doors to new opportunities, provide career advice, and enhance your visibility in the field.
As a woman in finance, you may find yourself in rooms where you are the minority. Confidence in your expertise is critical. Speak up in meetings, contribute valuable insights, and establish yourself as a go-to person for complex legal and financial issues. If you don’t advocate for your own knowledge and skills, others may overlook them. It is imperative for you to hone your communication skills to effectively explain complex financial concepts to both legal and non-legal audiences. Being articulate, assertive, and solution-oriented will help solidify your credibility.
In addition, clients appreciate lawyers who think like business advisors, not just legal technicians. Learn how deals are structured, what factors influence markets and how financial products work. Understanding the commercial goals behind transactions will allow you to provide practical, business-friendly legal advice. Proactively seek out complex and high-value deals that will give you exposure and experience, and make it known that you are ready to take on more responsibility. Developing resilience is crucial to long-term success. Learn from setbacks, seek constructive feedback, and remain adaptable to industry shifts. The finance industry can be very demanding, with long hours and high expectations. However, setting boundaries early in your career will make it manageable. Learn to manage your workload efficiently, communicate clearly about deadlines, and take time for self-care. Work-life balance may not always be perfect, but having a long-term, but fluid, strategy to maintain well-being will contribute to sustained success.
Finally, the legal and financial industries are constantly changing due to technological advancements, regulatory updates, and market developments. To remain competitive, continue to learn, whether it is through formal education, certifications, industry conferences, journals or thought leadership, or other informal avenues. Being proactive in your professional development will ensure you stay ahead of the curve and continue to grow in your career
About Mirlande Telfort
Mirlande Telfort is a partner with Blank Rome. She has significant experience representing financial institutions in middle-market lending transactions.
Mirlande focuses her practice on representing banks, private equity funds, and other investors in a variety of complex debt financing transactions, including secured and unsecured, syndicated and bilateral, and revolving and term credit facilities.
She represents clients in connection with leveraged financings, including leveraged buyouts, as well as investment grade financings. She counsels clients who lend to, or invest in, companies in a broad range of industries, with a focus in the healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, technology, and retail sectors. Financings in such transactions include a broad array of ownership structures, including private equity sponsored, closely held, and publicly traded companies.
During law school, Mirlande served as a staff member for the Howard Law Journal. She graduated as a Merit Scholar.
