Laura’s practice is focused on environmental, Aboriginal, and administrative law, and she has had the privilege of helping deliver regulatory approvals and agreements with Indigenous groups for some of Canada’s most complex major projects. Laura works with clients in both the private and public sectors across various industries, including infrastructure, energy, mining, agriculture, forestry, and real estate.
In her environmental law practice, Laura helps clients successfully navigate project approvals and regulatory processes, with the goal of obtaining defensible, feasible permitting conditions within project timelines while maintaining an organization’s reputation with key stakeholders. She also advises clients with respect to contaminated sites, assists with transactional due diligence involving environmental considerations, and advises clients in relation to environmental disclosure obligations. Laura brings a strategic and practical approach to environmental issues and assists clients in identifying risks early in project planning and managing them to a successful outcome.
In relation to Aboriginal law, Laura assists clients with respect to consultation and engagement with Indigenous communities and the negotiation of relationship and impact benefit agreements. Laura also has extensive experience with litigation involving Aboriginal law issues, including disputes pertaining to impact benefit agreements.
Laura regularly appears before various administrative bodies including the BC Environmental Appeal Board, the BC Energy Regulator, the Canada Energy Regulator, and various environmental review boards. Laura has appeared before all levels of court in British Columbia and the Federal Court of Canada. In addition to appearing before courts and tribunals, Laura assists clients in resolving their disputes using alternative dispute resolution processes, including arbitration and mediation.
Prior to law school, Laura had a career in public service, working at Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and for a non-departmental public body of the Home Office in the UK. Laura brings her knowledge of government decision-making to her legal practice.
In 2008-2009, Laura clerked for Justices Lowry and Ryan of the British Columbia Court of Appeal.