Lawson Lundell's Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Blog follows new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. Our goal is to provide a source of valuable information and insight on a wide variety of matters for our readers.
Practice Expertise
- Commercial Litigation
- Environmental
- Litigation
- Project Law
Areas of Practice
- Commercial Litigation
- Environmental
- Litigation
- Project Law
Profile
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.
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.
Bar Admissions
Called to the Nunavut Bar, 2019
Called to the British Columbia Bar, 2009
Education
University of British Columbia, LL.B., 2008
University of Toronto, M.A., 2000
University of British Columbia, B.A., 1999
Areas of Practice
- Commercial Litigation
- Environmental
- Litigation
- Project Law
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
* Lead counsel to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority for its environmental assessment review panel proceedings for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project.
* Negotiated and drafted a conservation agreement under the federal Species at Risk Act for the recovery of Southern Resident Killer Whale.
* Counsel an international mining corporation with respect to species at risk and other permitting issues.
* Counsel to a midstream oil and gas operator in respect of permitting issues before the BC Energy Regulator.
* Counsel to various port and airport authorities on Aboriginal law matters, including the negotiation and drafting of relationship agreements.
* Counsel to a railway company in relation to disposition of contaminated lands.
* Counsel to various real estate developers in relation complex multi-party remediation agreements and contaminated site cost recovery claims under the Environmental Management Act.
* Represented various clients in relation to Fisheries Act permitting issues, including Fisheries Act Authorizations and compliance issues.
* Represented a major mining corporation in respect of an arbitration involving royalty payments under an Indigenous impact benefit agreement.
* Represented various clients respecting archaeological permitting issues under the BC Heritage Conservation Act.
Professional Associations
Rankings & Recognition
* Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys 2026: Litigation Star
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2026: Environmental Law
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2026: Natural Resources Law
* Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys 2022-2025: Future Star
* Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP 2021: Prize in Constitutional Law
Professional Activities and Experience
Canadian Bar Association, Member
* Lead counsel to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority for its environmental assessment review panel proceedings for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project.
* Negotiated and drafted a conservation agreement under the federal Species at Risk Act for the recovery of Southern Resident Killer Whale.
* Counsel an international mining corporation with respect to species at risk and other permitting issues.
* Counsel to a midstream oil and gas operator in respect of permitting issues before the BC Energy Regulator.
* Counsel to various port and airport authorities on Aboriginal law matters, including the negotiation and drafting of relationship agreements.
* Counsel to a railway company in relation to disposition of contaminated lands.
* Counsel to various real estate developers in relation complex multi-party remediation agreements and contaminated site cost recovery claims under the Environmental Management Act.
* Represented various clients in relation to Fisheries Act permitting issues, including Fisheries Act Authorizations and compliance issues.
* Represented a major mining corporation in respect of an arbitration involving royalty payments under an Indigenous impact benefit agreement.
* Represented various clients respecting archaeological permitting issues under the BC Heritage Conservation Act.
Professional Associations
Rankings & Recognition
* Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys 2026: Litigation Star
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2026: Environmental Law
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2026: Natural Resources Law
* Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys 2022-2025: Future Star
* Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP 2021: Prize in Constitutional Law
Professional Activities and Experience
Canadian Bar Association, Member
Blogs
Environmental, Indigenous and Natural Resources Blog
Lawson Lundell's Environmental, Indigenous and Natural Resources Blog focuses on environmental, indigenous and natural resources law, as well as related litigation. Included are summaries of significant cases from Canadian appellate courts, changes in the legal framework governing resource development including energy and climate change policy, and key decisions from the more influential regulatory bodies in Canada.
North of 60 Blog
Our North of 60 Blog provides commentary on current legal trends and developments, and legislative updates affecting businesses in Northern Canada.
Privacy & Data Management Blog
This blog is authored by members of the Privacy & Data Management Department. We follow new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. We follow emerging issues, legal developments, and new technology as they impact privacy and data management. We will focus on how organizations can protect, manage and innovate with information considering the various risks, regulatory and governance requirements.
The Business Law Blog
This blog is authored by members of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. We intend to follow new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. The wide range of experience among the members of our litigation group will provide a diverse and insightful examination of current legal trends and topics. Our goal is to provide a source of valuable information and insight on a wide variety of matters for our readers.
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