Energy & Regulatory Lawyer.Helping clients navigate complex regulatory frameworks, technical disputes, and energy-related advisory matters.

Bio

Laura brings a blend of legal expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to the table, both of which are complemented by her value of efficiency and practical, elegant solutions to complex problems. Whether advising on a regulatory approval pathway or navigating a technical dispute, Laura understands the best solution for her clients is never one-size-fits-all; rather, her tailored approach is premised on a deep understanding of her client's business and goals, the applicable regulatory landscape, and the overarching commercial context. Each opportunity to develop, curate, and execute a bespoke, multi-step strategic solution gets Laura fired up as it allows her to put her natural knack for creative problem-solving to use for the benefit of her client-counsel team.

As a founding partner of Blue Rock Law LLP, Laura regularly advises clients on energy and regulatory matters, with a particular emphasis on navigating the requirements of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), Alberta's Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA), the Water Act, and Alberta Parks legislation. She also has experience advising on Transport Canada regulatory requirements, including compliance with federal transportation safety and environmental frameworks. Laura's regulatory advisory practice is grounded in a practical, solutions-oriented approach—helping clients understand their obligations, develop compliance strategies, and engage effectively with regulators.

In addition to her advisory work, Laura is an experienced litigator who regularly handles technically complex disputes arising from energy and regulatory issues. She has appeared before all levels of Alberta courts and has assisted clients with matters before, or related to decisions, of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the Canada Energy Regulator, the Alberta Energy Regulator, the Alberta Utilities Commission, Alberta's Environmental Appeals Board, and the Municipal Government Board. She has additionally assisted on several oil and gas or electricity-related arbitration disputes, often involving technical energy-related regulatory issues.

Laura is also actively engaged in the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and legal practice. For the last couple years, Blue Rock has been supporting the development of Ultimarii, a large language model (LLM) tool designed to assist major projects proponents in navigate their regulatory hurdles to get things built. Laura has received from the Ultimarii team a hands-on understanding of how these technologies are built and how they function. This experience, combined with her pragmatic approach to technology adoption, enables Laura to leverage AI tools to drive meaningful efficiencies in legal practice—from research and document review to regulatory analysis—while maintaining the rigour and professional judgment that complex regulatory and litigation matters demand.

Laura is also a Registered Parliamentarian and has assisted clients by chairing meetings for associations, limited partnerships, and corporations.

Laura was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, growing up northwest of Calgary in Bearspaw. She spent her childhood participating in competitive sports and escaping into the mountains for camping, hiking, rock climbing, biking, skiing, and, of course, following her blue heeler dog, Annie, on adventures into the forest looking for treasure. To this day, Laura still spends as much of her free time as she can hiking, mountain biking, and backcountry skiing. Laura was drawn to the legal profession after working in oil and gas recruitment in Houston, TX, where she saw her legal colleagues negotiating master service agreements with oil and gas service companies and operators. Laura pivoted her career plans to complete law school, and transitioned her business sense, sales skills, and client service focus developed in her prior roles of headhunting and sales, to the provision of exceptional legal service.