Biography

Laura is a member of Preti Flaherty’s Environmental Practice Group in the firm’s Portland office. Her practice focuses on complex environmental matters, performing research and analysis; advising on all aspects of administrative law, including licensing, rulemaking, and enforcement matters; and representing clients in affirmative, defensive, and appellate litigation. She has experience with state and federal protection of water and air laws, including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and related statutes.

Laura is a graduate of the Pace University School of Law, where she received her LL.M. and J.D. degrees, and Fordham University. Following law school, she was Director of Environmental Law Programs and an adjunct professor of law at Pace Law. Laura later served as a law clerk in the chambers of Justice Ellen A. Gorman of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. As a law student, she held internships at the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Inc.; in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office; and for the Hon. Patty Shwartz, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of New Jersey.

Laura joins Preti Flaherty after three years as an Assistant Attorney General at the Office of the Maine Attorney General, Natural Resources Division, and two years as a real estate attorney at a notable law firm in Bangor.

Laura lives in South Portland, Maine.

Professional Activities

  • American Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association

Honors & Recognition

  • Nicholas A. Robinson Award for Distinguished Environmental Achievement
  • Fordham University Dean’s Scholarship for Academic Excellence
  • Fordham University Student Leadership Award

Firm Highlights

Publication

Municipal Update: Effect of Recent Supreme Court Decision on Sale of Tax Foreclosed Properties

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in  Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota  (598 U.S. _____ (2023)). The Supreme Court held that Hennepin County had violated the Fifth Amendment’s takings clause by...

Publication

Bankruptcy Court Injects Uncertainty in Municipal Tax Foreclosures

Last October, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maine issued a ruling of concern for municipalities. The case ( In re Riendeau , 645 B.R. 321 [Bankr. Me. 2022] ) established that...

Press Coverage

Oxford Police Chief: Officer Tried to De-escalate Pursuit Before Fatal Crash

Officials from the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office have refused to provide documentation of the department's policy on police chases following the fatal high-speed crash of Nicholas Liebowitz in Gray, Maine, on Friday, April 28, 2023. Chief...

Publication

Post Sackett: What Is the Scope of the Clean Water Act?

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) rendered a decision in Sackett et ux. v. EPA addressing what Justice Alito referred to as a “nagging question” of what water bodies are covered under...

Publication

H-2B Visa Program Summary

The H-2B classification allows foreign nationals who are citizens of certain named countries, with limited exceptions, to accept temporary non-agricultural employment in the United States, after the employer has obtained temporary labor certification by...

Event

Bodie Colwell joins ethics panel at the Northeast Bankruptcy Conference & Northeast Consumer Forum

An annual conference, this year's Northeast Bankruptcy Conference and Consumer Forum will focus on sophisticated financial scenarios practitioners often face and provide insights on current consumer bankruptcy issues. Preti Flaherty's Bodie Colwell is a...

Press Coverage

Authorities Refuse to Release Records for Maine School Shooter Hoax Calls

On November 15, 2022, multiple law enforcement agencies in Maine received false calls alerting police to active shooter situations at several high schools throughout the state. In the wake of this widespread hoax, the Kennebec...

News

Maine Justice Foundation Opens Applications for the 2023 Access to Justice Tax Credit

The Maine Justice Foundation is pleased to announce that applications for the 2023 Access to Justice Tax Credit Program will open on June 1, 2023. The Foundation will accept applications from eligible attorneys from...

News

14 Preti Flaherty Attorneys Selected as Chambers USA Leaders in Their Field

Fourteen Preti Flaherty attorneys and six practice groups have been selected for inclusion in the 2023 Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Lawyers for Business , the highly regarded directory of leading attorneys and...

News

Maine Justice Foundation LGBTQ+ Fund Seeks Applications for 2023 Grants

The Maine Justice Foundation is pleased to announce a round of grants from the LGBTQ+ Fund. The Foundation will accept applications for grants from organizations working to advance awareness and understanding of LGBTQ+ issues...