Laurie advises companies on the most consequential legislative and regulatory frameworks and changes in Canada. These include forced labour reporting requirements, sanctions and anti-corruption matters, the transition to a greener economy and sustainable development, and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
With 30 years of experience in the federal government, Laurie has a vast knowledge of specialized areas of public law, government processes and how Canada's constitutional framework can affect business plans. Clients value her ability to help them understand the government context they are working in, including how legislation and regulations are made. She speaks the language of regulators and legislators and knows what is well received by government—and what is not.
As a former senior leader with Canada's Department of Justice, Laurie developed legal policy and law reform initiatives and provided expert and specialized legal advice in the areas of administrative, constitutional and international law, privacy and human rights, trade law, and national security and criminal law. She was also responsible for the drafting of federal laws and regulations. She worked on a wide variety of files with an impact on the business environment including securities regulation, impact assessment, climate change, natural resources development and pipelines, and anti-money laundering and anti-corruption.
Laurie has also represented Canada’s interests with provinces and territories, with Indigenous Peoples, and internationally at the UN Committee against Torture, the UN Human Rights Committee and in the Commonwealth.