Bio
Lauren Wortsman is an associate lawyer at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP. Lauren’s practice focuses on environmental law and litigation, natural resources law, and Indigenous legal issues. Lauren draws on her background in environmental science to find practical legal solutions to complex environmental issues. Lauren represents clients in environmental civil proceedings, administrative proceedings, and regulatory prosecutions. Lauren advises businesses in a range of industries and provides solutions to help clients meet their environmental regulatory goals and minimize liability. Lauren assists Indigenous communities, resource proponents, governments, and environmental boards with natural resource development and environmental law matters.
Lauren is called to the bar in Ontario.
Lauren obtained her law degree at Western Law, where she graduated in the top ten percent of her class. Throughout law school, Lauren volunteered at Western Law’s legal aid clinic.
Environmental Law
Lauren supports clients with environmental compliance matters at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government. She also helps clients manage environmental liability arising from transactions involving contaminated land and other environmental concerns.
Environmental Litigation
Lauren assists with advocacy in environmental civil proceedings, administrative proceedings, and regulatory prosecutions.
Energy and Natural Resources Law
Lauren advocates for intervenor clients before the Ontario Energy Board on natural gas and electricity matters.
Indigenous and Northern Law
Lauren supports First Nation, Métis, and Inuit communities, resource proponents, governments, and environmental boards on natural resource development and environmental law matters. Lauren advises on Indigenous consultation obligations, and assists Indigenous communities in the negotiation of impact benefit agreements.
Prior Environmental Work Experience
- Lauren obtained a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in environmental science from Queen’s University where she researched potential threats to water quality in a local biosphere and reported on strategies for protecting water quality to the biosphere’s board of directors.
- Lauren provided pro bono legal services to support an environmental organization’s law reform initiative to strengthen federal regulatory protections for drinking water.
- In law school, Lauren worked as a research assistant to a law professor where she conducted research on the intersection of environmental issues and constitutional law.
Clients
- Land developers, property owners, landlords and tenants
- Insurers and financial institutions
- Engineering and consulting firms
- Construction sector
- Indigenous communities and businesses
- Environmental boards and tribunals
- Municipalities
- Individuals
Representative Work
Environmental Law
- Pre-purchase Environmental Due Diligence—Assisted a company with pre-purchase environmental due diligence on a contaminated site. Reviewed Environmental Site Assessments and advised on potential environmental risks, liabilities, and obligations.
- Regulatory Approvals for Energy Project—Advised a project proponent about environmental approvals and permits for constructing and operating an energy project.
Environmental Litigation
- Civil Litigation for Environmental Damages—Assisted property owners in defending a claim for damages arising from historic contamination caused by prior property owners.
- Defence of Prosecution—Assisted in defending a property owner charged with violating provisions of the Environmental Protection Act and Ontario Water Resources Act.
- Insurance Claim—Assisted individual homeowners in a damages claim against a company and insurer for adverse health impacts and property damage.
Energy and Natural Resources Law
- Intervention in Energy Board Hearing—Assisted an environmental non-profit organization to intervene at the Ontario Energy Board in various energy proceedings relating to natural gas and energy conservation.
Indigenous and Northern Law
- Negotiation of Impact Benefit Agreement—Advocated for a First Nation community in the negotiation of an impact benefit agreement for a mining project.
- Advice to Northern Board on Water Licences—Advised a northern resources board about the issuance of water licences for the remediation of an energy project.