Lauren Wortsman

Associate

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Address:
  • 1 Toronto Street, Suite 900
    Toronto, ON, Canada, M5C 2V6
Phone:
416-642-4873
Email:

Bio

With her strong science background and a passion for environmental issues, Lauren Wortsman is naturally suited to help clients with environmental matters.

Lauren draws on her background in environmental science and her talent for keeping on top of change and innovation to find practical legal solutions to complex environmental issues. Adaptable and reliable, Lauren thrives on the dynamic and constantly changing world of environmental law.

Lauren’s practice focuses on environmental law and litigation, natural resources law, and Indigenous legal issues. Lauren represents clients in environmental civil proceedings, administrative proceedings, and regulatory prosecutions. Lauren assists clients with environmental compliance matters relating to contaminated land, remediation, and regulatory approvals for air, water, and waste. She advises businesses in a range of industries and provides strategic solutions to help clients meet their environmental regulatory obligations at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government. Lauren helps clients understand and manage potential environmental risks and liabilities, including by assisting with transactional environmental due diligence.

Lauren assists Indigenous communities, project proponents, governments, and co-management boards with natural resource development and environmental law matters. She advises about the duty to consult and helps clients develop strategies for fulfilling Indigenous consultation obligations.

Communication skills and an eye for detail are Lauren’s greatest strengths. Lauren stays on the leading edge of emerging legal issues to provide up-to-date and insightful advice to clients.

Education

  • Called to the bar of Ontario (2020)
  • J.D., Western Law (graduated with Distinction) (2019)
  • B.Sc. (Hons.), Environmental Science, Queen’s University (Dean’s Honour List) (2013)

Organizations

  • Canadian Bar Association (CBA)—member
  • Ontario Bar Association (OBA)—member
  • Law Society of Ontario—member

News

Work Highlights

  • Indigenous and Northern Law: 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Environmental Litigation: Insurance Claim

    Assisted individual homeowners in a damages claim against a company and insurer for adverse health impacts and property damage.

  • Environmental Litigation: Defence of Prosecution

    Assisted in defending a property owner charged with violating provisions of the Environmental Protection Act and Ontario Water Resources Act.

  • 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.

  • Environmental Law: Regulatory Approvals for Energy Project

    Advised a project proponent about environmental approvals and permits for constructing and operating an energy project.

  • 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.