Laura Smith Morton
- Washington, D.C.
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Laura advises clients on infrastructure development, leveraging her deep government and industry experience to navigate federal policy and ensure compliance with complex regulatory requirements.
Laura Morton is a Chambers-ranked lawyer recognized nationwide for her work in offshore energy. She advises clients at every stage of infrastructure project development, with a focus on environmental review, permitting, natural resources, and public engagement.
Laura counsels companies on strategies to secure permitting approvals and community support for data center projects, including those on federal lands. Clients value her strong regulatory knowledge and nuanced understanding of federal agency policies, informed by extensive service across multiple agencies.
Laura also represents utilities and energy technology and manufacturing companies, applying industry and government experience to navigate agency policy priorities, ensure compliance, and secure multimillion-dollar funding and financing or challenge grant terminations.
Laura previously served as senior director for offshore wind at American Clean Power, the leading U.S. renewable energy trade association, and before that as acting deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She has held senior positions at the U.S. Department of Energy, the White House Council for Environmental Quality, and the Office of Management and Budget, where she led interagency efforts to streamline federal permitting for large infrastructure projects.
Earlier in her career, Laura spent more than a decade in private practice representing conventional energy companies in complex litigation transactions. She maintains a robust pro bono practice in immigration and civil rights, is active in renewable energy organizations, and frequently speaks at industry conferences.
Based on her breadth of knowledge of the oceans and energy development and her commitment to science and technology, Laura was appointed in 2024 to serve as a member of the National Academy of Sciences Ocean Studies Board.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- The George Washington University Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1994
- London School of Economics and Political Science, M.Sc., European Studies, 1989
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., International Studies, Highest Honors; Morehead Scholar, 1988
Bar and Court Admissions
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District of Columbia
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Georgia
Related Employment
- American Clean Power Association, Senior Director, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Offshore, 2019-2021
- Consultant, 2017-2019
- U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Acting Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Administrator, 2015-2017
- U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis, Senior Advisor to the Director, 2014-2015
- Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Policy Advisor; Council on Environmental Quality, Deputy Associate Director for Energy and Climate Change, 2012-2014
- U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the Secretary; Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Senior Advisor, Renewable Energy and Transmission, 2010-2012
- Fulbright & Jaworski, Senior Counsel, 2000-2010
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, Senior Litigation and Appellate Counsel, 1995-2000
Clerkships
- Hon. Susan H. Black, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Professional Recognition
Ranked by Chambers USA as “America’s Leading Lawyer" for Offshore Energy, 2025
Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law, 2022-2025
Secretary's Achievement Award, Issued by Secretary of Energy, 2016
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Professorial Lecturer at Law, George Washington University School of Law (adjunct faculty) 2022-2024
- Member, Ocean Studies Board, National Academies of Science
Professional Experience
Energy and Infrastructure Projects
Federal Environmental and Land Use Permitting and Compliance
Serve as counsel to energy companies on land use, permitting, environmental, consultation, and regulatory issues, with a focus on federal lands. Work with clients to review National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents and other reports for legal sufficiency and to build a strong administrative record.
Offshore Wind Project in the New York Bight
Serve as federal environmental and permitting counsel for project in the New York Bight. Provide policy advice and counsel on approvals required from all federal agencies and opportunities for stakeholder and tribal engagement, and advocate before federal and state agencies.
Offshore Wind Project in Massachusetts
Led policy and regulatory strategy for investor in fully permitted project. Manage firm team providing litigation, environmental, and breach of contract advice.
Offshore Wind Project in California
Serve as project counsel for proposed floating offshore wind project off the Central Coast of California, including providing advice on the intersection of offshore wind development and ocean conservation as the project will be near the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.
Offshore Wind Project in Hawaii
Serve as federal environmental and permitting counsel on a proposed 400 megawatt (MW) offshore wind project in Hawaii, which will assist Hawaii in achieving its 100% renewable energy mandate.
Offshore Wind Project in New Jersey
Provided federal regulatory and policy advice to investor in late-stage project off the coast of New Jersey.
Mid-Atlantic Transmission
Advise a transmission owner and developer on federal regulatory issues related to the PJM Interconnection/New Jersey Board of Public Utilities solicitations for transmission solutions to support the development of offshore wind energy on the Atlantic Coast.
Power Plant for Offshore Wind and Port Development
Serve as outside counsel for power plant owner on federal environmental review and permitting issues arising from repurposing of its transmission and facility assets in New York and New Jersey for offshore wind project generation, onshore support, and port development.
Data Centers
- Advise data center developer on siting and permitting requirements for projects to be located on federally-managed land.
- Advise data center developers on best practices to secure community support through active engagement.
Federal Grants and Loans
U.S. Department of Energy Funding
- Advise companies assessing various funding opportunities, including DOE energy and manufacturing grants and financing for utilities and sustainable aviation fuel and carbon capture projects from DOE’s Loan Programs Office (LPO).
- Assist companies in obtaining and performing grants and cooperative agreements, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, including DOE authorities and environmental review, and preparing community benefit plans.
- Assist companies in obtaining financing from LPO, including preparing applications, developing community benefit plans, conducting due diligence, and negotiating terms and conditions.
- Assist companies, including industrial manufacturing, battery recycling, and electric vehicle companies, in challenging DOE terminations of multi-million-dollar awards through legal proceedings and agency advocacy.
Government Relations
Administrative Advocacy
- Prepare comments on Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking proceedings on emissions standards and U.S. Department of Interior rulemaking proceedings related to 2025 critical minerals list
- Prepare comments on requests for information from DOE to inform its 2026 Energy Critical Materials Assessment.
- Prepare comments for start-up funder on DOE transmission initiatives and related agency advocacy.
- Prepare multiple comments for transmission developer ISO proceedings and proposed standards.
Corporate
Carbon-Free Energy Procurement and Policy
Represent corporate offtakers in the negotiation of power purchase and sale agreements (both physical and virtual) for gas, solar, wind, and other energy resources in power markets around the United States and powered lands, including advice of community engagement.
Litigation and Administrative Proceedings
Lead Joint Defense Counsel—False Claims Act Litigation*
Joint defense counsel for more than 300 natural gas transmission companies and other purchasers, gatherers, and transporters of gas in complex nationwide multidistrict multibillion-dollar False Claims Act (FCA) litigation alleging underpayment of royalties on federal and tribal lands due to natural gas mismeasurement. In re: Natural Gas Royalties Qui Tam Litigation, 562 F.3d 1032 (10th Cir. 2009).
Litigation Counsel in Federal Court and Before Federal Agencies*
Represented energy companies in federal court litigation and before U.S. Department of the Interior on issues regarding ownership of mineral rights, royalty disputes, and compliance with federal statutes.
U.S. Department of Justice Trial and Appellate Counsel*
Defended the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) against habeas corpus petitions and petitions for review brought by individuals and large classes of immigrant plaintiffs. Briefed and argued dozens of cases in both district and circuit court, leading to multiple favorable published decisions.
*Prior Experience
