Laura Smith Morton
- Washington, D.C.
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Laura advises clients at all stages of energy infrastructure project development on strategies to navigate federal government policy and practices and compliance with complex regulatory requirements.
Laura Morton counsels energy companies and utilities pursuing the development of major onshore and offshore infrastructure projects, with a focus on federal environmental review, permitting, and natural resources. Laura’s clients seek her advice based on her deep regulatory knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of federal agency policy and practices following her almost decade of government service across multiple agencies. She also leverages her industry and federal agency experience to counsel utilities and energy technology and manufacturing companies on strategies to navigate agency policy priorities and compliance requirements for multimillion-dollar funding and financing.
Laura previously served as the senior director for offshore wind at American Clean Power (ACP), the leading renewable energy industry trade association in the United States. Prior to joining ACP, Laura served as acting deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where she worked on a range of issues spanning water resources and data, fisheries, aquaculture, and infrastructure permitting.
Laura’s broad government experience also includes serving as senior advisor in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Energy, deputy associate director for energy and climate change at the White House Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ), and a policy advisor at the Office of Management and Budget. Her work at the Department of Energy (DOE) and CEQ included leading interagency task forces to improve federal permitting and review of large infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on complex multistate electric transmission lines. She also served on offshore energy task forces and the National Ocean Council and co-authored the 2015 Quadrennial Energy Review.
Earlier in her career, Laura spent more than a decade in private practice representing conventional energy companies in complex multidistrict litigation and in federal circuit and district court, ensuring compliance with a wide range of environmental, land use, and natural resource laws, and conducting environmental due diligence for project finance transactions. Laura also represented companies in white-collar criminal matters, including SEC, congressional, and grand jury investigations.
Laura serves as an adjunct professor at George Washington University School of Law and frequently speaks at leading energy industry conferences. Based on her breadth of knowledge of the oceans and energy development and commitment to science and technology, Laura was appointed in 2024 to be 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
Related Employment
- American Clean Power Association, Senior Director, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Offshore, 2019-2021
- Independent 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, September 2016
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Professorial Lecturer at Law, George Washington University School of Law (adjunct faculty)
- Ocean Studies Board, National Academies of Science, Member
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 a 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 advocacy before federal and state agencies.
Offshore Wind Project in Massachusetts
Lead 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 advising on the intersection of offshore wind development and ocean conservation as the project will be in the proximity of 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
Provide federal regulatory and policy advice to investor in a 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.
Repurposing Fossil-Fuel 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 the use of its transmission assets in New York and New Jersey for offshore wind project generation, onshore support, and port development.
Corporate Carbon-Free Energy Procurement and Policy
Represent corporate offtakers in the negotiation of power purchase and sale agreements—both physical and virtual—for solar, wind, and other carbon-free energy resources in power markets around the U.S. as well as innovative transactions related to synthetic community solar.
Federal Grants and Loans
U.S. Department of Energy Funding
Provide strategic advice to companies assessing various funding opportunities, including DOE clean 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 and ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, including DOE authorities and environmental review. Assist clients in obtaining financing from LPO, including preparing applications, conducting due diligence, and negotiating terms and conditions.
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 multi-billion 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
Compliance and Enforcement
Represented major multinational corporations in criminal matters, including U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), congressional, and grand jury investigations. Conducted internal investigations and developed compliance recommendations.
*Prior Experience
