Laura Konkel
Counsel
Areas of Focus
- Mining
- Corporate & Finance
- Projects & Energy Transition
- Energy Transition
- Renewable Energy
- Solar
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Joint Ventures & Strategic Alliances
- Advises clients on complex corporate transactions, with a deep focus on the mining and critical minerals industry worldwide.
- Worked for the U.S. defense sector and Parliament of Canada prior to private practice.
Laura has extensive experience in mergers & acquisitions (M&A), corporate governance and focuses her practice on the mining and critical minerals sectors. She has advised clients on a wide range of complex transactions, including strategic acquisitions, dispositions and joint ventures, with a particular emphasis on deals involving mining companies and critical mineral assets.
Laura’s background in the mining and critical minerals space spans private practice, government and industry. She has worked in the defense sector, expanding her experience at the nexus of geopolitics, national security and critical mineral supply chains. This multidisciplinary perspective allows her to advise clients navigating the increasingly strategic and regulated nature of the critical minerals market.
She has also played a leading role in organizing industry conferences and forums, further deepening her insight into the global policy and regulatory dynamics shaping the sector.
Earlier in her career, Laura served as a researcher for the Parliament of Canada, contributing to legislative and policy initiatives related to resource development.
Laura holds a J.D. from the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Common Law, an M.A. with honors in intelligence and international security from King’s College London and an M.A. with honors in international relations from the University of St. Andrews. Laura is qualified as a lawyer in New York and Ontario, Canada.
Mining, Critical Minerals & Energy Transition
- Advised SolGold on its $100 million royalty financing agreement with Franco-Nevada to advance the Cascabel copper-gold project in Ecuador.
- Represented Stardust Power Inc. in its de-special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) transaction to develop one of the first large-scale lithium refineries in the U.S. with an annual production capacity of 50,000 tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate.
- Advised a manganese development company in securing project financing and structuring development-stage assets.
- Represented a leading Canadian pension fund in its minority investment in a private equity-backed mining company with global assets.
- Represented a publicly listed Indian coal company in acquiring coal assets in the United States.
EducationJ.D., University of Ottawa, Ontario, 2016
M.A. Intelligence and International Security, King's College London
M.A. in International Relations, University of St. Andrews, with honors, 2012
J.D., University of Ottawa, Ontario, 2016
M.A. Intelligence and International Security, King's College London
M.A. in International Relations, University of St. Andrews, with honors, 2012
Bar AdmissionsLaw Society of Ontario
New York
Law Society of Ontario
New York
- Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, 2023.
- Sovereign Medal for Volunteers, 2016.
