Laura J. Hartz

Laura J. Hartz is an attorney at Drummond Woodsum in Portland, Maine, who represents businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and individuals. Her practice includes business and corporate matters, real estate, land use and conservation, energy and public utility law, environmental and natural resources issues, project development, acquisitions, due diligence, site control, and nonprofit matters. She also works on legal questions connected to agriculture and food systems, combining transactional and regulatory perspectives.

Laura earned a B.A. magna cum laude from Hamilton College, an M.S. from Tufts University, and a J.D. magna cum laude from Vermont Law School. Her academic background supports a practice that spans business transactions, real estate, land use, energy, and natural resources. She uses that training to evaluate development opportunities, property issues, organizational needs, regulatory requirements, and transactional risks while helping clients coordinate legal steps across complex projects.

Laura has served as transactional counsel for a large land trust, guided a solid-waste client through emergency local permitting after a facility fire, led the acquisition of a boutique hotel for a regional developer, and assisted a sustainable-agriculture nonprofit with organizational issues. Her work allows her to advise clients from early planning and due diligence through acquisition, permitting, organizational decisions, and project development, with attention to the practical realities surrounding land, energy, business, and community interests.

Laura J. Hartz has been recognized by Best Lawyers Ones to Watch for Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, and Real Estate Law for 2026 and by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star from 2020 through 2026. Her practice combines business, real estate, environmental, and project-development experience, helping clients work through transactions and regulatory processes while keeping long-term operational and organizational goals in view.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Drummond Woodsum
• Member, Maine State Bar Association
• Member, New Hampshire Bar Association
• Member, New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association
• Past President, Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire

Licensed State

• Maine
• New Hampshire

Education

• Vermont Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD) (Magna Cum Laude)
• Hamilton College
  Bachelor of Arts (BA) (Magna Cum Laude)
• Tufts University
  Master of Science (MS)

Awards & Badges