Laurel LaMontagne

Associate
Laurel is a complex commercial litigator with a focus on contract disputes and real estate and construction matters.
Laurel LaMontagne, Associate, Arent Fox

Laurel represents corporate and individual clients in a wide variety of litigation matters in state and federal court, with a focus on contract disputes and real estate and construction matters. She has experience in all stages of litigation, including drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs, propounding discovery and taking depositions, and appearing before federal and state court judges for hearings and motions.

Client Work

Laurel’s real estate experience includes:

  • Representation of commercial landlord in dispute with tenant over nonpayment of rent. Obtained a $500,000+ judgment after an evidentiary hearing. 
  • Representation of tenant business in suit against landlord seeking enforcement of lease and covenant to repair following a fire. Obtained six-figure settlement for client pre-trial. 
  • Representation of REIT in claims against an engineering firm for breach of contract and professional negligence. Conducted research, drafted pleadings and motions, took depositions, conducted discovery, and worked with engineering expert. 
  • Representation of private property owner in matter involving adverse possession and easement claims against adjacent property owner. Drafted all pleadings and motions and successfully settled dispute pre-trial. 
  • Representation of landlord in suit against commercial tenant. Obtained non-redeemable judgment for possession and monetary damages.

Laurel’s construction experience includes:

  • Serving on trial team that successfully represented project owner in complex construction matter involving allegations of deficient work and schedule delay. Responsible for drafting all pleadings and briefs, taking depositions, preparing expert witnesses, arguing motions, and identifying more than 1,000 potential trial exhibits. Team successfully defended against all claims and obtained a $2.5 million+ judgment on cross-claims, which was reaffirmed on appeal. 
  • On behalf of project owner, supervised large-scale document review with 10+ reviewers, involving architectural plans, requisitions, submittals, change orders, commissioning reports, etc.
  • Assisted structural steel fabricator in reaching settlement at mediation with subcontractor in complex dispute involving construction of a bridge.
  • Worked with project owner to obtain release of multiple mechanic’s liens encumbering the property, as well as dismissal of various litigations involving the project.
  • Drafted COVID-19 construction remobilization plans and demand letters related to issues such as unpaid change orders, recovery schedules and delays, and mechanic’s liens for various general contractors and subcontractors.

Some of Laurel’s other recent experience includes:

  • Researched and drafted expert report opining as to whether two Coblentz agreements reached between bankruptcy trustee and former officers of bankrupt corporation were enforceable against policies.
  • Representation of metals trader and investor in arbitration matter with commercial buyer over unpaid invoices. Successfully settled claims pre-arbitration for full seven-figure amount in dispute.
  • Successful defenses of large technology company in multiple small claims matters.
  • Representation of health care provider in audit of Medicare claims. Reviewed thousands of patient insurance verifications, conducted legal research, worked directly with client and auditor, and developed strategy for reducing provider’s overall liability by close to $1 million.
  • Assisted in recovery of more than $1 million in underpaid managed care claims on behalf of health care provider.

Previous Work

Prior to joining ArentFox Schiff, Laurel worked as a law clerk to Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby at the District of Columbia Court of Appeals (2017-2018), and as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert R. Rigsby at the District of Columbia Superior Court (2015-2017). During law school, she was the Student Body President and volunteered with the Juvenile Hall legal clinic. Before law school, Laurel served as a corps member in the Bay Area with Teach for America.

Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

Laurel published an article on juvenile false confessions that has been cited by the California federal courts and in numerous secondary sources:

  • Laurel LaMontagne, Children under Pressure: The Problem of Juvenile False Confessions and Potential Solutions, 41 W. ST. U. L. REV. 29 (2013)

Professional Activities

Laurel is a member of the DC Bar Foundation’s Young Lawyers Network Leadership Council and an associate trustee for the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights. She also serves as a board member for LearningPlunge, an educational nonprofit committed to making learning engaging for all students.

Life Beyond the Law

Laurel enjoys tennis, spending time with her two sons, and photography.

Perspectives