Laurie has practiced business law for over twenty years. She opened her own law firm in Florida, The Legal Department for Service Professionals, in 2015 after recognizing the need for experienced and quality legal counsel for small professional service firms and practices. Since then, Laurie and her team at the Legal Department have served almost 500 small businesses in Florida and that number is rapidly growing. This year, Laurie has launched a national company, The Legal Guide for Private Practice, aimed at helping mental health professionals get the legal education they need to be successful business owners of their own private practices. Her goal is that helping mental health professionals establish a highly rewarding yet secure, compliant and ethical practice will increase their longevity in the profession.  

Laurie is AV Preeminent Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell ® (highest possible rating) and is rated on AVVO® as Superb: 10 out of 10. She was honored as the 2021 Women Business Owner of the Year from the JAX Chamber Professional Women’s Council, the 2019 SBA North Florida Woman Owned Business of the Year, and the 2018 and 2022 Regional Volunteer of the Year Award from America’s Small Business Development Center. 

Laurie is involved in her professional community as a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association, past Chairman of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Attorney Grievance Review Committee, past Chairman of the Jacksonville Bar Corporate & Business Law Committee, and past vice-Chairman of the Jacksonville Bar Transactional Section and a member of the Florida Business Law Section. 

In the business community, Laurie serves as the President of the North Florida Women Business Owners organization and has served on the board of the Jacksonville Women’s Business Center. Previously, she served as the Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Small Business Development Center at UNF. Laurie gives back to the business community by offering legal workshops and webinars. She has conducted classes for Score, the SBDC, and most recently, she created a new course offering for the Jacksonville Women’s Business Center called "Legal Matters".