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Laura Hutchings

Laura serves as President and General Counsel at Populus. Guided by a strong belief that small businesses and individuals play a vital role in reversing global climate change, Laura formally joined Populus in 2009. With her commitment to environmental sustainability, Laura directs Populus’ overall business operations and strategic growth. In addition, Laura enjoys assisting with LEED for Homes projects in her capacity as a LEED for Homes Accredited Professional, co-teaching Populus’ LEED for Homes Intensive Training and presenting to municipalities regarding performance-based energy codes.

Prior to joining Populus, Laura practiced as an attorney in the Boulder office of an international law firm where she was a commercial litigator. Laura was a member of the firm’s Sustainability Working Group and Renewable Energy Group, where she served the counseling, litigation, and alternative dispute resolution needs of clients in a variety of industries. In addition, Laura was an active member of the firm’s Green Steering Committee, where she created and implemented corporate sustainability strategies that reduced the environmental impacts of the firm’s operations and buildings.

Since leaving law firm life, Laura enjoys sharing the adventure of her career change and the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship as a blogger for the Huffington Post.

Laura graduated magna cum laude from Boston University School of Law in 2006 with an honors concentration in Civil Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. She was honored as a G. Joseph Tauro Scholar in 2004, a Paul J. Liacos Scholar in 2005, and received a Dean’s Award in Administrative Law. Laura graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh in 2002 with a dual major in anthropology and English literature.

Populus is a full service sustainable design consulting firm that focuses on high performance, net-zero and near-net-zero custom residential and multi-family projects.  Populus guides architects and builders through the requirements of mandatory green building codes and optional green home certification programs, providing HERS rating, LEED for Homes Green Rater services and LEED for Homes training.  Visit Populus at www.popboulder.com.