Mollie M. Smith

Mollie’s primary focus is assisting clients with state and local permitting, as well as condemnation/eminent domain matters. Mollie also assists clients with permit due diligence reviews in connection with the sale, acquisition and financing of wind projects.

Mollie’s permitting experience includes representing clients in state and local permit proceedings in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. Mollie has served as lead permitting counsel for multiple wind facility projects, pipeline projects and transmission line projects. At the state level, Mollie represents clients in certificate of site compatibility, certificate of corridor compatibility, route permit and rulemaking proceedings before the North Dakota Public Service Commission; energy facility permit proceedings before the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission; and route permit, site permit and certificate of need proceedings before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. At the local level, Mollie advises and assists clients with a variety of permitting-related matters, including obtaining conditional use/special exception permits, variances and subdivision approvals, and participating in zoning ordinance amendment processes.

With respect to condemnation/eminent domain, Mollie’s experience includes assisting clients with condemnation/eminent domain matters for high voltage transmission facilities, crude oil pipelines, natural gas pipelines and natural gas distribution lines in Minnesota and North Dakota.

Mollie has also represented large and small oil and gas exploration companies in a wide variety of oil and gas litigation matters in North Dakota state and federal courts, including complex real property and contract disputes.

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 2004, magna cum laude
• Colorado State University, M.A., 2000
• Northern State University, B.A., 1997, summa cum laude

Admissions

• Minnesota, 2004
• North Dakota, 2010
• South Dakota, 2017
• Montana, 2019
• Colorado, 2019
• U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 2006
• U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota, 2010

• Order of the Coif
• Best Brief, International Moot Court, 2002-2003

Professional Activities

• North Dakota State Bar Association
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Hennepin County Bar Association
• Colorado State University, English Instructor, 1998-2001
• University of Minnesota Law School, International Moot Court Director, 2003-2004

Community

• Wildlife Science Center, Board Member, 2008-2009