Francesca Ghossein
Francesca Ghossein
(She/Her)
Lawyer
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Francesca Ghossein is a lawyer in the Labour and employment, and professional regulatory groups.

Francesca completed her articles with Field Law and before coming back as an associate, she clerked at the Alberta Court of Appeal, gaining valuable insight into the judicial decision-making process. She received her bilingual Common Law degree from the University of Ottawa and her Bachelor of Science with a major in Biology from the University of Alberta. During her law studies, she worked as a teaching assistant and a research assistant in the fields of public law and privacy law, as well as a researcher for the National Association for Women and the Law.

Outside the office

Francesca is passionate about advocating for women in her community and is currently the President of the YWCA Edmonton Board of Directors. Francesca enjoys figure skating, running, and boxing. She is a big foodie and enjoys trying new cuisine, and cooking for friends and family. She also enjoys learning new languages and is hoping to take up playing the piano again!

Association des juristes d'expression francaise de l'Alberta
Member
YWCA Edmonton
President
2023 - Present
YWCA Edmonton
Board Member
2020 - Present
uOttawa Law & Technology Student Society
President
2019 - Present
November 2024 - 8 min read
What are Vexatious Complaints + What Can Regulators Do About Them?
Perspectives for the Professions Newsletter
With a rise in complaints, regulators are facing a challenge with "vexatious" or "frivolous" cases—complaints intended to harass or relitigate issues without merit. Depending on the governing statute, regulato...
September 10, 2024
Discipline Tribunal Essentials: Advanced Skills
Workshop
Members of regulated professions who serve on discipline tribunals must navigate an increasingly complex environment when fulfilling their role under their governing statutes.Join Jason Kully and Francesca Ghossein from Field Law’s Prof...
July 2024 - 3 min read
Understanding Privilege in Workplace Investigations
Workwise Newsletter
The Alberta Court of King’s Bench recently ordered the disclosure of various records concerning the employer’s decision to terminate the employee’s employment for cause. The employer claimed that the records fell with...
April 2024 - 6 min read
Justice in the Classroom: A Key Decision on Student Disciplinary Rights
A recent decision from the Alberta Court of Appeal emphasizes the critical importance of procedural fairness in internal disciplinary actions within post-secondary institutions. The ruling centred on a student's right to acces...
December 6, 2023
Addressing Sexual Misconduct Allegations in Professional Regulation
Roundtable
Join Field Law’s Professional Regulatory Group and your professional regulatory colleagues for our winter roundtable.  At this roundtable, we will discuss challenges and strategies to navigate sexual misconduct allegations. Topics covered...
September 14, 2023
Right-Touch Regulation: What Does It Mean + How Can Professional Regulatory Organizations Apply It?
Roundtable
Join Field Law’s Professional Regulatory Group and your professional regulatory colleagues for our fall roundtable.  The concept of “right-touch regulation” was developed in 2010, and remains relevant today in establishing the...
April 2023 - 6 min read
Employer’s Claim of After-Acquired Cause Denied
Canadian HR Reporter
Can a without-cause dismissal be recharacterized later as for cause - even if the material circumstances were known to the employer before the dismissal?Francesca Ghossein weighs in on a recent case that confirms employers can’t change their mind...
April 2023 - 3 min read
Suspension + Publication Order Constitute Irreparable Reputational Harm
Perspectives for the Professions
In Tan v Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, the Court of Appeal agreed to stay some of the sanctions imposed by a Hearing Tribunal against a veterinarian until after the appeal on the merits was heard by the Court of Appeal. The Court fo...
March 2023 - 3 min read
Employer Cannot Change Termination from Without Cause to With Cause
Workwise Newsletter
The Court found that an employer could not recharacterize a without cause dismissal of one of its employees as termination for cause when the material circumstances were known to the employer before the dismissal.  ...
May 2021
Gone Phishing? Cybersecurity Issues Are a Recurring Struggle for Organizations
The prevalence of fraudulent activity has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 alone, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported 70,948 cases of fraud, with $108.8M lost to fraud. Between March 6, 2020, and March 31, 2021 alone, $7.25...
December 2020 - 10 min read
Case Summary: Hannam v Medicine Hat School District No. 76
Defence + Indemnity
The Alberta Court of Appeal clarified what is required for a summary judgment/dismissal after Weir-Jones Technical Services Inc. v Purolator Courier Ltd. and concluded that the outcome of the case does not have to be obvious in order for a Court to gra...
Education
University of Ottawa, 2020, Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude
University of Alberta, 2017, B.Sc., Biology
Admissions
Alberta,2021
Languages
English (Fluent)
French (Fluent)
Arabic (Fluent)