Biography
Melissa became a member of the Law Society of Alberta in 2004. After her articles, Melissa participated in a Canadian Bar Association internship in Tanzania. During this internship, she assisted the Legal and Human Rights Centre in Dar es Salaam with promoting awareness on various critical human rights issues. Melissa joined Carbert Waite LLP in 2006, and became a partner in 2017.
Melissa practices in all areas of civil and commercial litigation. Melissa’s primary practice areas are employment law and health law. She has extensive experience representing both employers and employees on a wide variety of matters, including termination of employment, employment contracts, human rights, privacy and disability issues. She presents regularly at conferences on various employment issues.
In the area of health law, Melissa has experience advising and representing health care institutions and other health professionals on a wide range of complex issues, including those that arise in the context of medical malpractice defence work. For three years (2016-2018), Melissa taught Health Law as a sessional instructor at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Law.
Melissa also maintains a practice in the area of estate litigation and wills and estates, providing comprehensive estate planning and estate administration services to clients. She also has experience with estate litigation matters, providing advice to beneficiaries and executors. She has taught estate planning through various community organizations and presented at several conferences.
Melissa has appeared before all levels of Court in Alberta.
Education
- University of Calgary
(B.Sc., 2000; B.A.(Hons.) 2000) - University of Calgary
(LL.B., 2003)
Professional Memberships
- Law Society of Alberta (2004)
- Canadian Bar Association
- Calgary Bar Association
- Association of Women Lawyers
Recognition
- Trusts & Estates (2025)
- Corporate and Commercial Litigation (2021 – )
- Health Care Law (2021 – )
Blog Posts
Vaccination Policies in the Workplace: To Mandate or to Incentivize?
August 3, 2021
As vaccination eligibility opens and work from home restrictions are slowly lifted, workplaces have options when it comes to encouraging employees to get their vaccines before returning to the workplace.
Continue ReadingMelissa Rico Comments on Pay Equity for a University Professor in the Globe and Mail
June 14, 2021
Carbert Waite LLP Partner Melissa Rico was recently asked to comment in The Globe and Mail for their Career Advice Column.
Continue ReadingCarbert Waite Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers in Canada for 2021
August 27, 2020
Carbert Waite is proud to congratulate several of our lawyers who have been awarded with The Best Lawyers in Canada (2021 Edition). This year’s list includes: Best Lawyers “is the oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession”. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based on peer review.…
Continue ReadingMelissa Rico Comments on Temporary Layoff Severance in the Globe and Mail
July 28, 2020
Carbert Waite LLP Partner, Melissa Rico was recently asked to comment in The Globe and Mail for their Career Advice column. The question posed to Melissa for the column involved whether an employer is obligated to play severance to their employee if they have been temporarily laid off. My employer…
Continue ReadingRule of Convenience
May 11, 2018
Agreeing to take on the role of personal representative (aka an executor) of an estate can be a big decision and in many circumstances, one that should not be taken lightly. This is particularly so as a personal representative has many legal responsibilities with respect to the estate he or…
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