Chelsey Bailey
Chelsey Bailey
Partner,
Executive Committee Member
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Chelsey Bailey is a civil litigator with 20 years of experience representing Alberta-based clients. Chelsey's practice is focussed on health law, in the context of both medical malpractice/negligence defence and professional regulation. 

In her civil defense practice, Chelsey represents health authorities, hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency health services and their individual staff members, in complex medical negligence actions, including birth and brain injury cases and at inquiries constituted under the provincial Fatality Inquiries Act. In this role she has defended nurses, physicians, pharmacists, paramedics, speech-language pathologists, occupational and respiratory therapists and other health professionals. Chelsey was one of the team of health law lawyers at Field Law representing the health authority at the 2012/2013 Provincial Public Inquiry into Preferential Access to Health Services. 

Professional Colleges, including several health-related professional regulatory bodies, seek Chelsey's help with a broad range of matters, such as disciplinary proceedings, investigations, and registration reviews and appeals. She provides advice on scope of practice opinions, licensing, continuing competence, substantial equivalency assessments and bylaw and policy development. 

Chelsey appears before all levels of Court in Alberta and various administrative tribunals, including the Health Disciplines Board, the Public Health Appeals Board and the Law Enforcement Review Board. She has represented clients in judicial dispute resolutions, mediations and in investigations by the Office of the Alberta Ombudsman. She has presented on a myriad of professional negligence topics and on many issues relevant to professional regulation.

In 2016, Chelsey was selected by her peers in the field of Medical Negligence and is listed as a leading lawyer in Lexpert. She is recognised in Best Lawyers (Canada) in the field of Medical Negligence. She is an elected member of Field Law’s Executive Committee. 

Value to Clients

Chelsey is known for her pragmatism, strong technical knowledge of her subject area and her ability to deal with experts in converting the technical to the legal. She empathizes with the professionals she defends in malpractice claims and both the regulators and those she prosecutes in professional disciplinary proceedings. Chelsey makes every effort to ensure her clients feel fully prepared and supported as they move through the legal process, understanding that it is foreign to most, and can be very intimidating to the uninitiated.

Outside the Office

Chelsey, her husband, their daughter and their dog Burt enjoy spending as much time as possible at their favourite destination - Lake Wabamun.

Canadian Bar Association Alberta, Health Law Section (North)
Member
2015 - Present
Canadian Bar Association Alberta, Administrative Law Section (North)
Member
2012 - Present
Law Society of Alberta
Member
Edmonton Bar Association
Member
Canadian Bar Association Alberta, Civil Litigation Section (North)
Member
Canadian Bar Association Alberta, Administrative Law Section (North)
Executive
2016 - 2019
Canadian Bar Association Alberta, Health Law Section (North)
Executive
2006 - 2015
Canadian Bar Association Alberta, Labour and Employment Law Section (North)
Executive
2006 - 2007
Canadian Bar Association Alberta, Law Conference Committee
Member
2005
Leading Practitioner: Medical Negligence (Represents Defendants)
Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory
2024
Listed Professional Malpractice Law
The Best Lawyers™ in Canada
2022 - 2024
Listed Medical Negligence
The Best Lawyers™ in Canada
2019 - 2024
"Repeatedly Recommended" Medical Negligence - Represents Defendants
Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory
2016 - 2023
Edmonton Community Legal Centre
Volunteer
2007 - Present
Sustainable Food Edmonton
Board of Directors
2012 - 2015
Rapid Fire Theatre
Board of Directors
2004 - 2007
Edmonton Police Service Citizen's Policy Academy
Alumni
Williams v Rosenstock, 2020 ABQB 303
Balan v. Warshawski, 2016 ABQB 488
Lum v Alberta Dental Association and College (Review Panel), 2015 ABQB 12
McAvena v. Byrne, 2013 ABQB 306
Home Exchange (Alberta) Ltd. v. Goodyear Canada Inc., 2007 ABQB 371
Johnston v. Alberta (Director of Vital Statistics, 2007 ABQB 597
Ernst & Young Inc. v. Central Guaranty Trust Co., 2006 ABCA 337
R.K.P. v. Borkent, 2005 ABQB 42
McArdle Estate v. Cox, 2003 ABCA 106
Education
University of British Columbia, 1999, Bachelor of Laws
University of Alberta, 1995, Bachelor of Arts
Admissions
Alberta,2000