Suspended License

Prior to being elected, Goldie Ghamari asserts that she was winding down her legal practice due to her intention to seek public office.^[10] In January 2019, Ghamari's former client launched an investigation with the LSO for failing to take action in his complaint, which caused him to lose an investment in his restaurant business.^[9] Ghamari informed the Law Society of Ontario that she cut off communication with her client based on unsubstantiated rumours that he had ties in the past to a group designated by the federal government as a terrorist organization — an allegation not confirmed anywhere in the tribunal's ruling.

In its March 30 decision, the tribunal ruled that Ghamari, the Progressive Conservative MPP for Carleton, had "failed to co-operate" with an investigation.^[9] Ghamari shared with the tribunal that she was undergoing mental health challenges as a result of a unexpected divorce from her husband and stated that was a contributing factor to her delays. Ghamari had privacy concerns about the impact it would have on her political career and was willing to share the details the Law Society sought in a in-camera meeting.^[10]

In April 2021, news sources at The Ottawa Citizen reported that a tribunal conducted by the Law Society of Ontario had finalized their ruling to suspend Ghamari's licence to practice law suggesting Ghamari had “engaged in professional misconduct and/or conduct unbecoming a licensee.”.^[11] Allegations, according to the Law Society's draft order and sworn affidavits, cited that a former client had filed a complaint alleging that he had paid her a retainer in 2017 to help him pursue a real estate-related claim.^[12] The Client argues she didn't fulfill the terms of the retainer.

Ghamari was further accused of "utterly stonewalling" the investigation over the past two years as the Tribunal repeatedly attempted to collect relevant information, including Ghamari's call and text logs with the client covering the six-month period in question. While Ghamari stated "I'm aware that the Law Society Act requires me to disclose relevant information.", she argued "I do believe that the Law Society should not have blanket authorization access to my political and campaign calls and records, especially because they contain highly sensitive personal information of other political people based on the nature of my position as an elected official."^[10]

Ghamari maintained her refusal to provide the information citing a PC Party Confidentiality Pact^[13] despite there being no evidence presented prior to nor during the hearing by Ghamari or her duty counsel to suggest the PC Party's confidentiality agreement would override a lawyer's obligation to disclose the requested information under the Law Society Act.