Francesca M. Papia is an associate attorney at BHPK Law, where she has practiced since 2021. Her practice focuses on defending municipalities, public officials, and public employees in complex civil rights and employment litigation matters in both federal and state courts. She also represents private employers in employment and personal injury disputes.

As a litigator, Francesca has achieved a distinguished record of success defending against workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation, hostile work environment, and whistleblower claims. She also specializes in complex civil rights litigation involving alleged police conduct and has developed particular expertise in qualified immunity and common law immunity defenses. Francesca handles all phases of litigation, from pre-suit investigations through trial and appeal, and regularly practices in both federal and state court, and frequently before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and other state and federal agencies.

Francesca has assisted in securing multiple defense verdicts as second chair in federal jury trials on behalf of municipalities and police officers facing civil rights and USERRA retaliation claims. She has secured numerous dismissals and summary judgments in both state and federal courts, as well as favorable rulings before the MCAD. Her strategic, detail-oriented approach consistently produces favorable results that minimize risk, cost, and exposure for her clients.

At the appellate level, Francesca has prevailed before both the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the First Circuit Court of Appeals, handling cases involving qualified immunity, common law immunity, and civil rights claims. A notable example of her appellate work includes successfully reversing a Superior Court's denial of summary judgment on common law immunity grounds in an invasion of privacy case before the Massachusetts Appeals Court.

Francesca has also served as a contributing editor for the chapter "Civil Rights Claims Against Municipalities" in the MCLE publication Massachusetts Municipal Law. She has also been recognized as a Massachusetts "Rising Star" since 2023.

Before joining BHPK, Francesca practiced at a boutique law firm in Boston representing employees in individual and class action wage and hour cases under the Massachusetts Wage Act, Overtime Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and Prevailing Wage Law.

Francesca is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law. While in law school, she clerked for a federal magistrate judge in the United `s District Court for the District of Massachusetts and was a member of the Public Health Advocacy Clinic. She is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. She graduated magna cum laude from Stony Brook University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management.

In her spare time, Francesca enjoys hiking, board games, and DIY projects.