I was called to the Bar in 2006 and specialise in family, cohabitation and divorce law.
I provide advice and representation to individuals coping with relationship breakdown and parents, step-parents, grandparents, and other concerned relatives seeking to make arrangements in the best interests of a child. I also help individuals and couples looking to start or grow their family.
Where proceedings are emotionally charged and it is difficult to take decisions effectively or navigate proceedings on your own, delay and errors of judgment can ensue. The longer proceedings are, the more they take an emotional and financial toll.
I combine my experience working within private practice, local government child protection, internationally and in business to navigate you through the family justice system, consider whether there is an alternative to court proceedings and where proceedings are unavoidable, to help you define and implement a clear case strategy. This achieves the best possible outcome for my clients and at the earliest possible opportunity.
I can help with:
- Divorce, dissolution and financial remedies on separation
- LGBTQIA family law related issues
- Fertility law and Surrogacy
- Child arrangements (contact, sole or shared residence);
- Enforcement of contact orders
- Disputes around relocation, holiday travel, name change, medical treatment, religion and schooling (specific issue or prohibited steps orders)
- International Child Abduction
- Local Authority involvement (child protection/safeguarding concerns)
- Adoption and special guardianship applications
- Domestic violence injunctions
- FGM and Forced Marriage protection orders
My approach
Artis anticipates issues at an early stage and provides solutions and options. She is an effective negotiator and is equally respected for her robust advice and representation in court.
My work
Artis is well liked for her ability to get on with clients from diverse backgrounds and her manner with vulnerable clients. She is thorough in her preparation for cases and responsive.
About me
In addition, to her 10 years' plus experience in private practice, Artis worked at a senior level within local government children's services and this has provided her with a specialist understanding of child welfare issues, special guardianship and adoption proceedings.
Artis completed an Executive MBA with Distinction at CASS Business School. She was the first ever recipient of the Coca-Cola Global Women's Leadership Scholarship. Her business savvy has strengthened her practice in co-habitation law and financial remedies and her ability to advise on a fair distribution of assets following separation or divorce.
Away from her practice, she is a School Governor and Chair of the Complaints panel at a primary school. She has been a mentor for the Executive MBA programme at Cass Business School and for aspiring barristers from non-traditional backgrounds.
She has also been an advocacy, drafting and professional skills trainer for Fresh Development Group, for over 5 years, helping trainee solicitors and advocates strengthen their trial skills.
What my clients say
"While no one wishes to find themselves in a child custody case, I have been lucky to have been introduced to Mrs Kakonge who guided me through the process. Mrs Kakonge is knowledgeable, talented and trustworthy barrister who was very strategic and dedicated in defending my case. I was very impressed with Mrs Kakonge’s diligence, hard work and VERY prompt responses to my questions and the whole case in general. She took on my case the same day and spent over 2h after the working hours talking to me to understand my situation! Mrs Kakonge possesses a tireless work ethics and cares deeply about the one she represents. She is very respectful and treats you like a person, not a client. I hope I won’t have a child custody case again but if I do, I will choose only Mrs Kakonge."
'Highly respected and go to Counsel for all public/children related matters. Artis has an eye for detail and precision ensuing that a thorough approach is adopted on every case instructed. Nothing will be left to chance'
'Approachable counsel who will always give measured, realistic and sensitive advice, as well as robust representation'.
- Senior Childcare solicitor, local government
Artis is a barrister who I would describe as dedicated, diligent and thorough. She is proactive in her preparation, with an eye for detail; well informed and up to date with the Family Law. Artis has proved herself to be very approachable but make no mistake she fights her corner and clients are comforted by her approach. She provides, reassurance, understanding, explanation and guidance. She gets results.
Gillie Lizra, Partner, Sweetman Burke & Sinker solicitors
Professional & academic
EDUCATION
- Executive MBA (CASS Business School)
- LLM (School of Oriental and African Studies)
- MSc Criminal Justice Policy (London School of Economics and Political Science)
- LLB (Hons) (Oxford Brookes University)
- BVC (Inns of Court School of Law)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
- Family Law Bar Association
- Lincoln's Inn
LANGUAGES
- French (conversational)
