Family Law
Overview
Care and adoption proceedings
Artis spent a number of years in local government as a senior childcare advocate at Suffolk County Council, LB Barking & Dagenham, LB Islington and LB Brent.
She represented children's services at all levels of court in complex cases involving non-accidental injury, FGM, forced marriage, child trafficking, gang criminality and sexual abuse. She has also managed her own caseload of care proceedings providing her with an in-depth understanding of the PLO and the workings of children's services.
Her specialist knowledge in care proceedings developed working in-house at local authorities has benefitted her representation of parents, guardians and kinship carers and other interested parties.
Private children law, adoption and surrogacy
Artis provides advice and representation to parents, step-parents, grandparents, and other concerned relatives seeking to make arrangements in the best interests of a child. She also helps individuals and couples looking to start or grow their family through domestic and international adoption and surrogacy.
Her work covers child arrangements (contact and residence); specific issue orders (name change, medical treatment, religion and schooling); adoption and special guardianship applications; domestic violence injunctions; LGBTQIA family issues; fertility law and surrogacy; leave to remove from the jurisdiction and international child abduction.
Artis provides advice representation at all stages of proceedings and is regularly instructed in complex fact-finding hearings with serious allegations of domestic abuse or child abuse. She has recently provided training on cases involving coercive and controlling behaviour and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
Artis is also regularly instructed on behalf of Rule 16.4 guardians in private children cases.
Divorce, Co-habitation and Financial Remedies
Artis provides advice and representation to individuals dealing with relationship breakdown. She has a strong financial remedies and TOLATA practice in modest asset cases, regularly taking on such work on solicitor instructions or on a direct access basis. She draws on her knowledge of business and finance to advise on a fair distribution of assets following separation or divorce and in cases where family businesses or small businesses are involved. She provides advice from the pre-proceedings stage on offers to settle and consent orders and representation through every stage of proceedings to contested final hearings.
Notable Cases
A (A Child) (Rev 1) [2020] EWCA Civ 731
Re TY Adoption (Jamaica) [2019] EWHC 2979 (Fam)
Re A (A Child: Female Genital Mutilation: Asylum) [2019] EWHC 2475 (Fam)
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Court of Protection
Overview
Artis's practice covers welfare and property and affairs applications before the court of protection. She regularly deals with best interest determinations, applications to revoke a power of attorney, applications for deputyship and DOLS.
Notable Cases
Re MOD and Others (Deprivation of Liberty) [2015] EWCOP 47
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Garden Court International
Artis has done consultancy work and written research reports and papers for national and international organisations on topics such as international criminal law, gender-specific violence, sentencing policy, elimination of discrimination against women, and protection of intellectual property rights with particular emphasis on Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Testimonials
"Due to my lengthy divorce & financial dissolution matter, I have spent a lot of time with solicitors/barristers in the family court and a lot of money on their services. In my dealings with solicitors, I always felt that I was not in control of the expenditure and I was billed for every phone call or email which meant I was scared to ask questions on the matter as it would increase my cost.
After some online research, I discovered the Direct Access approach was more appropriate for me because I got to select the barrister that presented the case at court (instead of a random barrister selected by the solicitor) and most importantly, a cost envelope is agreed at the onset - meaning there was no risk of spiralling costs.
My decision to select Artis for my Child Access matter was driven by her vast experience in presenting children's cases along with her reasonably priced service. Additionally, I noticed that Artis obtained her MBA whilst practicing law which indicated that she placed emphasis on her continuous personal development.
Throughout my dealings with Artis, I found her to be very conscientious and accessible. Artis was never patronising. She knew the matter was important to me and took the time to address all my concerns. I asked several questions by telephone and again emailing (without the risk of an increased legal bill) and on each occasion, Artis demonstrated an excellent understanding of my case along with great professionalism which gave me huge confidence in the case.
I highly recommend Artis and should I have child access issues in the future, I will definitely seek her services."
- Anonymous Testimony, 2020
"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
"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
