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Kakoly is a barrister with decades of experience both as a trial advocate and advising in the fields of criminal, public and international law. She is also a mediator.
Since 2006, she has worked in a variety of practice areas, acting on behalf of government and quasi-government agencies, including the FCDO, MOD, Cabinet Office, CPS and the SFO, where she has advised on breaches of The Human Rights Act, judicial review, international criminal law and contributed to investigations involving multi-million-pound corruption and bribery cases. This experience has made her a versatile advocate equipped with expertise in handling matters of international and UK law.
In the past decade, Kakoly has specialized in public inquiries, serving as both counsel to a public inquiry and also representing high-profile clients such as a former head of state, MPs, civil servants, private corporations, and scientists. She has guided them in giving evidence before, or addressing criticisms from, the inquiry during the Maxwellisation process.
Kakoly has developed a solid foundation in international law, with specific academic interests in international environmental law and international criminal law. Her experience includes working at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and serving as a research assistant to Professor Philippe Cullet in international environmental law at SOAS. She is well-versed in all major international environmental treaties and arbitration rules, having written her MPhil thesis on environmental clauses in international treaties. Currently, alongside her practice, Kakoly is a Senior Researcher in Climate Change Law and Policy at the Centre for Climate Engagement, Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge.
Key cases
Counsel advising the Department of Health before The Infected Blood Inquiry.
Counsel advising ‘GoScience’ and numerous scientists who assisted Sir Patrick Vallance and Sir Chris Whitty during the Covid Pandemic.
Counsel assisting the Post Office before the Post Office Inquiry.
Counsel advising a corporate interested party before the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Junior Counsel to the Undercover Policing Inquiry.
Counsel assisting former Prime Minister before Iraq Inquiry
Areas of expertise
Community Development Fellow at SOAS, mentoring students with international environmental and comparative environmental law projects.
Research Assistant to Professor Philippe Cullet in International Environmental Law.
Participated in Consultation Response to the OTP’s Draft Policy on Environmental Crimes in respect of Transformative Environmental Reparations: Recognising the Environment as a Victim (2025).
Participated in Consultation Response to OTP’s Draft Policy on Environmental Crimes in respect of formally recognising environmental damage as part of the prosecutorial strategy (2025).
Drafted Chapters of the Law and Climate Atlas on behalf of the Centre for Climate Engagement, University of Cambridge in role as Senior Researcher in Climate Change Law.
Pegasus Scholar to the ICTY, assisted in the preparation of the trial of Goran Hadzic.
Participated in Consultation Response to the OTP’s Draft Policy on Environmental Crimes in respect of Transformative Environmental Reparations: Recognising the Environment as a Victim (2025).
Participated in Consultation Response to OTP’s Draft Policy on Environmental Crimes in respect of formally recognising environmental damage as part of the prosecutorial strategy (2025).
Co-Authored Comments on the Draft Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes.
On-going research in environmental clauses in commercial agreements.
Qualified Level 2 Mediator with Lewis Deep Democracy (LDD), focusing on conflict resolution through collaboration. Particular interest in community mediation opportunities.
Further information
Benefactors Scholar-Middle Temple
Pegasus Scholar-Inner Temple
Paris Bar Exchange Scholar- Inner Temple
DAAD-Lawyers Programme Scholarship
Kakoly is fluent in French, German and Bengali with advanced knowledge of Italian and a foundation level in Spanish.
MPhil University of Cambridge
LLM (Distinction) SOAS London
LLB (Honours) English and German Laws, University of Liverpool
Diploma in International Relations, University of Cambridge