Art Law

Art is a complex international business.  The laws which apply to it are equally so.  Art and antiquities transcend national boundaries as they are bought, sold, exhibited, loaned, expropriated or stolen around the world.  Art attracts different legal treatment wherever and whenever it passes.  But art is like no other commodity.  It can often attract loud media and political attention yet those who deal in it are reliant on trust and discretion.  In many ways the art world is a law unto itself and we understand its requirements.

In response to client demand in 1995 we created the art law specialist group.  Eleven years on we advise in relation to almost every conceivable aspect of the art market including in relation to artists, dealers, institutional and private collectors, galleries, governments, financiers, artists and collectors estates, art publishers, auction houses, art charities, museums, conservators, curators and art historians.

Matters we advise on include:

• Sale, purchase, loan and consignment of art
• Import, export and movement of art
• Provenance, authenticity, attribution and ownership of art
• Criminal and fraud aspects of art, including fakes, forgeries, money laundering and theft
• Exploitation and protection of copyright and other intellectual property rights
• Art funds
• "Droit de Suite" – artist's resale right
• Creation, management and dissolution of art funds
• Art as security
• Art related aspects of estate, wills, trusts and tax issues
• Insurance
• Cultural heritage property claims, including spoliation and restriction.

We are UK based but work with an extensive international network of art world contacts and specialist art lawyers throughout the world.

For further information about our services or to discuss a particular situation, please contact Karen Sanig on +44 (0)20 7440 7036 or by email.