Simon Fitzpatrick spearheads a talented team at Boodle Hatfield LLP, which is highly regarded for its work on numerous high-value art litigation matters. The group is skilled at handling a broad range of cases, including those relating to attribution, authenticity, and other matters such as title disputes and disputed ownership. It also frequently supports ultra-high-net-worth individuals and landed estates with their valuable art collections by providing specialist tax and wealth structuring advice. Other key clients include collectors, dealers, artists, foundations, and galleries. Natasha Hassall often advises large landed estates with substantial art collections on their long-term estate planning, tax, and probate matters. Newly-promoted partner Rebecca Foden specialises in art litigation, while Eleanor Sepanski regularly advises private clients on the sale and purchase of significant artworks, as well as on the loaning of these items to galleries. Fred Clark is well-regarded for his work on the full spectrum of commercial art matters.

At Farrer & Co, Adrian Parkhouse and Isabel Paintin jointly lead a team filled with a ‘plethora of first-class lawyers’. This ‘great firm is completely immersed in the sector’, and covers issues as diverse as art-related litigation and art financing, through to advising on heritage property, offers-in-lieu, and philanthropy. It also acts for leading museums and galleries in the UK, as well as numerous major charities. Parkhouse acts for dealers and private and public galleries, as well as individuals in disputes concerning art and heritage property. Paintin has particular expertise in art transactions, and also advises on issues such as heritage taxation. William Charrington was promoted to the partnership in May 2024, and he is frequently involved in cases dealing with allegations of misrepresentation over provenance, authenticity, false attribution, theft, copyright infringement, and the misuse of trade marks. Bethan Waters is another name to note.

At Mishcon de Reya LLP, ‘the breadth of experience and knowledge that the team has across all areas of art and cultural property is exceptional. They more than live up to their reputation.’ Karen Sanig and Amanda Gray are at the helm of the ‘truly excellent’ practice, which serves a diverse range of international clients and artists. It routinely advises galleries on buying, selling, exhibiting, loaning, and moving art. The agile team is also skilled at advising collectors on finance, loans, and import and export issues. It advises on issues surrounding bequeathing art to the nation, a trust, or charity. Another core area of expertise is advising auction houses on sales and due diligence. It continues to assist with many of the largest international art transactions, the management of some of the most significant collections of cultural property, and major litigation. Simon Chadwick was promoted to the partnership in April 2024, and Abby Brindley is another important member of the practice.

The ‘very experienced and market leading’ team at Stephenson Harwood has a ‘roll-call of high-net-worth individuals and top institutions as clients’. The ‘excellent’ Roland Foord heads the practice, and he continues to advise a broad range of clients, from auction houses and dealers, to museums and private collectors. He particularly excels in advising on major disputes. In addition, he regularly works on the sale and purchase of fine art, as well as advising on a myriad of other complex areas, such as looted art matters. The team has also been busy advising on Brexit-related issues, and on the regulatory framework under the 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive. Katie Hewson leads the firm’s data protection practice, and has advised several major clients in the arts sector on commercial and data protection matters. Alan Ward is another key member of the art and cultural property group.

Rudy Capildeo and Tim Maxwell co-lead the team at Wedlake Bell LLP, which has been praised as a ‘force to be reckoned with’ due to its ‘deep and long-standing knowledge of the art-world’. The group is ‘doing well’ and covers the full range of contentious and non-contentious matters. It advises on diverse issues relating to the buying, selling, and financing of art and luxury assets, as well as advising on international loans of art for and to museums. Clients include artists, including numerous famous street artists, in addition to collectors, financiers, philanthropists, fairs, galleries, and museums. Capildeo has particularly strong expertise in luxury asset financing, and the use of luxury assets as financial commodities. Maxwell primarily specialises in disputes and issues regarding forgeries, fraud, title, provenance, restitution, and authenticity. Petra Warrington was promoted to the partnership in April 2024 and she has considerable litigation and transactional experience.

Suzanne Marriott heads up the art and luxury practice at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP. The able team regularly advises several international contemporary and major government institutions. It is adept at advising on diverse matters, such as NFTs, and often advises on auction law both for and against auction houses in the UK and internationally. The group has been busy advising collectors and dealers on a variety of contentious and non-contentious matters. Robert Blower is particularly skilled at advising on acceptance in lieu and inheritance tax conditional exemption applications for estates with significant art collections. Stewart Hey is another notable member of the practice.

Mark Stephens heads ‘the very strong team‘ at Howard Kennedy LLP. It works with artists and estates, as well as galleries, auction houses, and dealers. Other key clients include collectors, museums, and public collections. In addition, the group receives a steady flow of instructions from charities and foundations, public art organisations, governments, and nation states.  With its ‘strong reputation‘ in this sector, it is well-placed to advise on a broad spread of matters, from art litigation to looted art. Daniel McClean is another key figure, and Jon Sharples covers an array of issues in the creative industries and the museum sector, including advising on intellectual property, commercial contracts, and disputes.

Withers LLP has ‘one of the preeminent art teams for the big cases’. The ‘extremely able’ Sarah Barker heads the department, and the ‘talented‘ team is skilled at advising on fine art sales and purchases, as well as art and heritage-related tax issues. Other areas of focus include advising on charity law relating to museums and art foundations, as well as art-related money laundering. The team also excels in handling complex matters with an international dimension. Eleni Polycarpoui is recommended for her work on stolen art cases, restitution cases, title disputes, authenticity disputes and consignment disputes. Key clients of the practice include artists, museums, art galleries, and private collectors.

Forsters LLP is lauded for its ‘excellent legal advice, plus its understanding and experience of the art world’. Led by Catherine Hill, the group has a wealth of experience in acting for collectors, artists, galleries, auction houses, and the owners of historic houses. It is well-regarded for its work on UK and international estate planning matters, and for its advice on the commercial aspects of managing an artist’s estate. Rupert Mead has a particular focus on the taxation of heritage property, and Guy Abrahams frequently advises on the acquisition and disposal of art to make it more tax-efficient.

Under the joint leadership of Till Vere-Hodge and James Bacon, the excellent team at Payne Hicks Beach LLP is consistently involved in many prominent matters that relate to significant and valuable artworks. It is skilled at advising on a broad range of matters, from disputes and transactions, to secured lending, divorces, and asset division. Vere-Hodge has built up an enviable reputation for resolving claims relating to looted artworks and antiquities. He also specialises in art insurance claims against specialised art and specie insurers. Other names to note include Robert Brodrick, Rosamond McDowell, and Mark Jones.

At Pinsent Masons LLP, Richard Hart heads the London offering. He is the trusted adviser to several ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families. Hart frequently advises on the acquisition and refurbishment of historic houses, through to advising on art collections. Other areas of expertise include helping clients with their philanthropic endeavours through the creation of cultural foundations, and facilitating donations to cultural institutions. The group is also well-placed to advise on single loans to museums, as well as on large international touring exhibitions. Michael Fletcher and Oliver Tapper are both well-regarded.

Headed by Tim Crockford, Clyde & Co has a broad client base ranging from major auction houses, galleries, and dealers, through to collectors. It is particularly known for its work with numerous insurers which underwrite fine art and specie risks in the London market. The group is recommended for its work on a wide range of complex contentious and non-contentious matters, and is well-placed to handle a myriad of multi-jurisdictional issues. Andrew Grant is another key figure who has acted in several high-profile specie cases in recent years.

Helen Mulcahy and Hannah Rowbotham co-head the department at Fieldfisher alongside Pierre Valentin. Valentin joined the practice in January 2024 as a consultant from Boies Schiller Flexner (UK) LLP. Its international, cross-departmental art law team advises on disputes and on various commercial matters. Areas of focus for the group span tax planning, intellectual property, technology law, and real estate. Its clients include artists, collectors, dealers, and intermediaries, and it is also adept at advising banks on art loans. Alice Vink is another name to note.

Under the leadership of Mark Stiebel, Hunters Law LLP often advises stakeholders on contentious and transactional matters. Areas of focus include title disputes, issues about authenticity, and commercial matters. It also advises private clients and landed estates on tax exemptions, public exhibitions, and on the maintenance of historic houses and art collections. The team has considerable cross-border expertise, and Julia Lewis is another key contact within the practice.

Keystone Law is experienced in advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals and business collectors, in addition to estates, trustees, and galleries. Its wide-ranging experience spans advising on transactions, digital art, and NFTs. It is skilled at advising on diverse matters, such as artists’ rights, authenticity, and provenance disputes. Key names in the team include Lisette Aguilar and Anthony Misquitta. Gregor Kleinknecht left the firm in December 2023, and is now at MEUM Group Ltd.

Led by Davina Given, the excellent team at RPC continues to be particularly busy advising on issues relating to the sale of NFTs. It frequently helps clients defend claims pertaining to unauthorised digital content, as well as negotiating licence agreements about multi-format distribution rights. The practice receives a steady flow of instructions from auction houses, collectors and copyright owners, and dealers. Other clients include wealthy individuals, insurers, and foundations. Paul Joukador plays a major role in the department as well.