The ‘first-rate' team at Boodle Hatfield LLP has well-established capabilities handling the full range of contentious and non-contentious art matters for its varied client list, which contains high-net-worth artists, collectors, charities, galleries and trusts, amongst others. Team lead Simon Fitzpatrick, described as ‘magisterial, methodical and masterful’ by clients, harnesses particular expertise in auction house misattribution, authenticity and provenance-related claims. Natasha Hassall works between the firm’s London and Oxford offices and has expertise in heritage property, advising on onshore and offshore estate planning, taxation and trusts involving substantial art collections. Rebecca Foden has experience handling art and cultural property litigation; Eleanor Sepanski advises on art and philanthropy in the charities and not-for-profit spaces in particular; and Rosie Larwood has a notable adeptness to handle artwork recovery disputes. Commercial art specialist Fred Clark was promoted to the partnership in April 2025.
Art and cultural property in London
Boodle Hatfield LLP
Responsables de la pratique:
Simon Fitzpatrick
Autres avocats clés:
Rebecca Foden; Natasha Hassall; Eleanor Sepanski; Fred Clark; Rosie Larwood
Les références
‘The art and cultural property team and Boodle Hatfield is outstanding in its breadth and depth of expertise, across contentious and non-contentious matters.’
‘It has a long heritage in the sector and the institutional knowledge has been passed on through the generations of lawyers to a degree not found in many practices.’
‘It can provide a truly full service experience for clients, and is imbued in the art world, with a practical sector knowledge which is nigh-on unrivalled for a firm of its size.’
Principaux dossiers
Farrer & Co
Farrer & Co‘s practice is well-placed to assist its broad-ranging clientele with the full scope of art issues. Its workload includes acting as finance counsel in domestic and cross-jurisdictional contexts, advising on the contractual and security documentation aspects of significant sales and assisting clients through acquisitions. William Charrington has extensive experience handling high-value contentious matters, such as commercial contract disputes, fraud and IP litigation, for clients ranging from high-net-worth individuals to corporates and institutions. Isabel Kerber is experienced in handling import, export, taxation and heritage matters, while Paul Jones has a specialism in contract and IP-related work and advises national museums, galleries and cultural organisations. Bethan Waters is also noteworthy for her ‘invaluable’ experience in financing cases, including securing loans against art portfolios, and advising on art loans and complex debt arrangements. The four oversee the team collectively. Adrian Parkhouse is a key practitioner who handles the plethora of art and heritage disputes. Genna Morgan has a transactional specialism.
Responsables de la pratique:
William Charrington; Isabel Kerber; Paul Jones; Bethan Waters
Autres avocats clés:
Genna Morgan; Adrian Parkhouse; Will Cudmore; Jennifer Abey-Reid
Les références
‘Extremely thorough and detail-oriented with a wide team with varying specialities within the parameters of art law.’
‘Very pleased to work with Genna Morgan, Isabel Kerber and Paul Jones.’
‘The team has extensive experience in a highly specialised area. You get a lot of partner attention, but the team also has a deep bench of talented and experienced associates to draw on.’
Principaux clients
Selling agent of Sir Ernest Shackleton
Selling agent of The Ashmolean Museum
The National Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery
The British Museum
Elanus Holdings Limited
Principaux dossiers
- Advising on the acquisition by the Ashmolean Museum of a rare 15th century work by Fra Angelico and the sale of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s polar medal.
- Acting for Elanus Holdings Limited, owned by a UHNW family foundation, in the dispute over the right to purchase the Idol’s Eye diamond on loan to the claimants.
Mishcon de Reya LLP
The offering at Mishcon de Reya LLP is well-equipped to assist its portfolio of clients on domestic and cross-jurisdictional matters, ranging from advising on large-scale art transactions such as buying, selling, exhibiting and loaning, and complex financing matters, to handling claims of repatriation of property looted during the Nazi period. Amanda Gray, who is noted by clients as ‘one of the most brilliant lawyers’, co-heads the team alongside ‘doyenne of art law in London’ Karen Sanig. Complex, international gallery and auction disputes form a key part of Gray’s practice, and Sanig is equipped to assist a breadth of clients, including artists’ estates, collectors, dealers, art foundations and charities, auction houses, galleries, museums and governments. Simon Chadwick handles the full range of art-related commercial disputes, and the ‘incredibly knowledgeable’ Michelle Stroube is also a name to note.
Responsables de la pratique:
Karen Sanig; Amanda Gray
Autres avocats clés:
Simon Chadwick; Michelle Stroube; Mona Yapova
Les références
‘In terms of the art world, there really is no other firm that comes anywhere close to their level of understanding. The contemporary art landscape is specific, and artists’ needs are complex. The ability of the team to get to the core of an issue and think and act strategically without compromising artistic integrity is totally unique.’
‘Amanda Gray is one of the most brilliant lawyers you will ever find. She has a very unique ability to understand the depth of artistic intention and the conceptual nature of art itself. She can translate that into interactions with the law. She gets stuff done and even in stressful situations enables the artist to feel assured that their affairs are in the best, most capable hands.’
‘A team with a 30-year track record is always a good place to start. They have all bases covered at Mishcon when it comes to art law: commercial, disputes, museums, collectors. You name it!’
Principaux clients
The Estate of Norval Morrisseau
David Aaron Limited
Camden Art Centre
The Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery
Tate Enterprises Ltd
Tate Foundation
International Art and Antiques Loss Register (ALR)
The Photographers Gallery (TPG)
Principaux dossiers
- Acting for a collector in a multi-jurisdictional dispute regarding ownership of artworks.
- Advising the Estate to seek to unravel issues arising from the « biggest art fraud in the world » in order to help future proof the artist’s legacy, including putting in place the necessary structures to bring confidence back to the artist’s market and advising on the development of authentication services.
- Representing a collection in relation to multiple acquisitions, sales, guarantees, loans and issues relating to revocation of an export license in a European jurisdiction.
Stephenson Harwood
Stephenson Harwood has well-established abilities to assist its broad roster of clients in a variety of complex matters in both domestic and cross-jurisdictional contexts. ‘Expert in the field’ Roland Foord heads up the practice and assists clients, including private collectors, museums and auction houses, on fine art sales and purchases, and on export and looted art issues, as well as handling complex disputes. Katie Hewson‘s areas of expertise include providing guidance to auction houses and museums on commercial issues, assisting fine art dealers with significant sales and purchases, as well as handling data protection-related issues. A key focus of Alan Ward is his acting in multi-jurisdictional investigations and regulatory and criminal enforcement cases regarding looted art. Jo Jones departed in January 2025.
Responsables de la pratique:
Roland Foord
Autres avocats clés:
Katie Hewson; Alan Ward; Ben Sigler; Matthew Angell
Les références
‘The team really centres upon the great Roland Foord, an eminent and very approachable expert in the field of art law.’
‘Roland Foord is a renowned expert in art market matters. Hugely knowledgeable about the art market and experienced in art disputes. Undoubtedly a leading art lawyer.’
‘Foord has built a reliable team around him.’
Principaux clients
Qatar Museums
Christie’s
Phillips Auctioneers Limited
The Society of London Art Dealers Ltd
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Qatar Museums in its negotiations with numerous counterparties and consideration of a broad range of legal issues.
- Acting as Phillips Auctioneers Limited’s legal counsel on a wide range of ad hoc and market issues as well as more substantive ones.
Wedlake Bell LLP
Wedlake Bell LLP‘s practice is well-placed to advise its portfolio of clients on the buying, selling and financing of art and luxury assets, to assist with international loan management, and to handle the array of complex disputes, from complex inheritance issues to art restitution cases. Rudy Capildeo and ‘superb solicitor’ Tim Maxwell are at the helm of the offering. Capildeo brings to bear particular expertise assisting international clients including private collectors, artists, galleries and museum dealers, while Maxwell’s experience includes non-contentious sales and purchases and the financing aspects of art deals. Petra Warrington specialises in a range of art disputes and transactions. Recent team developments include the October 2024 arrival of Elizabeth Scandrett, who has expertise handling complex disputes for clients spanning the array of creative industries, and the April 2025 arrival of art and heritage specialist Clarissa Levi. Tamara Wakeford left the team in May 2024.
Responsables de la pratique:
Rudy Capildeo; Tim Maxwell
Autres avocats clés:
Petra Warrington; Elizabeth Scandrett; Clarissa Levi
Les références
‘Wedlake Bell’s art law team works across disciplines with experts in dispute resolution and high-end transactions.’
‘Tim Maxwell is a superb solicitor with expertise handling disputes. Rudy Capildeo and Petra Warrington are highly skilled at guiding clients in nuanced art transactions.’
‘I have worked closely with Elizabeth Scandrett for many years and I rate her highly. She is relentlessly hardworking, clever, empathic, a pleasure to work with and always focused on ensuring the best outcome for her clients.’
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP
The team at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP is well-equipped to assist its roster of clients with the remit of contentious and non-contentious cases. Suzanne Marriott heads up the team and has particular expertise advising on tax and estate planning matters involving art and chattels, including advising artists and collectors on the structuring of art ownership for tax, succession, licences, gift schemes and loans. Robert Blower has experience advising on tax-related aspects of art, in particular with Acceptance in Lieu and Inheritance Tax Conditional Exemption Applications, where significant art collections and high-value assets are involved. Louise Paterson also has expertise advising on trusts, tax and succession.
Responsables de la pratique:
Suzanne Marriott
Autres avocats clés:
Bart Peerless; Robert Blower; Sarah Wray; Louise Paterson; Charlotte Hill; Racheal Muldoon; Terence Bennett; Stewart Hey
Les références
‘Art and cultural property law draws on so many areas of practice: commercial contractual work; tax and succession planning; charity law, and so on. The team at CRS is in the happy position of being able to draw from the firm’s undoubted strengths across all of those areas. The client base is correspondingly broad and high quality: from old money families to new; from charities to commercial concerns.’
‘Suzanne Marriott is a star and I have recommended her to clients with art collections.’
‘An exceptionally strong private client department.’
Howard Kennedy LLP
Howard Kennedy LLP‘s practice has noteworthy capabilities advising on a variety of art matters, including the finance and due diligence aspects of multi-million-pound transactions, as well as IP issues faced by galleries and museums, and ownership issues faced by individuals owing to divorce or inheritance complexities. In addition to its non-contentious practice, the team is adept at handling agency disputes, title disputes and forgery matters, amongst others. Disputes are Elizabeth Morley‘s focus area. At the team’s head is Mark Stephens, who harnesses expertise in spoliated art and assists clients in relation to internationally known and historically significant pieces. Jon Sharples is considered a ‘go-to lawyer for IP and disputes in this field’, and Daniel McClean is also recommended.
Responsables de la pratique:
Mark Stephens
Autres avocats clés:
Jon Sharples; Alex Watt; Robert Lands; James Wingfield; Daniel McClean
Les références
‘Howard Kennedy has experience with art industry-specific issues such as artist-gallery representation, resale restrictions and other nuances of art purchases, consignments and sales, and IP (including moral rights). This experience is informed by a genuine passion for the art world, and exposure thereto in the form of relationships with artists and galleries and a commitment to attend exhibitions and art fairs, etc.’
‘Jon Sharples is a creative thinker and advocate who employs a commercial approach to negotiations, balancing industry custom and practice with client-specific risk tolerance.’
‘Jon Sharples has a well-deserved reputation. A go-to lawyer for IP and disputes in this field.’
Payne Hicks Beach LLP
The group at Payne Hicks Beach LLP is led by Till Vere-Hodge, who ‘combines cultural property expertise with strong strategic instincts’ and assists clients across the breadth of advisory, transactional and disputes cases, including cross-jurisdictional restitutions, contentious inheritance cases and matters concerning complex colonial looting disputes. James Bacon co-leads alongside Vere-Hodge and has a specialism in inheritance property taxation. Neasa Coen is also a key practitioner; the three ‘cover all possible angles of art law,’ according to clients. Rosie Sells is noteworthy for advising international private collectors, art dealers and auction houses on the array of contentious issues, particularly trust and estates-related cases. Matthew Franks and Tess Hulton joined the team in May and October 2024, respectively.
Responsables de la pratique:
Till Vere-Hodge; James Bacon
Autres avocats clés:
Neasa Coen; Robert Brodrick, Rosamond McDowell; Mark Jones; Matthew Franks; Tess Hulton
Les références
‘Till Vere-Hodge, James Bacon and Neasa Coen cover all possible angles of art law, ranging from transactional, art disputes and advisory, to tax, estate planning and trusts, all the way to charities and philanthropy. What makes the team stand out is this combination of capabilities that can cater perfectly for the art trade, high profile collectors, institutions and museums, all the way to estates and trusts.’
‘The head of art law, Till Vere-Hodge at Payne Hicks Beach, is the only art lawyer in London I know of who knows the European art trade so intimately and speaks several European languages.’
‘Till Vere-Hodge is the go-to lawyer in London for any clients from the continent.’
Withers LLP
Withers LLP‘s group is well-versed in handling both contentious and non-contentious matters. The ‘intellectually excellent and extremely experienced’ Sarah Barker oversees the group and handles high-value transactions involving fine art and other valuable assets, and specialises in anti-money laundering. Eleni Polycarpou is a key practitioner who is noted for her ‘impressive vision and dedication’ and specialises in litigious matters, ranging from stolen art cases to consignment disputes. Also of note is Natalie Sherborn, who is equipped to act on issues at the crossover of art and white-collar crime, wherein she has represented artists, galleries and individual collectors, amongst others, in disputes regarding authenticity and provenance, for example.
Responsables de la pratique:
Sarah Barker
Autres avocats clés:
Eleni Polycarpou; Natalie Sherborn; Caroline Thompson; Briony Cartmell; Evie Gowlett; Philip Reed
Les références
‘Sarah Barker offered a generous and professional approach. Her advice was incredibly well-informed and useful.’
‘Best art litigation team in the market, with Eleni Polycarpou and Caroline Thompson – really know their stuff and super client friendly.’
‘Withers combines its litigation and art teams when, as recently, it has a multi-jurisdictional worldwide art fraud case. The entire team is multi-lingual with offices with local expertise across the globe, which they can and do call upon. With additional expertise in media and reputation, they are able to bring another facet to this area where those aspects are so interlinked.’
Principaux clients
National Gallery of Scotland
Forsters LLP
The ‘truly impressive’ team at Forsters LLP is well-equipped to assist its client list, which consists of international collectors and renowned living artists on a range of matters, including advising on estate management, trusts and taxation in relation to art collections and the sale of works. ‘Exceptional private client lawyer’ Catherine Hill oversees the group and has expertise in heritage and cultural property, in particular, as does Rupert Mead, whose particular specialism is art-related taxation issues. Laura Neal ‘knows the law inside-out' and is experienced acting for galleries and auction houses, as well as UK-based and international estates, trusts, foundations and collectors.
Responsables de la pratique:
Catherine Hill
Autres avocats clés:
Laura Neal; Aimee Dooley-Cox; Rupert Mead; Guy Abrahams; Rebecca Bion; Jo Thompson
Les références
‘A strong team led by Catherine Hill who ably assisted by Laura Neal. Excellent technical knowledge and sensible, commercial attitude, plus, it’s a pleasure to work with them.’
‘Catherine Hill is very knowledgeable and experienced. She always gives sensible, practical advice and is highly valued by her clients for this and her technical skills.’
‘Laura Neal knows the law inside-out and is extremely nice to work with.’
Pinsent Masons LLP
Pinsent Masons LLP‘s group is experienced assisting its clients in matters ranging from assisting with disputes regarding artwork authenticity and provenance, advising on cross-jurisdictional exhibition delivery, sales, purchases and loans, to looted art matters. The team’s workload is frequently cross-jurisdictional, with particular presence in France and Qatar. Richard Hart leads the team and has experience advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals, renowned museums, artists, artisans and interior designers on matters such as acquisitions and refurbishments of assets, structuring, sales, purchases and loans. Michael Pulford and Michael Fletcher are other key names to note in the team, while Oliver Tapper handles commercial disputes.
Responsables de la pratique:
Richard Hart
Autres avocats clés:
Michael Pulford; Oliver Tapper; Michael Fletcher
Les références
‘Knowledgeable, practical, experienced, and responsive.’
‘Richard Hart has consistently delivered to time and to expectations.’
‘The team is well-led and has deep knowledge of the sector.’
Principaux dossiers
- Advising a client on establishing its own museum at the Hôtel de la Marine, including in respect of the loans of numerous artworks required to be showcased over the course of the next 20 years in the museum’s galleries.
- Advising a client on the donation to the Centre des Monuments nationaux (CMN) of a Louis XVI ormulu-mounted, satin-wood, amaranth and sycamore commode stamped by Jean-Henri Riesener.
- Advised a client in its successful commercial court dispute against John Eskenazi Limited, in which the Court held that all seven objects purchased by QIPCO were inauthentic and that the dealer did not have reasonable grounds for believing the items were genuine.
Clyde & Co
The team at Clyde & Co is equipped to assist its auction house clients, in particular, on a range of contentious and non-contentious issues. Its workload for auction houses includes acting in disputes relating to misrepresentation, breaches of fiduciary duty and negligence. The team also acts for insurer clients, including advising on recovery actions relating to damaged artworks. Andrew Grant and Elizabeth Moore are key practitioners in the team, which is led by Tim Crockford, noted for his ‘superb commercial judgement’.
Responsables de la pratique:
Tim Crockford
Autres avocats clés:
Andrew Grant; Elizabeth Moore
Les références
‘Superb expertise in art law, particularly with respect to auctioneers – very client-focused but extremely knowledgeable as well.’
‘Tim Crockford has unrivalled expertise in art law; he combines excellent technical knowledge with superb commercial judgement.’
‘Tim Crockford is excellent. Very commercial and pragmatic, and also charming and a pleasure to work with.’
Principaux clients
Christie’s
Ingles & Hayday
Antipa Gallery
Fieldfisher
Fieldfisher‘s team is experienced in handling tax planning, finance and structuring-related art matters. Helen Mulcahy‘s practice includes assisting with cross-jurisdictional fraud matters and co-heads the offering with Pierre Valentin, who is well-regarded for his ‘sharp legal mind’ and has expertise handling disputes relating to restitution, ownership, cultural heritage and authenticity. Also recommended are tax and estate planning specialist Alice Vink and banking and finance expert Hannah Rowbotham.
Responsables de la pratique:
Helen Mulcahy; Pierre Valentin
Autres avocats clés:
Alice Vink; Hannah Rowbotham; Sebastian Crawford
Les références
‘Pierre Valentin has a sharp legal mind, and it was a pleasure to collaborate with him on different areas of expertise, and the clients were impressed. He is extremely informative on art law.’
‘I have been on several working committees with Pierre Valentin, and he is always a level-headed thinker who is able to arrive at excellent working solutions.’
‘Pierre Valentin has deep knowledge of art law. I also found him able to understand complex art historical issues related to the casting of sculpture multiples that he was able to explain in detail to the clients.’
Principaux clients
Getty Images Group
Principaux dossiers
- Advising a European art collector and patron and his successor business on the exploitation of intellectual property rights and the casting of posthumous sculptures conceived by a most famous 20th century European artist.
- Resolving a dispute between a UHNW client and an art gallery from whom the client bought a sculpture by a celebrated contemporary artist; the sculpture arrived damaged and over a 12-month period, supported the client in relation to the restoration and re-delivery of the sculpture.
- Advising a European contemporary gallery in relation to a dispute arising from fraud by a New York art advisor recently sentenced to a prison term regarding 14 works by a contemporary artist, involving complex issues of New York bankruptcy law and dealing with the FBI.
Fladgate LLP
Fladgate LLP‘s practice is headed up by Hetty Gleave, who has expertise assisting clients with tax, finance and ownership matters, amongst others, in both domestic and cross-jurisdictional contexts. Tax planning and estate structuring matters also form a key portion of the team’s workload. Gleave and noteworthy practitioner Rebecca Christie are noted as ‘seasoned art lawyers’ by clients. Tom Bolam ably handles the range of disputes, and Luke Morris is also a name to note in the team.
Responsables de la pratique:
Hetty Gleave
Autres avocats clés:
Rebecca Christie; Tom Bolam; Luke Morris
Les références
‘Hetty Gleave and Rebecca Christie are a seasoned team of art lawyers with a wide range of skills from treasure trove to contemporary art. ’
‘Rebecca Christie is a star.’
‘Hetty Gleave has a lot of experience in the sector.’
Principaux dossiers
- Advising the heirs to 20% of the estate of a member of a Middle Eastern Royal family in enforcing a Qatari judgment against the assets of the deceased Sheikh Saoud Mohamed A.A. Al Thani.
Hunters Law LLP
The group at Hunters Law LLP is well-equipped to assist its roster of clients, which includes trustees of high-value family trusts, executors and titled individuals, amongst others, on various high-value matters. Its workload includes advising on the tax, inheritance and disposal aspects of art and cultural property. The team is co-led by Matthew Yates and Julia Lewis, who advise on estate planning, heritage property and tax and trust-related cases in particular. Lucinda Tite is also recommended. Mark Stiebel departed in December 2024.
Responsables de la pratique:
Matthew Yates; Julia Lewis
Autres avocats clés:
Lucinda Tite; Sunir Watts
Keystone Law
The group at Keystone Law is well-versed in handling matters regarding the sale, acquisition and ownership of artworks and antiques. Arranging the gifting of artistic collections to museums and appraising archives are also key aspects of the team’s workload. Anthony Misquitta is a noteworthy member of the team who advises clients across sectors, including software and tech, acting for artists and designers, and museums and cultural institutions. Team developments include the August 2024 arrival of Simon Oldfield. Lisette Aguilar left the team in January 2025.
Autres avocats clés:
Anthony Misquitta; Simon Oldfield
Les références
‘Keystone Law offers consistent, reliable and extremely good advice and service levels.’
‘The range and depth of their services is very good due to the speed at which they can react to ever-changing client requirements – impressive.’
‘Keystone was efficient and thorough in its approach.’
Principaux clients
The Serpentine Trust
MEUM Group Ltd
MEUM Group Ltd‘s team is well-versed in handling a variety of domestic and cross-jurisdictional matters for its client roster, including restorations, sales, and the recovery of items from galleries. ‘Star performer’ Gregor Kleinknecht oversees the offering and specialises in art and cultural heritage matters. The team has been strengthened this year with the December 2024 arrivals of disputes practitioner Mark Stiebel, who acts on matters regarding provenance, attributions, sales and purchases, amongst others, and expert in art-related transactions Agata Becker.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gregor Kleinknecht
Autres avocats clés:
Mark Stiebel; Agata Becker
Les références
‘Gregor Kleinknecht is the star performer.’
‘What Meum has achieved in the past year is extraordinary and something to be admired.’
‘An exciting firm to watch as they really going places and attracting the best legal talent in the industry.’
Principaux dossiers
- Acting for a regional auction house in relation to claims against a titled consignor for payment of a withdrawal fee arising from the withdrawal by that consignor from a significant single-owner auction.
- Advising an India-based private collector on the legal issues arising in connection with the restoration and subsequent sale of two significant modern Indian artworks.
- Advised the company behind the world’s first ultra-realistic humanoid AI robot artist on its terms and conditions of business for the sale of art works generated by the robot, and on its obligations under consumer rights legislation, and continues to advise periodically on related contractual issues.
RPC
RPC‘s team is well-placed to assist its clients, the list of which contains well-known arts venues, auction houses and collectors, in a range of matters including those involving issues relating to IP, taxation and data protection. The team is also well-placed to advise on the sale and purchase of well-known works, representing art dealers. Davina Given is the team lead with expertise in art-related disputes, including those where the provenance, attribution and authenticity of works is contested.
Responsables de la pratique:
Davina Given
Les références
‘Davina Give is simply outstanding – clever, very sensible, hands-on, humorous too.’
Principaux clients
SC Bond Street Limited
Principaux dossiers
- Advised SC Bond Street Limited in a non-party disclosure application brought against it by the defendant in commercial court proceedings.