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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 October and May 2024, respectively.

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.

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.

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.

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’.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.