Art Law Attorneys

Understanding Art Law

Art law is a specialized area of law dealing with the legal issues surrounding the creation, ownership, sale, and authentication of artwork and other valuable objects. It’s a complex field that encompasses intellectual property rights, contract law, trust and estate planning, and litigation. Protecting your investment in art requires a deep understanding of these nuances, and that’s where our legal team comes in.

Key Areas of Focus:

• Ownership and Title Issues: Determining clear ownership of artwork is often the first and most critical step. We handle title searches, chain of custody documentation, and resolve disputes regarding rightful ownership.
• Authentication and Verification: The authenticity of artwork is paramount to its value. We assist in commissioning expert authentications, providing legal support during disputes over attribution, and addressing concerns about forgeries.
• Sales and Transactions: We draft and review contracts for the sale of artwork, including purchase agreements, consignment agreements, and representation agreements. We ensure that your interests are protected throughout the transaction process.
• Intellectual Property Rights: Art creators hold various intellectual property rights, including copyrights and artist's rights. Our team advises on protecting these rights, enforcing licensing agreements, and addressing copyright infringement claims related to artwork.
• Valuation and Appraisal Disputes: We represent clients involved in disputes over the valuation of artwork, utilizing expert testimony and legal strategies to achieve a fair outcome.
• Trusts and Estates: Art collections are often part of a wealthy individual's estate plan. We help establish trusts to manage artwork holdings and ensure their proper transfer according to the client's wishes.
• Insurance Coverage: We advise on securing appropriate insurance coverage for artwork, including appraisal requirements and claims handling.

Why Choose Us? Our legal team possesses specialized knowledge of the art market and the legal challenges artists and collectors face. We understand the unique valuation concerns, authentication processes, and potential disputes associated with artwork. We provide proactive counsel, strategic legal solutions, and effective representation to safeguard your investments and creative works. We work closely with appraisers, art market experts, and other professionals to ensure the best possible outcome for our clients.

Common Issues We Address: Artwork fraud, disputes over provenance (history of ownership), copyright infringement, breach of contract related to artwork sales, and valuation disagreements are just some of the challenges we address daily. We provide robust legal defense and pursue aggressive solutions to protect our clients’ rights and assets.