Art & Cultural Property Law

We formed the Art and Cultural Property Law Group to make a total commitment to the art world.

We pride ourselves in our knowledge of the art market, our legal expertise, our effectiveness and our entrepreneurial spirit, which we share with many of our clients.

The field of art law is rapidly growing, increasingly complex, fast-changing and ever more commercially critical. The law permeates all aspects of the art world, and whilst art is not regulated as a sector, it is subject to a myriad of laws and regulations. We believe that the globalisation of the market has created unprecedented legal challenges deserving attention and focus.

With the increasing acceptance of art as a separate asset class have come unexplored regulatory challenges. The casual approach to art collecting and art dealing has become harder to justify, given the risks, and, like all high value assets, art must be managed carefully if its monetary value is to be preserved.

Who We Are

  • We are a leading specialist art law practice.
  • We assist clients with all legal issues relating to fine art and other collecting categories.
  • We understand the business of buying, selling and looking after works of art.
  • We operate internationally. Collectively we speak French, German, Greek, Italian and Spanish.

What We Do

We advise on a broad range of commercial, regulatory and contentious issues.

Although London based, we routinely work across borders. The vast majority of our engagements are multi-jurisdictional. We are used to working in multi-national teams, and rely on our network of specialist lawyers for support in other jurisdictions.

We are highly experienced in litigation. We provide innovative strategies to avoid and resolve disputes, maximise value and minimise risks. We look to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms where appropriate. We find that mediation can be a particularly effective means of resolving disputes. If litigation cannot be avoided, we pursue it vigorously, mindful of the client’s objectives, the risks and the costs.

COMMERCIAL

  • Art transactions
  • Art finance
  • Taxation
  • Intellectual property
  • Art investment funds
  • Due diligence
  • Auction/gallery consignments
  • Commissioning contemporary art

REGULATORY

  • Import export
  • Regulated investments
  • Consumer credit
  • Anti-money laundering
  • Bribery
  • Endangered species
  • Insurance mediation
  • Data protection

CONTENTIOUS

  • Disputes over ownership
  • Disputes over authenticity
  • World War II restitution claims
  • Insurance disputes
  • Disputes with the Revenue
  • Claims by foreign governments
  • Professional liability

OUR CLIENTS

  • Art Collectors
  • Family Offices
  • Artists
  • Trustees
  • Art Galleries
  • Auction Houses
  • Art Dealers
  • Private Banks
  • Investment Funds
  • Insurance Companies
  • Museums
  • Art Foundations
  • Foreign Governments

The Art@Law site is published by the Constantine Cannon Art & Cultural Property Practice Group. Read articles, subscribe to our newsletter, and more.

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Art & Cultural Property Law Blog Posts

Oct012021
Copyright law and Appropriation art: where is the line between artistic innovation and stealing

Examining the more recent court cases, Azmina Jasani and Emelyne Peticca highlight the tension between Appropriation art and copyright law in The Art Newspaper. Read...

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Aug052021
Constantine Cannon’s Art and Cultural Property Law Group Ranked as a Band 1 Practice in Chambers & Partners’ 2021 UK High Net Worth Guide

The prestigious ranking granted the group the guide’s highest honor LONDON, August 5, 2021 – Constantine Cannon today announced that its Art and Cultural Property...

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May062021
Buying and Selling Art in the Era of Covid-19

Bringing her two worlds together, Azmina provided a legal perspective from both New York and London at the Federal Bar Association’s Virtual Art Law Conference....

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Apr292021
Legal, political and public relations strategies to protect cultural property.

Joining forces with international law and cultural property specialists at Foley Hoag LLP; Azmina and Till presented to State sovereign experts on protecting cultural property,...

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