Simon Fitzpatrick leads the team at Boodle Hatfield LLP that frequently advises on the big art litigation matters. It also advises galleries, artists, auction houses and HNWIs on significant purchases of art worth millions of pounds. Fitzpatrick is a known name for his specialist knowledge of cases involving auction house misattribution, authenticity and provenance claims. Natasha Hassall specialises in advising on heritage property issues where there are substantial art collections. Eleanor Sepanski’s clients include wealthy families and individuals with large art collections as well as high-profile artists and not-for-profit organisations. At associate level Fred Clark, Becky Shaw and Rebecca Foden are all well-regarded.

The vibrant team at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP advises several world-famous contemporary art galleries. Rudy Capildeo and Tim Maxwell  head the department that has acted in some of the most significant cases relating to leading international auction houses and is increasingly advising on a range of contentious and non-contentious issues pertaining to cultural property and antiquities for collectors and dealers. Another core of expertise is advising on the interplay between intellectual property, art and luxury assets. Robert Blower and Suzanne Marriott play a pivotal role in advising artists on a wide range of estate planning and tax issues as well as advising collectors, dealers, businesses and charitable trusts on a vast array of art-related matters. Petra Warrington, who joined the team as a senior associate from Hunters Law LLP, is highly regarded for her advice on the ownership, provenance, condition and authenticity of art and luxury assets.

Pierre Valentin leads a first-rate team at Constantine Cannon LLP that advises various high-profile clients including foreign governments, some of the most prominent art collectors in the UK and abroad in addition to well-known contemporary artists, leading commercial galleries and museums. Other key clients include art investment funds, family offices, insurance companies and auction houses. Valentin represents clients in the High Court and Court of Appeal on matters of ownership, fraud and other issues such as Nazi restitutions, foreign nation recoveries and authenticity. There have been some changes to the team recently however. Penny Walker and Tom Christopherson have joined the practice. Azmina Jasani has secured an inhouse position and Till Vere Hodge is now at Payne Hicks Beach LLP. Fionnuala Rogers remains a consultant at the firm and advises on all aspects of art law including cultural property, repatriation and other areas relating to the seizure and the export of antiquities.

Farrer & Co has an excellent reputation for its art and cultural property expertise and is best-known for its work with the international super-rich. It advises on many family trusts both in the UK and overseas. Head of department is Adrian Parkhouse who excels in art litigation, and senior associate William Charrington is also developing a strong art-related disputes practice. James Carleton advises many commercial art dealers, private owners and collectors as well as other entities such as charities and banks on cross-border art, heritage law and philanthropy. The team also has an impressive art lending practice. Bethan Waters regularly advises lenders and borrowers on all aspects of finance and security where art is used as collateral. Julian Smith acts for some of the bigger historic house charities and private collections that are destined for public and charitable collections. Peter Wienand also plays a key role in this practice.

Mishcon de Reya LLP has one of the ‘most forward thinking, capable and high-profile art teams in London’ that is is co-headed by ‘art guru’ Karen Sanig and by the ‘equally impressive’ Amanda Gray. Its work spans all aspects of the art world and cultural heritage. The ‘extremely well-connected’ team advises galleries on buying, selling, exhibiting, loaning and moving art. In addition it is skilled at helping collectors on financing and on other issues relating to exporting, importing and bequeathing art to the nation. It is also adept at advising art institutions on exhibitions and auction houses on sales and due diligence. The practice has advised on some of the largest art transactions, the management of some of the most significant collections of cultural property and continues to be involved in some of the leading litigation in this area. Overall it is a ‘great team to have on your side’.

The versatile team at Stephenson Harwood acts on various significant transactions and disputes for the key players in the market. Led by the excellent Roland Foord the group acts for clients from a wide range of countries and is adept at handling complex cross-border matters. The practice has been busy advising on various Covid-19 matters, cryptocurrency and NFTs. Clients range from auction houses and dealers to museums and private collectors. It is skilled at handling major disputes relating to title and attribution as well as regularly advising on the sale and purchase of fine art, and other issues relating to exporting art and looted art. Guy Harper is recognised for his experience in contentious matters with a particular emphasis on claims arising from fine art.

Led by Mark Stephens the skilled team at Howard Kennedy LLP advises museums, galleries, dealers and public art organisations on a vast array of issues relating to the resolution of disputes and the recovery of stolen and looted items of art and cultural property. It also advises many charities, artists and estates as well as photographers, photo libraries and ultra-high-net-worth individuals on a whole host of issues. Daniel McClean is recommended; Alex Watt has an eclectic mix of clients including Middle Eastern art galleries and American art dealers; Elizabeth Morley is well-regarded; and Robert Lands has a particular focus on the visual arts sector.

Withers LLP has an excellent reputation for its work with the owners of significant art collections. It is adept at advising on funding issues relating to the purchase of art in a tax efficient manner. Under the direction of Eleni Polycarpou it is skilled at handling a whole host of complex contentious matters as well as having considerable strength on a wide array of other issues such as advising on complicated estate planning measures. It also garners praise for its considerable cross-border capabilities. The practice was pleased to add Sarah Barker to its ranks from Lee & Thompson LLP. Overall it is ‘superb at understanding and delivering on the client’s objectives’.

Hunters Law LLP has a thriving art and cultural heritage practice that acts for a broad range of clients and much of its work has a complex international dimension. It is adept at advising auctioneers, valuers, dealers, collectors and public/private institutions on a wide range of contentious and transactional matters. Names to note include Julia Richards and Anastassia Dimmek. Petra Warrington is now at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP. Gregor Kleinknecht has recently left the firm to join Keystone Law.

Ed Powles heads the practice at Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP that advises a diverse range of UK and non-UK resident artists (and their personal representatives), collectors, national galleries and museums, as well as philanthropists and entrepreneurs. The group also advises traditionally wealthy families who have extensive collections in their family homes. It works closely with its other departments to advise these clients on probate and tax matters, international estate planning, philanthropy and a whole host of other contentious and non-contentious contractual matters.

Pinsent Masons LLP has strong international capabilities with Richard Hart at the helm. It has a cross-disciplinary team that is adept at advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals including Royal Family members, artists, cultural institutions and government bodies on all issues relating to their collections. Hart advises clients on structuring their collections and on sales, purchases and loans. He also advises them on their philanthropic endeavours such as creating cultural foundations and facilitating donations to cultural institutions. In addition he routinely works with artisans and interior designers.

Hugo Smith and Susan Johnson co-head the art and cultural property offering at BDB Pitmans that works closely with its private wealth, charities and other departments to advise clients on a wide spectrum of issues such as the sale and purchase of art as well as the formation of charities to hold art and cultural property. It is also skilled at advising public sector bodies on commissioning agreements for public art in addition to providing tax and structuring advice to the owners of art and cultural property.

The versatile team at Forsters LLP has a wealth of experience in acting for collectors, artists, galleries and auction houses in addition to the owners of historic houses. Clients also include globally renowned living artists, as well as private collectors and art institutions with culturally significant assets. Catherine Hill heads the team and is recommended for her work on a range of legacy, succession and taxation issues. Rupert Mead advises the owners of landed estates on a myriad of taxation issues.

Under the leadership of James Bacon the skilled team at Payne Hicks Beach LLP advises individuals, trustees, art dealers and charities on various issues including on the taxation and administration of high-value private art collections. The group is also recommended for its work on planning matters as they relate to heritage fixtures where these are subject to listed buildings status. Rosamond McDowell is well regarded and Till Vere-Hodge joined the practice as a partner from Constantine Cannon LLP.