Lauded by clients as a ‘leading set in the art and cultural property sector at all levels,’ 3 Verulam Buildings regularly handles high-profile cases involving art dealers, auctioneers, museums and national galleries. Angharad Start acts for Elanus Holdings in Qatar Investment & Projects Development Holding CP W.L.L. v Elanus Holdings Ltd, a Commercial Court dispute over ownership of the Idol’s Eye diamond, raising complex issues of pre-emption rights and cross-border corporate control. Also acting in the case are Victor Steinmetz, Calum Mulderrig, Andrew Onslow KC and Clarissa Jones. Cleon Catsambis acts as sole counsel for Sotheby’s in a high-profile Commercial Court case over the Idol’s Eye diamond, facing a non-party disclosure application. Start, leading Steinmetz, acts for US-based lender Art Lending Inc in Ashti Fine Art Ltd v Art Lending Inc & Ors, a multi-jurisdictional dispute over ownership of a Francis Bacon painting and recovery of over $80m in loans secured against high-value artworks.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks at 3 Verulam Buildings are first rate. Stuart Pullum is the best in the business; he is attentive, responsive, extremely personable and able to deal with more difficult situations with sensitivity.'
- 'The clerks provide an impeccable service.'
- '3 Verulam Buildings is a top-quality set.'
- '3 Verulam Buildings is a leading set in the art and cultural property sector at all levels.'
Lawyers
Leading Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Rajesh Pillai KC
'Rajesh is an excellent advocate.'
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
Cleon Catsambis
'Cleon is pragmatic, thoughtful and a pleasure to work with. Cleon has demonstrated his agility and creative thinking.'
Sophia Dzwig
‘Sophia is an extremely talented junior in the art and cultural property space, with a very promising future. She has an amazingly in-depth knowledge of the art market and legal issues affecting it. She understands her client’s goals and how to achieve them.’
Angharad Start
'Angharad has outstanding strategic skills and she is a great advocate.'
Rising stars
Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.
Clarissa Jones
Gretel Scott
‘Gretel is a highly skilled junior and really focuses on the practicalities of achieving a successful outcome for her clients.’