England - London • Private client
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Art and cultural property

Mishcon de Reya LLP

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Under the joint leadership of Karen Sanig and Amanda Gray, the practice at Mishcon de Reya LLP continues to flourish and regularly works with world-renowned collectors and dealers; the firm also fields a thriving luxury asset practice. The skilled team routinely advises on many of the largest international art transactions, and assists with the management of significant collections of cultural property. It also remains one of the first ports of call for complex, international and high-profile art gallery and auction disputes. Abby Brindley frequently advises on disputes relating to ownership, provenance and attribution, as well as on issues relating to fraud, moral rights and the restitution of Holocaust-looted artworks. The group has also been busy advising on a myriad of other issues such as advising collectors on financing and loan arrangements, handling import/export matters, and assisting with bequeathing art to the nation. Simon Chadwick is another key member of the practice.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Our experience is that there is a very high level of specialist knowledge in art and culture areas, and collaborative working to find solutions. There is a full range of legal expertise available and colleagues are quick to bring in additional specialist support when needed'.

  • ‘Amanda Gray is highly engaged in what we do, and has a great knowledge of the art and museum worlds, which makes her easy to work with. She is able to provide examples of good practice and raise potential issues in a way which allows us to take pre-emptive action rather than waiting for problems to arise. She has a pragmatic approach'. 

  • ‘Probably the best art law team out there. Full service from beginning to end. With the incredible experience of Karen Sanig, the impressive creativity of Amanda Gray, the amazing support of Michelle Stroube and others (Simon Chadwick, Abby Brindley), this group is hard to beat!’.

  • ‘Karen Sanig: has been leading in the art law field for 30 years. Amanda Gray: amazing case management and thorough art law know-how. Michelle Stroube: the go-to contractual scientist’.

  • ‘MdR was one of the first law firms to establish an art law department. Their team is fully immersed in commercial and non commercial aspects of the art world. They have the gravitas of a leader in their field combined with a young and fresh image and approach which appeals to artists, galleries and collectors'. 

  • ‘Karen Sanig - founded the art law department at MDR and has been the key to its success. She always gets the result she wants - either through charm or, when needed, steely resolve. One of the very best in her field. Amanda Gray - has been Karen Sanig’s right hand person for many years now and has the same qualities as Karen. A real talent’.

  • ‘Karen Sanig established art law in this country and has built up a formidable team over the decades to grow the practice keeping abreast of modern technologies. Karen Sanig and Amanda Gray - I can’t praise them highly enough; their expertise and wise counsel has never let me down'.

  • ‘Clear leaders in the field - incomparable reputation in the sector and across all parts of the art market. They have a genuine interest in art and understand the complexities of this particular market. Karen Sanig - superstar, commercially savvy and brilliant strategist. Amanda Gray - thorough, dedicated and always on hand’.

Key clients

  • Ivor Braka Limited
  • Ivor Braka
  • The Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery
  • Institute of Contemporary Arts
  • David Aaron Limited
  • A/Political Limited
  • Clore Wyndham Fine Art Limited
  • Camden Art Centre
  • Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft
  • Morgan Art Foundation
  • Art Africa Limited
  • Rothstein & Held Limited
  • Halcyon Gallery Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised Ivor Braka Limited and Ivor Braka in "first-of-its-kind" proceedings relating to the provision of information by art market participants to obtain payment of artist resale royalties.
  • Advised the trustees of the Tate Gallery in relation to sanctions and their potential effect on past, present and future donors to the Museum.
  • Acting as general counsel for the Institute of Contemporary Arts.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Karen Sanig
Hall of fameMishcon de Reya LLP
Karen founded Art Law at Mishcon de Reya in 1995. Clients she represents, across the globe, include artists and their estates, collectors, dealers, art foundations and charities, auction houses, galleries, museums and governments. Karen advises on a wide range of art related matters such as sale and purchase of art, artists' rights, their legacy, creation and management of artists estates, disputes over attribution, authenticity and ownership, cultural heritage matters, restitution of looted cultural property and anti-money laundering regulations. The legal directories describe Karen as 'pre-eminent in the field of art and cultural property'. She often features on 'Front Row', BBC Radio 4's flagship culture programme. Karen is quoted widely on art related legal issues and contributes to leading art publications including the Art Newspaper and Apollo. She is honorary legal counsel for the State Hermitage Foundation Museum, Israel. Karen is also a Trustee of Camden Arts Centre.
Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Simon Chadwick
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Simon is an Managing Associate in the Mishcon Private department.  He has experience in acting for a wide variety of clients ranging from companies to high net worth individuals to charities, across a wide range of domestic and international commercial disputes. Simon has a particular interest in art and cultural property law and, as a member of the Art Law team, advises galleries, auction houses, artists, collectors, foundations and other public and private institutions on non-contentious and contentious art related matters. Before starting his carrier in law, Simon worked for an Italian commercial art dealership in Mayfair and Milan for seven years. This experience, and his understanding of the market, has proved invaluable when working with individuals, galleries and institutions on both contentious and non-contentious art matters. Simon has previously been recognised in Legal 500’s 2020 Art and Cultural Property directory as being a Rising Star and in Chambers & Partners HNW 2020 as an Associate to Watch.
Abby Brindley
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Abby is a Managing Associate in the firm's Private department where she works on a wide range of commercial disputes for both companies and individuals.  As a member of Art Law, Abby acts for galleries, auction houses, artists, collectors, foundations and other public and private institutions in relation to disputes concerning ownership, provenance, attribution and restitution of artworks. Abby has specialist knowledge and interest in the evolving area of data protection and regularly advises on rights and obligations, acting for both individuals and companies. She also provides training on data protection issues for the firm and its clients. Abby is a member of the organisation of Professional Advisors to the International Art Market (PAIAM).
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Amanda Gray
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Amanda Gray is a Partner in Mishcon Private, specialising in Art Law and the related field of Luxury Assets. She is Practice Lead for Art Law and chairs Mishcon's firm-wide multi-disciplinary Luxury Assets Group. Amanda is valued by her clients for her commercial, flexible approach and depth of knowledge across a diverse range of legal problems faced by those operating within the art market and luxury assets fields. In addition to her Art Law practice, Amanda, as a long standing private client lawyer, has been able to bring her experience of dealing with sensitive personal situations to assisting bereaved families with inquests and advising clients on a range of medical negligence issues and loss of mental capacity. An art law specialist with over 13 years experience, she is valued by her clients for her commercial and solution driven approach and depth of knowledge. Her client base includes collectors, dealers, auction houses, artists, public and private institutions and foundations. She assists clients across a diverse range of contentious and non-contentious legal problems faced by those operating within the art market and luxury assets fields. These include sale and purchase agreements, art and antique collection management, loan and agency agreements, artists' resale rights regulations, special projects, bringing new discoveries to the market place and advising the art market on anti-money laundering regulations. Her specialist contentious work includes claims arising from due diligence issues including authentication and title claims, disputes arising out of breaches of contract, negligence and misrepresentation. Matters are often international, high value, and high profile with significant commercial and personal implications for the reputation and legacy of those involved.  As a leading member of our multi-disciplinary Luxury Assets Group, Amanda provides advice to clients on luxury assets including classic cars, bloodstock and jewellery, each with nuances individual to their respective fields. Amanda is a Trustee of the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA); the pro-bono General Counsel for Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft, Sussex, which houses the permanent collection of works by the Ditchling Guild and is a member of the Responsible Art Market committee, London Chapter.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Karen Sanig, Amanda Gray

Other key lawyers

Abby Brindley, Simon Chadwick, Michelle Stroube

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