Department profile
Mishcon de Reya LLP

Art and Cultural Property Law

High Net Worth Guide 2026 : UK-wide


Mishcon de Reya LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Mishcon de Reya LLP

Our non-contentious work includes complex international cross-jurisdictional transactions covering a wide range of commercial agreements, creation of art funds and other art investment structures, and advice on anti-money laundering regulations. Our contentious work includes advising on cases of defective title, provenance, authenticity, attribution and reputation as well as criminal and fraudulent aspects of art.

Our clients include family offices, international collectors, artists, dealers, art institutions, art foundations, museums, galleries, governments and auction houses.

Specialist services range from advice on sale, purchase, loan, consignment and financing of art to exploitation and protection of copyright and cultural heritage issues.

Work Highlights:

Advising Artist - Advising artists on artist's moral rights and copyright in their work.

Large international art dealers - Reviewing and amending terms and conditions of sale for large international art dealers.

Heirs to a French estate - Representing the Heirs to a French estate to prevent a potential sale at a major auction house of stolen antiquities.

US artist's Foundation - Advising a US artist's Foundation on protection of copyright of the artist's work in the UK.

Private collector - Advising a private collector prior to the acquisition of a manuscript collection and negotiating the terms of purchase.

Swiss private collector - Advising a Swiss private collector on a claim against an auction house.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Art and Cultural Property Law - UK-wide

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For
Mishcon de Reya is well known for handling some of the best art and cultural property work in the market. The team advises on transactional matters and represents clients involved in major disputes.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Mishcon de Reya is a long-standing specialist team across all aspects of the arts sector. They have unbeatable knowledge of the art market and players, which enables them to provide savvy commercial and creative solutions.

    Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Mishcon de Reya have intimate knowledge of the players in the industry and a total grasp of every aspect of this sector.

    Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • The quality and diversity of the large team at Mishcon de Reya almost guarantees that there will be an appropriate staff member to offer guidance and solutions to the most complex issues. The depth and breadth of the art law team at Mishcon is second to none.

    Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Mishcon de Reya provides technically superb advice, speed of response and accuracy, with a clever and commercial approach in turning difficult issues into user-friendly, straightforward, good, tough advice. This support is very reassuring.

    Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Amanda Gray
    Band 1Amanda Gray

    Amanda Gray

    Amanda Gray advises auction houses, collectors, dealers and institutional clients on contentious and non-contentious art-related matters.
    • Amanda Gray is fantastic. If I had someone ask me where they should go if they needed a solicitor for a heavy-hitting art dispute, she would be the first name I would think of. She is a tough litigator and a lovely person. She is a dynamo.

      Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Amanda Gray has very good art market knowledge and she spends a lot of time with artists and at galleries. She understands the art itself and the issues that arise in relation to the artists. She has that full cultural knowledge as well.

      Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Karen Sanig
    Band 1Karen Sanig

    Karen Sanig

    Karen Sanig remains a hugely respected name in the art law market. She regularly advises clients on transactions and artists' rights and estates. She also represents parties in art-related disputes concerning authenticity, ownership and attribution.
    • Karen Sanig is my first-choice art lawyer. Karen surpasses all the other lawyers I have worked with in every respect with her complete understanding of client needs in this very specialised field. Her total dedication to her clients is exceptional.

      Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Karen Sanig is amazing and a real trailblazer in this sector.

      Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Karen Sanig is my go-to for strategic advice. She's at the top of the game and has unbeatable sector knowledge.

      Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Karen Sanig is one of the most extraordinary people one could hope to work with in the field of art law. Her ability to offer guidance in solving the most extraordinary and challenging commercial problems remains unsurpassed in the field of art law.

      Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 2Simon Chadwick
    Band 2Simon Chadwick

    Simon Chadwick

    Simon Chadwick is a partner at Mishcon de Reya. He brings his previous experience in a gallery to his art and cultural property practice. He regularly advises on significant disputes in the industry.

    • Simon Chadwick knows how the art world ticks. He is decisive, clever and pragmatic. He has got a great memory, he is across the details, and he's got energy.

      Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Simon Chadwick had an accurate grasp of subject matter and provided a speedy resolution of complex queries.

      Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • I know Simon Chadwick well and rate him very highly. I think he is brilliant and an out-and-out art specialist. He knows the market very well and I'd refer people to him.

      Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Associates to watchLavinia de Nazelle
    Associates to watchLavinia de Nazelle

    Lavinia de Nazelle

    Lavinia de Nazelle is a managing associate who regularly advises clients on disputes. Her art and cultural property work includes assisting institutions, artists, dealers and collectors.

    • Lavinia de Nazelle has been working in the sector for a while now. She has very strong links with the Tate, where she did a secondment, and she has a very strong knowledge of the sector and the matters that come up.

      Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Lavinia de Nazelle provides excellent comprehension of the subject matter and the resolution of queries.

      Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Associates to watchMichelle Stroube
    Associates to watchMichelle Stroube

    Michelle Stroube

    Michelle Stroube advises on contentious and non-contentious art-related matters for a range of clients including collectors and private dealers as well as institutions. Her work includes advising on anti-money laundering.

    • Michelle Stroube is really good. She really knows her stuff and has been around a long time. She is well regarded and I would refer work to her.

      Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Michelle Stroube is a fantastic associate. She is always available, she has excellent art world knowledge, and she is very clear at explaining technical language. She works to tight deadlines, and we very much enjoy working with her.

      Art and Cultural Property Law respondentHigh Net Worth

Ranked Individuals at Mishcon de Reya LLP (5)

UK-wide

Members

Provided by Mishcon de Reya LLP

Mishcon de Reya LLP has rankings in the following guides

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