ArtAntiquesAuctionsCulturalHeritage

    Yet wherever art is created, acquired, sold, consigned, auctioned, loaned, insured, exhibited, exported,
imported, or misappropriated, it is subject to a maze of international conventions and differing national laws,
regulations and practices, covering as diverse a range of areas as contract, property, tort, intellectual property,
trade, customs, tax and inheritance law, as well as the rules on conflicts of laws, governing and controlling the
activities of artists, publishers, dealers, galleries, auctioneers, financiers, insurers, private and public collectors,
and major museums worldwide.

    London is at the heart of the international art market, and home to many leading collections, dealers, galleries,
auction houses, and other service providers. English law and regulations have a bearing on almost all transactions
conducted in this market place. Art law is as dynamic as the subject matter to which it relates and it continuously
evolves and increases in complexity. Important recent developments range from the artist’s resale right (“droit de
suite”) to a growing international trend for governments, public institutions and private individuals to trace lost art
works, challenge ownership, and seek their return through court proceedings and press campaigns. By way of
further example, proposed changes in Chinese law and new treaties will have a major impact on the legitimacy of
sales of Chinese antiquities anywhere in the world, including London.

    Klein Solicitors share their clients’ passion for art and bring their legal experience and expertise in this area to
bear when they undertake transactional or dispute resolution work and advise and represent private, corporate,
professional and institutional clients in the following areas:

    We pride ourselves in our ability to provide fast, effective and discrete advice and representation, preserving
and protecting the reputation of our clients and of the art works with which they are concerned. Where
necessary and appropriate, we work with an extensive international network of trusted legal and professional
advisers and experts in the art world to serve our clients’ needs and fulfill their objectives.

    By way of example, our lawyers have assisted a German art gallery with the recovery of a major expressionist
oil painting misappropriated by an intermediary in Paris, traced to London, and recovered by us on the same day
through injunction proceedings in the High Court. The painting was placed in secure expert custody and returned
to our client shortly thereafter following summary court proceedings. Recent instructions included advising a US
American artist in conjunction with a large scale installation in Liverpool and a Japanese photographer on an
English gallery contract.

    We also advise and act for collectors and dealers of other high value collectibles, most notably, the sale,
acquisition, restoration and collection of important motorcars and sportscars.

    We will always be pleased to discuss your legal issues and requirements with you on an informal basis before
accepting instructions. Please contact Gregor Kleinknecht on +44 (0)207 958 9080 or by e-mail to
gk@kleinsolicitors.com for further information.

Creation, protection and exploitation of UK and European intellectual property rights including copyright, moral rights and artists’ resale royalty rights	Sale and acquisition of art works through private treaty or at auction, including gallery and commissioning agreements	Import, export, customs compliance and cross-border movement of art	All aspects of fraud, fakes, forgeries, theft and money laundering
Risk management and pre-acquisition due diligence	Creation, management and dissolution of art collections	Sponsorship, marketing and merchandising	Tracing and recovery of lost or misappropriated art and cultural heritage
Provenance, appraisal, attribution, authenticity, ownership and title in art works	Loan, bequest and exhibition of art works	Insurance coverage and insurance recovery claims	Tax and estate planning aspects of owning and disposing of art

The international market for art and antiques
continues to thrive, buoyed by unabated interest and
investment from private individuals, professionals, and
institutional collectors alike, whether driven by passion
or calculation, and now functions on a truly global level.
But while record sales prices for quality art grab
headlines in the international press, forgery and deceit,
and the plunder and theft of cultural heritage in crisis
torn regions of the world have reached unprecedented
levels, creating traps not only for the unwary amateur
but even for major international institutions who dispose
of unparalleled expertise in their areas of interest.