Business

Cultural assets & art

Dispute resolution

Disputes in the international art arena range from ownership conflicts to authenticity disputes; from fraud cases to tax rulings issued by Customs.

We offer art market professionals a comprehensive dispute resolution service encompassing negotiation, arbitration, mediation and litigation. Our aim is to find consensual means of resolving conflicts wherever possible. Negotiated settlements and mediated solutions are often confidential, quicker, cheaper and less disruptive to our clients' business. If however, litigation is the best course, we take decisive action to defend our clients' interests.

We have extensive experience of acting in ownership and restitution claims, authenticity disputes, and compensation claims when art has been lost, destroyed or damaged, as well as in cases of art fraud and theft.

Recent work

  • Representing a well-known British firm of art advisors in the recovery, through the US court, of several paintings consigned to a US-based art dealership.
  • Acting for a London contemporary art gallery in an appeal against a VAT (Value Added Tax) decision by HMRC.
  • Acting for a London dealership in connection with a Holocaust related claim.
     

 

© Withers 2007 - 2008