Legal Cases

A recent addition to Elgar Practical Guides – a series of handy, concise and practical guides to a range of legal practice areas – has been penned by Martin Wilson, the chief general counsel at Phillips Auctioneers.

Auction house Sotheby’s has won its case against Fairlight Art Ventures, the former business partner of Old Master picture dealer Mark Weiss, over a Frans Hals (1582-1666) painting that the auction house now deems is a fake.

Dealers and collectors granted an appeal against a High Court ruling on the Ivory Act 2018 are redoubling their efforts to raise the necessary funds for legal fees.

A draft bill recommending further reform to the French auction system has passed through the Senate in Paris.

“No reputable dealer wants to see elephants dead” was among the opening remarks by the QC acting for a group of dealers and collectors challenging the Ivory Act 2018, at the High Court today.

The Court of Appeals in London has upheld a decision that said advisor Simon de Pury was entitled to a $10m fee on the strength of a handshake agreement.

A prolific pensioner art thief has been sentenced to two years in jail. Police are now calling for help to locate a painting that he stole from a private members’ club in London.

Old Master picture dealer Mark Weiss has agreed an out-of-court settlement with Sotheby’s in the case of a $10m painting the auction house believed to be a forgery.

New joiners in the world of art and antiques this week.

London gallery Richard Green has said it will defend a claim made in the High Court by a client who purchased two Old Masters for €5m at TEFAF Maastricht last year.

A legal claim lodged against Christie’s in New York has highlighted some of the practices relating to private sales that top-end auctioneers make behind closed doors.

Supreme Court in Paris rules that auction house can now charge buyers rather than sellers for artist levy.