Art Law

Our Art Law practice offers concentrated services in estate planning and legacy preservation, tailored to the unique needs of artists, collectors, and their families. We bring a deep understanding of both art and estate law, providing a personalized and strategic approach to address the complexities of managing art assets. Our goal is to ensure that clients' valuable art collections are effectively managed and preserved for future generations.

Key Services in Estate Planning and Legacy Preservation

  • Valuation and Appraisal of Art Assets: We assist clients in obtaining accurate valuations and appraisals of their art collections, including valuation discount planning.
  • Sales of Art Assets: We assist clients in selecting and negotiating with appropriate auction houses and galleries for the placement and sale of their collections.
  • Creation of Art Trusts and Estates: We help design estate plans, including trusts, foundations, and other entities, specifically for the management and protection of client's unique art assets. These arrangements provide for the proper care, maintenance, and distribution of art while addressing tax implications and ensuring the client's wishes are honored.
  • Charitable Donations and Gift Planning: If clients wish to donate art to charitable organizations or institutions, we guide them through the process, including creating charitable trusts or foundations and negotiating with museums and other institutions to ensure that the donation is accepted on favorable terms and in compliance with tax laws. We also provide strategies for maximizing the tax benefits associated with charitable gifts.
  • Tax Planning and Compliance: Our team provides comprehensive tax planning services, including strategies to minimize estate, gift, and income taxes related to art assets. We ensure compliance with relevant tax laws and regulations, helping reduce your estate's financial impact.
  • Succession Planning for Art Collections: We work with clients to develop comprehensive succession plans that address the transfer of art collections to heirs and beneficiaries. Our services include drafting wills and trust instruments, advising on inheritance issues, ensuring the transfer process aligns with clients' overall estate plans, and arranging donations to museums and other relevant institutions when desired.
  • Preservation of Artistic Legacy: We assist in crafting strategies to preserve the artistic legacy of creators, including provisions for maintaining and exhibiting their work, and the protection of intellectual property, including copyrights, patents and trademarks. This can involve establishing supporting and operating foundations and creating private museums dedicated to supporting and promoting an artist's work.
  • Formation & Management of Artists' Foundation: We assist in forming artists' foundations, including applications for charitable foundation status and compliance management with federal, state, and local authorities.
  • Dispute Resolution and Litigation: In the event of disputes over art assets within an estate, our attorneys provide skilled representation to resolve conflicts. This includes handling issues related to provenance, authenticity, and the proper execution of estate plans.
  • Documentation and Record-Keeping: We help ensure that all documentation related to art assets, including provenance records, appraisals, and ownership histories, is meticulously maintained and integrated into clients' estate plans.

Learn More About Art Law Services

Key Contacts

Related Services

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  • People

Firm Highlights

  • Blog Posts
    Corporate AI Governance & Privilege: Protecting Confidentiality in the Age of Generative AI
    Corporate AI Governance & Privilege: Protecting Confidentiality in the Age of Generative AI
  • Publications & News
    Offit Kurman Attorneys Named to Bergen Magazine’s 2026 Top Lawyers List
    Offit Kurman Attorneys Named to Bergen Magazine’s 2026 Top Lawyers List
  • Publications & News
    Thomas Powell Named to Arlington Magazine’s 2026 Top Lawyers List
    Thomas Powell Named to Arlington Magazine’s 2026 Top Lawyers List
  • Events
    AIA Tri-State Conference
    Princeton will serve as the backdrop for three days of connection, learning, and design leadership. From keynotes to tours to the Tri-State Design Awards, this year’s conference is designed to go far beyond education sessions. Kick off the week with pre-conference intensives and individual state component Design Award celebrations, followed by three days of education, inspiration, networking, and design excellence at the 2026 AIA Tri-State Conference—featuring pre-conference intensives, three keynote speakers, 25 education sessions, curated tours, an expo, spec academies, and the AIA Tri-State Design Awards—bringing together architects and design professionals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to connect, learn, and celebrate the best of the profession. G2. Designing Secure Practices: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Contractual Provisions, and Insurance Risks for Architects (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM) Architects and design professionals increasingly rely on cloud platforms, BIM software, and digital tools to manage sensitive data, creating cybersecurity and privacy risks. A single incident can trigger liability claims, regulatory obligations, reputational harm, and insurance challenges. Yet many firms underestimate how contracts, insurance, and internal practices intersect during a breach. This program offers legal and insurance perspectives on cyber risk in architecture, examining liability exposure, risky contract provisions, and mitigation strategies. A cyber insurance expert will explain policy responses, coverage gaps, coordination with professional liability, and best practices for aligning insurance with contractual risk and protecting firms from evolving cyber threats. Learning Objectives: Identify key cybersecurity and data privacy risks faced by architecture firms and explain how these risks can impact professional liability and project outcomes. Analyze common contractual provisions to determine which clauses may increase exposure to cyber incidents and propose strategies to mitigate these risks. Evaluate the scope and limitations of cyber insurance policies, including coordination with professional liability coverage, to determine how a policy would respond in a breach scenario. Develop actionable risk management strategies by integrating legal, contractual, and insurance considerations to protect sensitive client and project data.
  • Blog Posts
    Ahead of the curve. Ahead of the consequences.
    What if the biggest threat to your business isn't your competition, but the decisions you don't know you need to make? On Ahead of the Curve, Ahead of the Consequences, business valuation expert and exit strategist Liza Bowersox joins litigator and advisor Tom Repczynski for candid conversations about the decisions that shape the future of privately held companies. From business growth and tax planning to valuation, corporate governance, succession planning, and preserving your legacy, Liza and Tom explore the overlooked issues and missed opportunities that can have significant consequences for business owners. Through real stories, practical insights, and the questions every entrepreneur should be asking, this podcast helps business owners make informed decisions, protect what they've built, and prepare for what's next. No jargon. No scare tactics. Just practical guidance to help you stay ahead of the curve—and ahead of the consequences.
  • Publications & News
    Offit Kurman Attorneys Named to Bethesda Magazine’s 2026 Top Attorneys List
    Offit Kurman Attorneys Named to Bethesda Magazine’s 2026 Top Attorneys List
  • Events
    Navigating D.C.'s Changing Housing Landscape - Utility Billing, Pets in Housing and Year-End Legislative Updates
    Navigating D.C.'s Changing Housing Landscape - Utility Billing, Pets in Housing and Year-End Legislative Updates
  • Podcasts
    Art Appraisal and Market Value with David Shapiro
    How do you determine the value of a work of art—and what happens when that valuation impacts taxes, insurance, estate planning, or an artist’s legacy? On this episode of The Legal Canvas, host Caryn Keppler, trust and estates attorney at Offit Kurman, welcomes David Shapiro of David Shapiro Fine Art, a certified member of the Appraisers Association of America specializing in post-war and contemporary art, with accreditation in impressionist and modern art. David shares insights into the art appraisal process, explaining the differences between fair market value, retail replacement value, and marketable cash value. He discusses how appraisers evaluate unique works using comparable sales, provenance, condition, exhibition history, and other factors that influence value. The conversation also explores the role of art advisors in buying and selling artwork, strategies for expanding an artist’s presence in a global market, and the complexities of valuing large collections for estate and tax purposes. David explains how a work’s history and the story behind it can influence its market performance—and why thoughtful planning and organization are essential to preserving an artist’s legacy. In this episode, you’ll learn about: The differences between art appraisal methods and why the type of valuation matters. What collectors need to know about appraisals for insurance, charitable donations, and tax purposes. How provenance, condition, and comparable sales influence an artwork’s value. How art advisors help collectors navigate auctions, negotiate terms, and maximize sale opportunities. Why artists should cultivate relationships and exhibition opportunities across multiple markets. How blockage discounts can affect the valuation of large artist estates. Why documenting an artwork’s history can make a meaningful difference in its market performance. Whether you’re an artist, collector, estate planning professional, or art enthusiast, this episode offers valuable insight into the intersection of art, valuation, and legacy planning.  Listen to The Legal Canvas for more conversations exploring the intersection of estate planning, taxes, and the creative arts.
  • Events
    The 2026 Economic, Tax, and Accounting Updates
    We are looking forward to the Mid-Atlantic CFO Roundtable's next event on November 13, 2026. This is a program with topics built for Finance Executives. We are extremely fortunate to have three excellent speakers: Dr. Daraius Irani, Vice President of Business and Public Engagement at Towson University; Mike Stankus, Tax Office Managing Principal at BDO; and Daniel Wahlberg, Managing Partner of Acclare Solutions. The economy is rapidly changing with various factors driving it. The November 3rd midterm elections may also have an impact. Our three expert presenters will discuss the ramifications of the election, and the current year updates to GAAP financial reporting and Federal and State income taxes. Please join us for what will surely be an informative and timely discussion. Meet Our Speakers: Daraius Irani, Ph.D. • Towson University Vice President, Business & Public Engagement Dr. Daraius Irani serves as Vice President of Business and Public Engagement at Towson University as well as the chief economist for the Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI) at Towson University, a policy group providing economic, fiscal impact, and policy analysis to public and private entities.  Dr. Irani is often called upon to provide economic presentations to organizations across Maryland. He has appeared on numerous television programs and in local and regional print media. Dr. Irani holds a Ph.D. in economics from University of California, Santa Barbara. Dan Wahlberg • Acclare Solutions Managing Partner With over 28 years of experience, Dan Wahlberg is a recognized leader in audit and assurance for the Mid-Atlantic’s middle market business community. As a licensed CPA in Maryland and Virginia, Dan has led assurance practices at top regional firms, including serving as Baltimore Audit Managing Partner and Assurance Practice Leader at BDO USA in Baltimore and as Partner and member of the Management Committee at Hertzbach & Company P.A which merged into BDO in 2020. His expertise centers on delivering clarity, strategic guidance, and proactive solutions to middle-market businesses across Baltimore and beyond. His entrepreneurial spirit has led him to begin a new CPA firm this year with four other CPAs serving the business community. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rutgers University and began his career at PWC in New York. He is also deeply engaged in the community, previously serving as President of ACG Maryland and current Board member and as Audit Committee Member for The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore.  Mike Stankus • BDO USA LLP Tax Office Managing Principal Mike Stankus is the Tax Office Managing Principal for the firm’s Baltimore office. He has more than 16 years of experience providing tax planning and preparation and management advisory services for his clients. Mike focuses on advising privately held businesses and their owners on effective growth and tax strategies. He also performs various engagements for mergers and acquisitions and complex cost accounting projects and projections. In addition, he represents various government contracting clients before the DCAA and assists with FAR compliance. Mike’s areas of concentration include working with government contractors, professional service firms, construction companies, and homebuilders.
  • Blog Posts
    Fair Housing Enforcement Trends: Lessons from Merryman and Other Recent Cases
    Fair Housing Enforcement Trends: Lessons from Merryman and Other Recent Cases