ABC’s of Art Law: F is for Fakes & Forgeries
July 23, 2024
About the Event
On July 23, 2024, the Center for Art Law held a CLE event to explore the fascinating world of fakes and forgeries! Our guests spoke about their experiences as art dealers, scientists and attorneys faced with fakes circulating in the art market. James Butterwick, a UK-based Ukrainian and European art dealer, began the session with a discussion of the Zaks’ Affair and shared his experiences in identifying fakes; Jennifer Mass, President of Scientific Analysis of Fine Art, discussed the studies she conducts for auction houses, collectors, and other clients to determine the authenticity of artworks and identifying forgeries; Chris McKeogh, Special Agent with the FBI’s Art Crime Division, shared his experiences investigating allegations of art forgeries and dismantling their sources and supply chains; Andrew Adams, partner at Steptoe, delved into legal cases involving fakes and forgeries, discussing the evidence required, the challenges of proving forgeries in court, and the prosecution of forgers, including recourse available for victims. The program was moderated by Irina Tarsis, Founder of the Center for Art Law.
This event was sponsored by Steptoe.
About Fieldfisher
In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions.
The firm is particularly noted for its capabilities in:
- White-collar defense and other government investigations and enforcement including anti-corruption and economic sanctions, fraud, money laundering, criminal antitrust, and tax investigations, examinations, and enforcement actions;
- High-stakes litigation particularly involving complex commercial claims and cross-border disputes;
- Patent and technology litigation especially life sciences, trade secrets, and Section 337 claims and controversies arising from disruptive technologies;
- Preventive international corporate compliance particularly FCPA/anti-corruption, economic sanctions/export controls, national and cybersecurity, including program development and implementation, transaction counseling, and internal investigations; and
- Challenging regulatory issues before the US government particularly agencies addressing energy, the environment, tax, trade, transportation, telecommunications, technology, and the Internet, as well as regulatory matters in Brussels, London, and Beijing
Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington.
