ArtSecure is a boutique law firm offering specialized advice on intellectual property, art and cultural property matters. Our mission is to build long-term relationships by offering solutions that allow our clients to maximize or regain the value of their assets.
We advise artists, collectors, galleries, dealers, auction houses, museums, foundations and other market participants on the legal issues that arise around ownership, transactions, intellectual property, compliance, disputes, and the use of new technologies in the art and cultural sector. Our services cover all aspects of art law:
commercial
Commercial matters in the art world often require careful structuring, negotiation and documentation. From transactions and consignments to due diligence and intellectual property matters, we help clients manage legal risk, protect rights and value and proceed with confidence.
Founding of art institutions
Acquisition, exploitation & protection of Intellectual Property rights, including rights relating to digital and AI-assisted works
Gifting and inheritance of art
Art transactions (agency, sale & purchase, consignment, loan, confidentiality agreements & supporting documents)
Due diligence (re: client, artwork, transaction)
Auction consignments
Online gallery & auctions terms of use
including Digital Services Act, consumer law and data protection compliance
Art investment business entities
Handling funds through escrow
Artwork commissions
Artwork donations & donor restrictions on use or display of donated works
Digital Artworks minted as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
Advisory on the commercial use of AI-generated or AI-assisted creative outputs
Smart contracts and blockchain-based art transactions
regulatory
Regulatory issues affecting the art world often involve compliance, cross-border movement and sector-specific legal obligations. Our aim is to help clients manage risk, meet legal requirements and operate with confidence. Where necessary, we assist them in addressing regulatory scrutiny or compliance issues in a practical, informed and commercially aware manner.
Data Protection
Transparency and disclosure issues relating to AI-generated or AI-assisted content
Endangered species
Design and implementation of anti-money laundering compliance programmes (risk assessments, CDD, reporting procedures, internal policies)
Import/ export, customs compliance and
cross-border movement of artNational heritage laws
Trade law compliance for art and antiquities
Digital Services Act compliance for online galleries, auction platforms and marketplaces (notice-and-action procedures, complaints handling, trader traceability and platform transparency)
dispute resolution
When problems arise, we advise on strategy, evidence, negotiation and dispute management. Where possible, we work to resolve matters efficiently and commercially; where necessary, we help clients prepare for formal proceedings with a clear view of risk and an assessment of a possible outcome.
Fraud and authenticity disputes
Advice on the recovery of stolen art & cultural property
Defective title claims
Restitution claims
Intellectual property disputes
Trademark and branding disputes
Platform takedown, online infringement and digital enforcement matters
Copyright and authorship disputes involving AI-generated or AI-assisted works
Disputes arising from content moderation, takedown decisions and account restrictions on online art platforms
Legal Risk Assessment
Legal Risk Assessment for Museums & Art Collections -
Our Legal Risk Assessment is designed for museums, art collections and other custodians of cultural assets seeking a clearer understanding of their legal exposure. It provides a structured review of the legal risks that may arise in connection with ownership, management, loans, display, acquisitions, disposals and related operations.
By adopting a risk-based approach, we help clients identify and prioritise areas of concern, assess their potential impact and implement measures proportionate to the risks identified. The aim is to support sound governance, mitigate legal exposure and enhance the long-term value of the collection.
about us
ArtSecure is a specialized art law group established in 2011 by Phoebe Kouvelas, responding to client demand for a set of integrated legal and advisory services in the area of art. With extensive experience on art, cultural property and intellectual property matters, we have advised on a wide range of both domestic and cross-border transactions.
KG Law - our collaborating law firm
ArtSecure and KG Law Firm, the largest full-service legal practice in Greece, have launched a new, pioneering collaboration. Both firms have long appreciated the multi-disciplinary character and rapidly evolving trends in this particular area of law. Our combined expert knowledge from all related to art legal fields allows us to offer our clients a unique blend of expertise and market knowledge.
our network
Successful outcomes frequently depend on the careful selection and coordination of specialist expertise across multiple fields. Through our international art market network, we connect clients with trusted professionals in areas such as appraisals, authenticity, provenance research, conservation, collection management and forensic analysis. Our aim is to ensure that legal strategy is supported by the right expertise at the right time, enabling us to support clients in a way that is informed, practical and responsive to the demands of a fast-evolving art world.
