Karen Sanig

Spear's Review

Head of the Mishcon de Reya's art law department – the UK's first – which she founded in 1995, Karen Sanig believes ‘the art market is like no other.' She adds: 'It’s a law unto itself. Those collecting art at the upper echelons very often throw caution to the wind when they are pursuing their passion. Such behaviour can lead to decisions they’d never make in an ordinary business environment concerning the same sums of money.’

Sanig is the global representative for clients including artists, collectors, art foundations, charities, dealers, auction houses, galleries, museums and governments. She advises on a wide range of matters such as sale and purchase of art, artists’ rights, their legacy, creation and management of artists’ estates, and disputes over attribution.

Adviser Profile

Karen founded Art Law at Mishcon de Reya in 1995. Clients she represents, across the globe, include artists and their estates, collectors, dealers, art foundations and charities, auction houses, galleries, museums and governments. Karen advises on a wide range of art related matters such as sale and purchase of art, artists' rights, their legacy, creation and management of artists estates, disputes over attribution, authenticity and ownership, cultural heritage matters, restitution of looted cultural property and anti-money laundering regulations.

She often features on 'Front Row', BBC Radio 4's flagship culture programme. Karen is quoted widely on art related legal issues and contributes to leading art publications.