Lavinia is a Managing Associate within Mishcon Private with a practice in complex disputes, particularly in those involving art, luxury property and high-value assets.
Lavinia is experienced in navigating multifaceted commercial and private client disputes. Lavinia's work deals in sensitive and complex legal issues across various sectors and jurisdictions, catering to both high-net-worth (HNW) individuals and corporate entities, involving litigation, arbitration, mediation and commercial resolution. Her expertise extends to advising on contractual disputes, shareholding and ownership claims, allegations of fraud or misrepresentation, and investigations work.
Lavinia's art law and luxury assets practice includes advising collectors, artists, dealers, galleries and cultural institutions across a range of contentious and transactional matters. Her strategic approach is informed by her comprehensive understanding of the art world and its legal challenges, bolstered by significant secondments at leading national museums and galleries, including acting as General Counsel to the Tate Gallery, where she oversaw contractual work, ongoing litigation, and advised on a spectrum of legal issues, including real estate, employment, criminal matters, and intellectual property rights.
Key Experience
Lavinia's contentious work has included advising:
- Shareholders on the enforcement of rights and potential actions in relation to complex commercial disputes.
- An ownership dispute over a multi-million-dollar painting, involving multiple jurisdictions.
- The purchasers in relation to breach of warranty claims following the acquisition of a company.
- A collection of companies in respect of a UK public inquiry.
- On the ownership and protection of artworks in a cross-border shareholder dispute.
- A gallery following allegations of breach of agency and fraud.
- The owner of antiquities in relation to international restitution claims.
- An owner following damage to artworks following destruction of property.
- Individuals following online investment scams involving high value acquisitions of artworks.
- A production company in breach of contract allegations concerning an exhibition.
- A corporate entity on a contractual dispute and alleged breaches involving a private jet agreement.
- A seller in relation to claims of misrepresentation following the sale of a vintage care purchased at auction.
- An individual concerning the recovery of stolen jewellery, including liaising on the criminal investigation as well as advising on civil claims.
- A curator in a dispute with an auction house over professional disagreements.
- The owner of antiquities for sale at auction following allegations of forged provenance.
- A family in relation to civil liabilities following an accident involving a luxury asset.
Lavinia's transactional / non-contentious art law work involves:
- Drafting and negotiating key art contracts, including loan agreements, donation agreements, sale and purchase agreements and exhibition agreements.
- Advising on governance and policies for galleries and institutions.
- Advising on insurance policies and processes following loss / damage to artworks.
- Advisory work relating to compliance, KYC and anti-money laundering regulations.
- Licensing agreements, including artwork merchandising and the use of artworks for fashion lines.