New art law firm to open in New York and Los Angeles
Image from Spencer Kerr website
A boutique law firm devoted to art law has been launched by veteran attorneys Michael Spencer and Brian Kerr. Spencer Kerr has offices in in New York and Los Angeles and will represent international clients with business and investments in art.
“The expansion of the international art market means new opportunities for artists, investors, and collectors, but also complex and novel legal challenges”
Drawing on more than 50 years of combined experience, Spencer Kerr offers a wide range of services including contracts, authentication, appraisal, private art placement, investment counselling, and protection in the business of buying, selling, and investing in art.
“The expansion of the international art market means new opportunities for artists, investors, and collectors, but also complex and novel legal challenges,” said Spencer. “Devoting our practice to art law enables our firm to offer extensive expertise and strong representation in this environment. We want our clients to be able to focus on art, and let us handle their business and legal matters.”
Spencer Kerr represents clients in art litigation and other dispute resolution, and provides general representation to artists and their work. The firm leverages its expertise in finance and corporate law to bring sophisticated legal and business advice to its clients, including drafting and negotiating sales contracts, commission agreements, consignment agreements, auction house contracts, auction guarantees, and dealer and gallery contracts.
“This last year has seen record sales that have driven major changes in the art market,” Kerr said. “We believe a unique, exciting, and transformational law firm focused specifically on art law is vital to keep pace with the industry.”
Spencer’s experience includes advising artists, counseling dealers and collectors, and prosecuting a substantial defamation action against a major auction house involving appraisal of a contemporary photographer’s estate. Spencer is admitted to practice in both New York and California and will spend time in both firm offices.
Kerr is based in New York and represents art collectors, investors, and dealers worldwide on issues including authenticity disputes, breach of contract and fraud cases, and corporate and transactional matters. His experience includes a multi-million dollar antitrust lawsuit against The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and The Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board (now disbanded) based on their alleged manipulation of the market for Warhol art.