Art
Law

Art is not merely a cultural expression — it is an evolving asset class with complex legal dimensions. At Smith & Partners LP, we offer strategic legal services to clients across the art ecosystem, including artists, collectors, museums, galleries, auction houses, and cultural institutions. Our Art Law practice addresses the full lifecycle of artwork ownership, from creation and acquisition to commercialisation and legacy planning.

We advise on the negotiation and drafting of art sale agreements, artist commissions, licensing arrangements, and consignment contracts. We are also well-versed in intellectual property rights, authenticity and provenance issues, cross-border art transactions, import/export restrictions, and dispute resolution in the art world.

Our lawyers have assisted a prominent Nigerian collector in a high-value international sale of a rare modernist painting, involving cross-jurisdictional negotiations, export clearance with regulatory authorities, and the drafting of airtight transfer agreements.

We recently advised a museum in Lagos on its copyright licensing framework for reproducing contemporary artworks in exhibition catalogs and merchandise — ensuring agreements protected the intellectual property rights of artists while aligning with the museum's brand and outreach goals.

We also assisted the family of a late Nigerian visual artist in managing his unsold artworks and intellectual property: structuring a family trust to manage his estate, licensing of his works, and laying the groundwork for a future foundation in his name.

At Smith & Partners LP, we understand that art is both personal and transactional. We offer sophisticated, discreet, and well-informed legal counsel that empowers clients to navigate the art market with confidence — preserving artistic integrity while minimising legal and commercial risks.