Profile

Anne-Laure Alléhaut is Counsel in the firm’s Art and Museum Law practice. Anne-Laure started her career at Skadden Arps in M&A before she joined Sotheby’s legal transactional team as a Senior Vice President. Anne-Laure negotiated many of the auction house’s most complex and high value transactions while also overseeing Sotheby’s advisory, appraisal and valuation departments.

Anne-Laure brings 16 years of law firm and in-house experience to the art industry and draws on her broad and deep experience to advise her clients with speed and efficiency. Anne-Laure’s client base includes private collectors, galleries, estates, start-ups, art dealers, museums, advisors and financial institutions. Anne-Laure was recognized in 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Chambers High Net Worth for her work in Art and Cultural Property Law. In the guide, she is described by clients as, "an absolute star. She is an extremely knowledgeable lawyer, particularly on auction houses. She is meticulous in her approach to negotiations and is always on top of the detail." Another client praised her work: “Anne-Laure is a superb lawyer. She is very skilled, very knowledgeable and very strategic. I love working with her.” They remark that "her professionalism,  responsiveness, and incredible attitude make her a joy to work with. She is able to deliver quality transactional support through her commercially minded style, and her drafting abilities evidence an incredible knowledge base and ability to issue-spot in even the most complex and complicated matters.”

Deal Experience

Auction

  • Advise an estate in connection with the sale of artworks at Christie’s, Sotheby’s and galleries. Negotiate and draft guarantee and consignment agreements, consignment agreements and private sales and advised on payment terms, conversions, withdrawals and termination;
  • Advise sophisticated collector in connection with structuring third-party guarantees and negotiate irrevocable bids; and
  • Negotiate and draft the private sale of a masterwork and provide guidance on all issues from its consignment through its final sale.

Collectors

  • Negotiate and draft custody agreements, consignment agreements with galleries and auction houses and sale and purchase of artworks and advise collector on all aspects of the contract, including protecting artwork against creditors, authenticity issues, payment terms, cancellation of auction;
  • Draft and negotiate loan agreements for exhibition of artwork in museum and institutions; and
  • Advise collectors in connection with disputes, including payment default, sale cancellation, bankruptcy and insurance claims.

Gallery

  • Collaborate with gallery in connection with complex structuring of transaction, including in-kind exchange, consignment and sale of artworks;
  • Counsel Gallery in connection with their representation of artists and estates, including, advise on authenticity issues, protect artwork from creditors through UCC filing; and
  • Draft and negotiate commission agreements, consignment agreements and purchase and sale agreements.

Start-Ups and Corporations

  • Advise company in connection with structuring, employment related matters, sales tax and all on-going legal matters and draft corporate formation documents, engagement letters, bill of sale, templates and bespoke arrangements in connection with the sale and purchase of artwork; and
  • Work in tandem with NFT start-up to advise them on all art related aspects, including, intellectual property, moral rights, sale and purchase of artwork, management of art collection and insurance. 

Advisory

  • Represent art advisor in connection with the drafting and negotiating of art advisory agreement, term sheet, commission agreement, consignment of artwork and advise on new business segments;
  • Review and collaborate with art advisor in connection with large and complex appraisals; and
  • Work collaboratively with art advisors to draft and negotiate gallery consignment agreement, auction consignment agreements and insurance dispute for the benefit of the art advisor’s clients.

Museums and Exempt Organizations

  • Negotiate and draft purchase agreements of high value artworks, loan to exhibition and advise museum on legal and reputational risks associated with artwork acquisition;
  • Advise Museum in connection with loan and exhibition of artwork by living artist; and
  • Work on charity auctions and de-accessioning of artwork for sale at auction.

Real Estate

  • Work with real estate conglomerate to negotiate the commission of artwork and the purchase of art collection for use in commercial space; and
  • Advise client in connection with consultant art agreement and insurance.

Bar Admissions

  • New York

Education

  • Cornell University (J.D., 2006)
  • Cornell Law School (LL.M., with honors, 2004)
  • Université Paris X, Nanterre (2003)
    • Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies in International Commercial Law and International Litigation
  • Université Paris II, Panthéon-Assas (2002)
    • Maîtrise en Droit Français in International Law and Commercial Law

Areas of Practice

  • Art and Museum Law
  • Corporate
  • Family Offices

Professional Career


Professional Activities and Experience

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: 

  • Presenter, "ABCs of Art Law: C is for Consignment," Center for Art Law (December 4, 2023)
  • Presenter, “Life Imitates Art: Legal Issues Inspired by True Events,” Sotheby's New York (October 2022)
  • Presenter, “Hot Topics in Art Law 2022,” New York City Bar Association (September 13, 2022)
  • Presenter, “The Consignment Process: What it is and What to Look Out For,” Volunteer Lawyer for the Arts (May 23, 2022)
  • Presenter, “Art Law Webinars” an 8 Part Series, Art Dealers Association of America (2021)
  • Presenter, “The Consignment Process: What it is and What to Look Out For,” Volunteer Lawyer for the Arts (July 27, 2021)
  • Panel Moderator, "New Market Considerations in Buying and Selling Art Today," FBA Art Law and Litigation Conference 2021 (April 30, 2021)
  • Presenter, “Hot Topics in Art Law 2019,” New York City Bar Association (October 24, 2019)
  • Presenter, “Auction Contractual Landscape,” Sotheby’s Institute of Art (from 2016 to 2020)

PUBLICATIONS:



Blogs

Antitrust Update

Antitrust Update Blog is a source of insights, information and analysis on criminal and civil antitrust and competition-related issues. Patterson Belknap’s antitrust lawyers represent clients in antitrust litigation and counseling matters, including those related to pricing, marketing, distribution, franchising, and joint ventures and other strategic alliances. We have significant experience with government civil and criminal/cartel investigations, providing the unique perspectives of former...

Data Security Law Blog

DataSecurityLaw.com is the firm’s resource for the latest news, analysis, and thought leadership in the critical area of privacy and cybersecurity law. Patterson Belknap’s Privacy and Data Security practice provides public and private enterprises, their leadership teams and boards with comprehensive services in this critical area. Our team of experienced litigators, corporate advisors and former federal and state prosecutors advises on a broad range of privacy and data protection matters...

Misbranded

Misbranded is Patterson Belknap’s blog covering false advertising litigation—both consumer class actions and competitor suits—with a particular focus on FDA-regulated products (foods/beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and dietary supplements).

New York Commercial Division Decisions

The blog is a source for insights and developments related to practice in the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court. This blog reviews key developments in the Commercial Division, including important decisions handed down by the Commercial Division and appellate court decisions reviewing Commercial Division decisions. The blog also covers changes and proposed changes to Commercial Division rules and practice, including revisions to the rules since January 2015. The...

Second Circuit Criminal Law Blog

The Second Circuit Criminal Law Blog is your place to follow the criminal law decisions rendered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. With a rich 225-year history of legendary judges like Learned Hand and Henry Friendly, the Second Circuit has long been known for writing important and thoughtful opinions on many subjects, including the criminal law. We review every published criminal law opinion handed down by the Second Circuit in order to provide you with a summary of the...

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