Luxury Assets

We advise collectors, families, and investors on every aspect of art ownership. From acquisitions and sales to provenance, financing, succession, and dispute resolution, our team provides discreet, practical guidance to protect and preserve art collections across generations and international borders.

We assist collectors and enthusiasts with the acquisition, ownership, and transfer of classic and high-value cars. Our advice covers transactions, financing, structuring, succession, and disputes, ensuring collections are protected, compliant, and preserved for future generations.

We act for clients on all aspects of super yacht ownership, from acquisition and financing to registration, crewing, tax, and succession. Our discreet guidance helps clients navigate complex international regulations while protecting their investment and ensuring smooth enjoyment of their vessels.

We assist on all aspects of private jet ownership and aviation, from acquisition and financing to registration, operation, and sale. Our teams’ cross-border expertise helps clients navigate complex international regulations while protecting their investment and ensuring the efficient, compliant use of their aircraft.

We act for clients on all aspects of the bloodstock and equestrian industry, from breeding and sales to ownership, employment, and regulation. Our teams’ extensive experience helps clients protect their interests, resolve disputes, and navigate the complex commercial, contractual, and reputational issues of the international racing and breeding industry.

We advise on all aspects of fine wine ownership and investment, including collection, valuation, and business structures. Our team guides clients through complex issues such as divorce, succession, and ownership disputes.

We assist clients with the acquisition, provenance verification, taxation, financing, and succession planning of luxury assets including high-value jewellery and precious metals. Our expertise supports collectors, investors, and institutions in managing and safeguarding their wealth with confidence.

We advise clients on the legal and regulatory aspects of digital collectibles, including NFTs and tokenised assets on the blockchain. We provide expert guidance on intellectual property, smart contracts, compliance, and digital asset transactions, helping clients navigate this evolving space with confidence and legal clarity.

We advise clients on real estate as a luxury asset, offering expert guidance on acquisition, financing, structuring, and tax-efficient ownership. We work with high-net-worth individuals, investors, and family offices to secure, manage, and protect prestigious properties, ensuring seamless transactions and long-term value preservation across global markets.

• Advised the client on relation to the sale of a Chopin Manuscript and drafted and negotiated the terms of a Sale Contract with The Fryderyk Chopin Institute.
• Instructed by a family trust in relation to a provenance dispute with a leading international auction house.
• Represented the consignor of a collection of inherited art works in negotiations with various auction houses.
• Acted for the National Gallery when it acquired “Men of the Docks” by George Bellows.
• Routinely work on artwork acquisitions at the V&A including Queen Victoria’s coronet and the recent purchase of the Deposition from the Cross – a 13th Century Walrus Ivory sculpture.
• Advised a client on auction-house terms and conditions.
• Drafted terms and conditions for an antiques dealer.
• Advised a photographer in relation to a copyright dispute.
• Advised clients on the tracing of fine art and recovering the items for them.

• Successfully resisted threatened claims against a leading motorsports publication by the owner of a racing series.
• Advised an automotive restoration business on copyright and passing off concerns.
• Advised on disputes of the title to goods, legal ownership, and conversion for luxury cars.
• Advised on disputes of statutory implied terms as to description, satisfactory quality and fitness for purpose for the motor industry.
• Advised on disputes involving bailment and hire on luxury cars.
• Advised on breaches of express provisions in the contracts under which the goods are supplied for luxury cars.
• Acted for the owner of a classic car in a dispute with insurers concerning the total loss of the vehicle in a fire.
• Instructed on behalf of a leading international car collector in relation to a replica of his unique and valuable vehicle being sold with highly misleading provenance at auction.
• Resolved a dispute with restorers on behalf of a well-known personality.
• Acted for a collector in relation to the acquisition and restoration of a vintage Bentley.
• Advised on a £2 million ($2.7 million) loan through London-based Fiduciam on financing the new TVR cars.
• Instructed by the family of a deceased Saudi billionaire businessman in connection with a claim for cash deposits paid for Bentley, Maybach and Brabus cars, a $500,000 loan agreement and deposit or equivalent asset for £1.25b land purchase agreement.

• Advised on a construction dispute of US entrepreneur and owner of NFL team on his yacht.
• Advised on the purchase of a euro 2.2 million tender and arranging her import into the EU through France.
• Advised on a construction dispute of an Australian Entrepreneur and media mogul on his yacht.
• Advised an American client on the purchase of a 41m yacht and arranging her import and payment of VAT in Malta.
• Advised on a construction dispute of a yacht heralded as one of the world’s fastest Super Yacht.
• Acted for the Italian borrower in finance under the Maltese Leasing Scheme of a 33m sailing yacht.
• Acted for an Irish buyer of a new-build 28m Riva yacht.
• Represented the purchaser in the purchase of a 22m wooden sailing sloop.
• Acted for the buyer in the new build of a 35m Italian superyacht.
• Advised a Bahamas based buyer of the construction contract for a 40m new build yacht for £11.5m.
• Acted on a simultaneous sale and purchase of two 30m yachts in Venice Italy for an English buyer.
• Advised on the sale of a 67m Cayman Islands registered yacht operating under the Maltese VAT deferment scheme.
• Advised a Middle Eastern buyer on the build of a very high profile 55m sports fishing yacht “Special One” — a first of its kind. Having dealt with the initial build contract, we then dealt with completion matters enabling the yacht to be showcased at the 2024 Monaco Yacht Show where it received a huge amount of interest.

• Advised on a divorce where the couple had built up a family wine import business (to include vineyards) and wanted to divorce (highly acrimoniously) but to remain working in the business together.
• Advising a husband on the forced valuation of a family fine wine collection, following the separation from his wife.

• Acted for a prestigious jewellery retailer in recovering items not paid for by a UHNW individual.
• Worked closely with leading Jordanian and UK accountants to protect UHNW clients’ assets through pre and post nuptial agreements with particular attention to the protection of car, jewellery and art collections.
• Advised Jessica McCormack Limited (jewellers) in relation to their premises at Carlos Place Mayfair, Sloane Street, and Salusbury Road.
• Advised in litigation where debtors have settled amounts outstanding using emeralds and diamonds.
• Acted for South Africa-based sellers of copper concentrate in Commercial Court proceedings following a contractual dispute relating to specification for purity.
• Advised a syndicate of lenders in relation to a USD240 million sustainability-linked facility with a global commodities trader to support their metals trade across Africa.
• Advised a South African bank in relation to a ZAR1.3 billion metal inventory and receivables finance facility agreement with a South African corporate to fund its purchase processing and production of aluminium.
• Advised a South African bank in relation to a ZAR1.3 billion metal inventory and receivables finance facility agreement with a South African corporate to fund its purchase processing and production of aluminium.
• Advised Jessica McCormack, luxury diamond jeweller, with commercial, IP and data advice that included celebrity endorsement deals.
• Advised a luxury eyewear retailer with commercial and IP advice.

• Advised Sorare in relation to the production of NFT football tokens and their use as collectibles, including regulatory issues arising.
• Acted for an international collector in connection to the acquisition of an extensive collection of arms and armour.
• Acted for the management team of Breitling when Partners Group took a majority position alongside CVC. Valued the business at a reported $4.5bn.
• Advising a sports-focused blockchain company that enables sports and entertainment companies to engage with their target audience by tokenising their rights and issuing non-fungible tokens.
• Provided legal counsel to a blockchain start-up that is combining sport and non-fungible tokens to create an asset-backed platform for the creation and sale of NFTs based on sporting events.
• Advised a new crypto business on the sale of its token and whether they are exposing themselves to a litigation risk, through whether the company needs to be FCA regulated and what this means, whether the business model and tokens fall within the regulatory regime, whether the tokens offered constitute unregulated tokens or e-money tokens, and whether the offering and issuing of coins/tokens falls within the recent White Paper review.
• Advised a blockchain-based football trading platform as to whether crypto tokens issued by the platform constituted financial securities.
• Advised a founder at seed phase on the development of a tokenised services platform and on the use of blockchain and fungible tokens within the platform, in addition to considering gambling laws in relation to gamified aspects of the venture.