Areas of expertise

BUSINESS CRIMINAL LAW

The firm assists business leaders and elected officials, victims or defendants, in all areas of business criminal law.

Mr. Chauffray intervenes at all stages of criminal proceedings and advises his clients on evidentiary strategy and crisis management.

She also intervenes in press law to secure reputational risk (insult, defamation, attack on the presumption of innocence).

PURCHASE AND SALE OF WORKS OF ART

The firm assists and advises its clients on the legal aspects of the process of acquiring a work of art: provenance and authenticity, contract negotiation, analysis and securing guarantees.

In the event of a dispute, Mr. Chauffray intervenes to advise and defend in disputes relating in particular to the liability of those involved in the sale and to disputes concerning the cancellation of the sale.

LIABILITY LAW

The Firm advises and defends Auction Houses and Auctioneers as well as experts when their liability is incurred following the sale of a work of art.

Mr. Chauffray assists his clients in all sales disputes: actions for nullity, claims or challenges to their liability.

CRIMINAL LAW OF THE ART MARKET

The firm intervenes in all issues of damage to property affecting the art market, such as theft, receiving stolen goods, fraud or breach of trust, artistic forgeries, counterfeiting of works of art and trafficking in cultural property.

Mr. Chauffray assists his clients, whether defendants or civil parties, throughout the criminal proceedings: preliminary investigation, civil party action, investigation, criminal court, court of appeal.

ARTIST AND GALLERIES

The firm advises artists and galleries in their mutual relationships so that the rights of each can be protected in a balanced manner.

Mr. Chauffray also intervenes in disputes that may arise in relationships between artists and galleries, particularly concerning differences related to payment or the conditions of exhibition of works.

RESTITUTION OF LOOST PROPERTY

The firm assists rights holders, collectors and institutions in the identification, recognition and restitution of cultural property looted during the Second World War.

Particularly involved in this area, Me Chauffray assists and advises her clients concerning

provenance audits, archival research, preparation of restitution request files (CIVS/M2RS), exchanges with museums and auction houses, legal actions and management of possible criminal aspects.