Oliver Charles Associates incorporates Chiaroscuro Legal Limited, founded by Oliver & Lucy Charles in 2021. It services the growing need for legal services within the Art Market. Art law is not a separate division of the law but the art market, museums and galleries have some specific needs which require the focus and expertise of art professionals and lawyers. Together, Lucy & Oliver have over sixty years of experience and can call on an enviable list of trusted Associates and Experts should they need extra or specific skills.
Please contact Chiaroscuro Legal via: office@olivercharlesassoc.com
WHAT WE DO:
Chiaroscuro Legal benefits from “in-house” full service law firm support with all areas of advice which have an impact on Art Collectors and Collectors of other high value assets including contract, tax and estate planning and valuation for tax and probate services
Chiaroscuro Legal as part of a regulated law firm Oliver Charles Associates, is bound by Solicitors Code of Conduct confidentiality rules. This also allows the firm to act as agent (for undisclosed client) for discreet transactions. For example in bidding or negotiations which are needed prior to purchase.
Chiaroscuro Legal is fully regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with full indemnity cover. Chiaroscuro Legal benefits from the highest AML (anti-money laundering) and Due Diligence standards that solicitors practices operate under.
Chiaroscuro Legal also has the availability of Solicitors Client Account facilities for banking and the holding/receipt of funds.The availability of full domestic and international payments with no limits and proportional AML checks.
As a boutique legal practice we are able to offer clients a unique service with a high level of art market and historical knowledge alongside legal expertise.
CLIENT SERVICES FOR ART COLLECTORS
Generally, our clients fall into two categories;
Collectors of art
Dealers of art.
For collectors we offer legal based and art market advice on long term collection strategy, cataloguing, condition reports and insurance to ensure investments are secure and protected. We can advise on the establishment of a foundation and link into philanthropy desires for your collection. We uniquely understand that collectors operate from a position of cultural heritage protection and custodianship.
We can offer an appraisal of your existing collection in entirety and specialist advice on deaccession and reinvestment in other works. We are specialists in discovering new works and emerging markets. By this we mean artists whose work which has been overlooked and looks set to rise having been unfairly neglected by the market.
Above all, we work with discretion to prevent speculation about your private finances. We work mainly on a retained basis for our art market services.
CLIENT SERVICES FOR ART DEALER BUSINESSES AND GALLERIES :
Chiaroscuro Legal act as stake holder and handle the financial transaction for both parties therefore taking the stress out of the AML responsibilities allowing you time to concentrate on connoisseurship. We offer money laundering due diligence from both parties together with transactional efficacy.
We offer you art market focused legal services. AML, regulatory compliance, tax advice and probate planning alongside valuation services.
With regard to provenance issues, we work with our Blockchain partners to provide your gallery with a full provenance due diligence service which is safe and secure. The blockchain technology is bound by the solicitors regulation authority and client confidentiality in perpetuity. We believe we are the first legal practice to offer this service to this niche market.