City firm Wedlake Bell has announced the addition of Art and Luxury lawyer Petra Warrington to the Partnership from 1st April.
Petra, a senior lawyer in the Art & Luxury group, has significant contentious, advisory and transactional experience in the art, cultural property and luxury markets, acting on behalf of a wide range of private clients, art businesses and institutions.
Petra’s non-contentious practice involves advising clients on buying, selling and lending art and luxury assets, drafting commercial agreements and terms and conditions of business. She has particular expertise in advising auction houses as well as a range of businesses in the art, antiques and collectables markets.
Her dispute resolution work often involves complex issues of title, history, provenance, attribution, authenticity and value of works of art and cultural property in an international context. She has acted in a number of high-profile cross-border matters, including advising clients in relation to significant Nazi-era restitution claims.
Petra joined Wedlake Bell as a Senior Associate in the Art & Luxury team in November 2022 on the move of the team, jointly headed by Tim Maxwell and Rudy Capildeo, from Charles Russell Speechlys. She was previously a Senior Associate in the Art & Cultural Property team at Hunters. Petra’s experience, prior to law, of working in galleries, auction houses and museums, and obtaining a BA and MA in History of Art, gives her a valuable understanding and appreciation of her clients’ interests and businesses.
On Petra’s promotion into the Wedlake Bell partnership, Managing Partner Martin Arnold said: “We are delighted to welcome Petra into the partnership at Wedlake Bell. Each year we aim to add lawyers who can further help us work towards our strategic goals and Petra is a great example of this. Her breadth of knowledge and international art market experience continues to complement our now three-partner-strong market leading Art & Luxury practice.“
Tim Maxwell, Co-Head of Art & Luxury, said “It is an exciting time in the art law field and Petra’s promotion recognises her leading role in the market.”