Sarah Barker is a Partner and Head of the Art Group at international law firm Withers LLP.

Can UK museums still charge for images of artworks?

The Court of Appeal’s recent ruling in a copyright case has caused a good deal of excitement, but its relevance to reproductions of artworks remains to be seen

19 Jan 2024
Pound sterling notes

What the UK’s updated anti-money laundering rules mean for the art market

The new guidance provides some welcome clarity for art businesses, but a few grey areas remain

24 Aug 2022
Photo: Stephen Mithan/Alamy Stock Photo

New anti-money laundering rules took effect in the UK last year – but are they being adhered to?

Many art businesses still have work to do in complying with new anti-money laundering regulations – and in properly understanding the risks

16 Aug 2021
No more red tape? Boris Johnson signs the Brexit deal in December 2020.

What does the Brexit trade deal really mean for art businesses?

The new trading arrangements between Britain and the EU will affect how art is bought and sold – and art businesses need to wise up on them

3 Feb 2021

Art businesses must get creative if they’re going to survive this crisis

Dealers and auction houses will need to think strategically as they try to weather the pandemic and its fallout

15 Jan 2021
Michael Gove: Leon Neal/Getty Images; Background: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images for Barbican Art Gallery

How can UK art businesses prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period?

Recent guidance published by DCMS highlights implications for the movement of goods – and art dealers would do well to take note

3 Dec 2020

Art businesses are emerging from lockdown – but how best to go about it?

When commercial galleries in the UK reopen, they will need to be mindful of social-distancing rules and wary of legal obligations for online sales

28 May 2020

What now for art businesses? Thoughts from an art lawyer in a time of crisis

What steps can art businesses take to temper the risks they face during the Covid-19 pandemic?

2 Apr 2020
Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

A legal guide to the new anti-money laundering rules in the UK

The 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive has passed into UK law. What impact will it have on the British art market?

9 Jan 2020