Art and Heritage Law: Contested Heritage

How do lawyers relax? Richard Harwood KC and Clarissa Levi chat to Stephen Tromans KC, one of the country’s leading environmental lawyers, about his painting and his works exhibited at 39 Essex Chambers. The catalogues for two of the collections discussed in the interview can be viewed here: Elemental and Golgotha Elemental:  https://www.39essex.com/events/private-viewing-elemental-exhibition...

Dr Anna Keay, Director of The Landmark Trust, joins Richard and Clarissa to discuss the origins of Landmark, how its buildings are saved, what they mean to us to us, and to describe two exciting current projects to rescue and restore historic buildings. Donate and help save RAF Ibsley Watch Office Appeal: HERE .

In her book 'Caring for Cultural Heritage', Dr Charlotte Woodhead explores the legal and ethical initiatives in the UK for caring for cultural heritage. Richard and Clarissa discuss ethics of care and the appropriate care for our heritage with Charlotte.

The historic buildings charity SAVE Britain’s Heritage is 50 years old in 2025. Richard Harwood KC and Clarissa Levi talk to Henrietta Billings, the Director of SAVE, talks about its work and how to save and revitalise heritage buildings. From fishing docks to country houses, and the birthplace of one of The Beatles, Henrietta discusses SAVE’s rescues and climate change, retrofitting and Marks &am...

How does Artificial Intelligence affect art and cultural institutions? Richard and Clarissa talk to Emily Gould, Assistant Director of the Institute of Art and Law, to discuss the use of creative works for training generative AI; who owns rights to AI produced works; and the use of AI in art attribution. They try their hands at AI-produced art themselves, with slightly worrying results.

What are gasholders and how do we mark engineering heritage when technology moves on? Professor Russell Thomas , Technical Director of WSP, and Timur Tatlioglu , Partner and Head of Montagu Evans’ Historic Environment and Townscape Team, discuss the past, present and future of these iconic structures. Russell and Timur are the editors of a new book, Gasholders: A History in Pictures , with the ass...

The Acceptance in Lieu scheme allows Inheritance Tax to be paid with art. Richard and Clarissa talk to Professor Frances Fowle of the University of Edinburgh and Scottish National Galleries. They discuss an important collection of paintings, heritage strategy and an unusual application of the AiL Scheme.

How does Ireland deal with treasure? What does a Stratocaster guitar tell us about tax? What does the Irish experience teach us about the legacies of Empire? Richard and Clarissa chat to Martin Bradley is a barrister in Ireland and qualified archivist with over 25 years’ experience working in the art and cultural heritage sector. He is the author of a new book Art & Cultural Heritage Law: A Pr...

What was it to be a pilgrim? How has pilgrimage continued over the centuries and how authentic are our modern pilgrim ways? Richard Harwood KC of 39 Essex Chambers and Clarissa Levi of BHL Art Group chat to Dr Emma Wells. Emma is a heritage consultant in the private sector. Her book 'Pilgrim Routes of the British Isles' has just been published in paperback.

What is it like to work in the art world? Richard and Clarissa talk to Alice Minter of the Victoria & Albert Museum about moving from working in an auction house to becoming a museum curator. Alice shares her passion for her work, describes its joys and challenges, and offers advice for those considering a career in the art world.

What became of the art once owned by Jewish collectors in Nazi Europe? Restitution expert Richard Aronowitz explains his work in provenance research in the commercial art world, finding “just and fair solutions” for looted art.

What do we mean by antiquities, and what is Treasure? Richard and Clarissa are joined by expert Judith Nugée who explains why antiquities so capture the imagination, the importance of provenance, the fascinating world of detectorism and what we can learn from the ancient objects we find.

Most of Britain’s heritage is cared for by private owners. Richard and Clarissa talk to Ben Cowell OBE, the Director General of Historic Houses . They discuss the threats to country houses and their safeguarding over the last 50 years, fueled by entrepreneurial owners and fiscal measures. Ben’s new book The British Country House Revival is published in May 2024.

Museum exhibitions are creatures of business…” Richard and Clarissa talk to Anthony Misquitta of the V&A and Keystone Law. They discuss what makes an exhibition a success, and the commercial importance of exhibitions to the museum world. Featuring plywood, revolution, and Taylor Swift .

What are the Parthenon Marbles? Were they lawfully removed from the Acropolis in Athens by Lord Elgin’s agents in the early Nineteenth Century? What ethical issues arise by their retention at the British Museum? How might the dispute be resolved? Richard and Clarissa talk to Alexander Herman, Director of the Institute of Art and Law, about his brilliant new book The Parthenon Marbles Dispute, whic...

What are the joys and challenges of life in a castle? Richard and Clarissa speak with Charles Berkeley of Berkeley Castle about combining a family home and business, and looking to the future after nine centuries of castle life.

The work of restoring Syria’s cultural heritage after years of wartime looting goes beyond the antiquities trade. Richard Harwood KC and Clarissa Levi talk to intelligence expert Anwar Darkazally of Field Intelligence about how thefts and looting can be stopped, and wounds inflicted by the conflict healed along the way. We discuss the work of  Jonah X Projects .

Richard and Clarissa introduce their new series, Art and Heritage Law: Contested Heritage, focusing on the complexities of heritage and art law through insightful conversations with leading industry voices.