Providing Innovative Solutions To
Creative Clients For Decades Worldwide

About Our Global Firm And Practice

Founded in 1985, The Hoffman Law Firm is the pre-eminent art law boutique, recognized globally by artists, galleries, countries, collectors, museums, creatives, and explorers as the leader in the field of art, sustainable cultural heritage, and intellectual property law.

Collaborating with clients worldwide in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, the firm is renowned for its creativity in bringing cost effective solutions to complex problems and helping clients to define and achieve their vision. With a worldwide network, the firm has the ability to provide strategic advice, and transactional and litigation services to its clients globally.

Learn About Lawyer Barbara Hoffman

Barbara T. Hoffman is a pre-eminent attorney and pioneer in the field of art law and cultural heritage. Ms. Hoffman has worked, lived and studied in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. She is recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2012-2019 in intellectual property, copyright litigation and art law. To learn more about her background and experience representing clients in art law and related practice areas, follow the link below:

Barbara T. Hoffman

Representative Transactions

  • Gift and sale of major photography collection to a major museum in the Midwest
  • Gift with conditions of major Russian art collection to university museum
  • Gift and sale of archive with conditions to university
  • Organization of major one-person exhibition to venue in central Europe
  • Advise on acquisition of multimillion-dollar artwork from European seller
  • Advise and settlement of claim for art based on breach of warranty of authenticity
  • Advised good faith purchaser foreign museum in efforts by New York State Banking Commission to recover work of art
  • Advised on development and legislation for percent for art programs
  • Advised and counseled artists in major percent for art airport commissions and airport design
  • Provided legal advice to the founders of several non profits, including, Perfect Earth Project, and Friends of I22, formed to preserve the home of architect in southern France and Performa
  • Provided legal advice and set up artist endowed foundations including Anyone Can Fly Foundation
  • Represented copyright owner in obtaining monetary settlement in landmark copyright infringement claims against cable TV channel (Ringgold v. BET)
  • Represented artist in successful VARA claim
  • Represented photographer in landmark copyright infringement case (AFP v. Morel)
  • Represented copyright owner in obtaining monetary settlement for copyright infringement claims against cable TV channel
  • Represented copyright owner in monetary settlement of copyright infringement claim against major educational text book publisher
  • Represented copyright owner in monetary settlement for use of images in syndicated TV program
  • Created 501(c)(3) private operating foundation to promote cultural exchange between Brazil and China
  • Created the first “International Friends” 501(c)(3) group for a West African museum
  • Successfully assisted foreign government in obtaining the return of stolen cultural heritage working in cooperation with U.S. Attorney’s office
  • Successfully defended against a right of publicity and privacy claim on behalf of a well-known photographer
  • Represented photographer in copyright appropriation action against dealer and artist
  • Successfully representing the estate of a major photographer in internet copyright infringement on eBay and other websites
  • Counseling members of board of directors of nonprofit foundation on conflict of interest, issues of governance and due diligence
  • Consulted on the development of private museum or foundation in the US for a major collector in India
  • Counseled major architect on building projects in Beijing, and Helsinki, Finland
  • Representation of artist in connection with development of designs for merchandising and marketing program
  • Contracts related to production of opera, coproductions and touring
  • Advised museum on unrelated business income issues
  • Advised museum on issues of provenance and recent case developments with respect to copyright and provenance
  • Consulted with local governments as well as real estate developers and art advisors for artist selection process, contracts for artists, collaborations with architects, fabricators, construction companies for realization of site-specific works of art
  • Advised and represented artists on large scale public commissions involving site specific installations, including major airport and municipal facilities and urban redevelopment projects in Brazil, Canada, France, England, Doha, Dubai, Norway, Korea and China
  • Licensed and optioned rights in literary property for Russian producer in film to be shot and directed in the United States
  • Advised gallery on issues of fair use under the copyright law
  • Advised archive representing artists and artist’s estates of copyright status of works of art including photographs in its collections, fair use and copyright infringement
  • Advised on, drafted and negotiated content licensing and acquisition agreement
  • Advised on and negotiated sponsorship and marketing agreements for expedition and 501(c)(3) arts organization
  • Successfully represented artist in reclaiming artworks from the Salander-O’Reilly Galleries bankruptcy
  • Advised on business structure and other legal issues including contracts, trademarks, and copyrights for fashion, jewelry and design professionals
  • Advised on investing in partnership involving post-mortem fabrication of Rodin sculptures from original fabrication molds

Contact The Hoffman Law Firm

To get in touch, call the firm at 212-873-6200 or send an email. Ms. Hoffman represents clients nationally and internationally in transactions and litigation.

“Art world insider, Barbara Hoffman, is my go to choice for any artist or collector to develop a long range vision and successful legal strategy. She has consistently combined creative out of the box thinking with incomparable knowledge and decades of experience to assist me and all those that I have referred to her.”

David Raymond
Philanthropist, Collector, Artist, & Film
Producer