Arts, Entertainment & Talent


Our clients include artists, authors, literary estates, art dealers and collectors, galleries and those in the music, film, entertainment and sporting industries both in the UK and abroad.

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A specialist team drawn together by their experience and passion for the arts and entertainment

Our renowned Private Client lawyers and tax experts marry their passion for the arts, culture and entertainment with their expertise, technical knowledge, experience and awareness of the specific intricacies for clients in these industries.

We have considerable experience in acting for individuals, estates and trustees, executors, institutional and individual collectors and many more.

Please do contact Caroline Belam or Sabrina Underwood for more information.

Arts & Entertainment

Wills & estate planning

for high-profile artists, art dealers and collectors, including advising on bequests to museums and business property relief

Arts & Entertainment

Advising clients on specific issues

such as royalties, conditional exemptions for art, business property relief, intellectual property

Arts & Entertainment

Tax planning for international artists

including domicile, residence, wealth planning and related issues

Arts & Entertainment

Administering estates

of international artists

Arts & Entertainment

Advising trustees on their collection of fine art and antiques

including inventories, insurance, sales, conditional exemption and tax calculations and liaising with auction houses

Arts & Entertainment

Advising those in the creative industries

on personal service companies and reporting

Arts & Entertainment

Unwinding film schemes

and their CGT consequences

Arts & Entertainment

Advising clients in the gaming industry

including in relation to Business Property Relief

Arts & Entertainment

Advising attorneys under a lasting power of attorney 

regarding the finances and living arrangement of an elderly film star

Arts & Entertainment

Advising clients on licensing of their work

and intellectual property considerations

Arts & Entertainment

Advising on disputes regarding ownership of art 

and other issues involving agents, auction houses and galleries

Arts & Entertainment

Navigating cross-border tax issues

Arts & Entertainment

Advising clients on their philanthropic aims

including tax efficient giving, establishing charities and charitable foundations

Arts & Entertainment

Wealth structuring

including advising on appropriate holding structures

Arts & Entertainment

Advising on qualifying for conditional exemption for heritage assets

and handling sales and gifts to family, and advising on gifts by private treaty to museums

Arts & Entertainment

Advising on succession planning

for the devolution of art

Arts & Entertainment

Advising authors on Wills and estate planning

with specific appointment of literary executors for their literary estate

The Arts are my release, my joy and my passion.  Whilst I have now reluctantly accepted that I will not be headlining the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury – at least not any time soon – my love of the Arts, particularly Music, Fashion and Film/TV, continues to drive me in different areas of my life. 

A “retired” oboe player and a “semi-retired” singer and pianist from a family of creatives (including a dad who has just released his first EP in his 70s and a spoons-playing uncle), I still find immeasurable pleasure in hearing that song, that one that just resonates and understands, falling in love with a beautiful fabric and conjuring up ideas of what to make next, or watching something so moving that I just cannot get it out of my head for days afterwards. 

I also now get to enjoy passing on this love of the Arts to my two small children and seeing how important the Arts are to their personal development (yes, including kitchen discos). 

I count myself lucky to be able to combine my work with my long-lasting interest in this field.  I am a true believer in the importance of making connections with my clients and how better than being able to show them, with genuine enthusiasm, my interest in and admiration for their work.

Over the years, I have developed a niche, acting for TV personalities and celebrities, together with artists and others within the creative industries. I also act for a number of sportsmen and women.

I recognise the particular challenges faced by those in the public eye and often the sensitive and unique advice they need over their lifetime.

Outside of work, my interests in this area include visiting art galleries and museums. My son is a musician and songwriter and whilst I enjoy music, it’s fair to say his musical ability did not come from me!

I have always had a passion for the arts. I studied English at university and I attend a book club and art history lectures, as well as visiting the theatre, art galleries and stately homes. I have developed a specialism in providing private client advice to people in the arts and heritage sphere and I find that they appreciate my knowledge and interest.

I have administered estates for artists, authors, art dealers and collectors, which involved liaising with museums, valuers and auction houses.  This included arranging for a museum to house the collection of an archaeological academic and funding her grant-making charity, valuing and passing on royalties for an author’s estate, and the sale of a large contemporary art collection.

I have advised clients on Wills and estate planning, including for high-profile British artists, antiques dealers, academics and collectors, providing advice on Business Property Relief and assisting with bequests to museums.

I have prepared Wills for authors, including provisions for their literary estate, and guided attorneys under a LPA for an elderly film star.

I have advised a number of historic trusts about their collections of pictures and antiques, providing advice on tax, sales, valuations, insurance, family archives, loans to museums and liaising with HMRC about conditionally exempt items.

I have built up a network of other advisers who have expertise and interest in the arts, including valuers, auctioneers, accountants and financial advisers. I also contributed to the updated ‘Heritage Property and Conditional Exemption’ chapter in ‘Tolley’s Administration of Estates’ book in 2018″.

As a private client solicitor with a deep passion for the arts, I am excited to extend my legal expertise into the creative sector. “I have always had a passion for the arts. I studied English at university and I attend a book club and art history lectures, as well as visiting the theatre, art galleries and stately homes.

I have developed a specialism in providing private client advice to people in the arts and heritage sphere and I find that they appreciate my knowledge and interest.

My personal interest in film, theatre, publishing and entertainment industries drives my commitment to supporting artists, writers, and their agents in navigating the legal complexities of estate and tax planning.

One of my areas of expertise is acting for literary estates.

Having grown up with artist parents and after working in the Intellectual Property department at one of the leading film studios, I developed a keen interest in the personal estates of artists.

I spend a lot of my free time visiting museums, art galleries and heritage properties, supporting a different institution with membership each year.I have administered estates for artists, authors, art dealers and collectors, which involved liaising with museums, valuers and auction houses.  This included arranging for a museum to house the collection of an archaeological academic and funding her grant-making charity, valuing and passing on royalties for an author’s estate, and the sale of a large contemporary art collection.

A niche interest of mine is animation; seeing artwork brought to life in film has always been magical to me and for a period I wanted to be an animator as a child!

I have advised clients on Wills and estate planning, including for high-profile British artists, antiques dealers, academics and collectors, providing advice on Business Property Relief and assisting with bequests to museums. I have prepared Wills for authors, including provisions for their literary estate, and guided attorneys under a LPA for an elderly film star.

Our team are here to support you every step of the way

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Meet our expert team

Our clients value our technical excellence, in-depth knowledge and yet friendly and down-to-earth approach. We have a strong team ethos and value the contribution of every member of our staff to the client service we strive to deliver.

Meet all the team
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Caroline Belam

Partner

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Anna Burnside

Senior Partner

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Sabrina Underwood

Senior Associate

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Anna Boucher

Senior Associate

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Natalie Spong

Associate