Estate Planning for Art Collectors: Strategies for Managing and Transferring Art and Collectible Assets

Rebecca Lockwood
Anita Heriot
Brad Cohen
Rebecca Lockwood | Sotheby’s
Anita Heriot | The Fine Art Group
Brad Cohen | Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP
Live Video-Broadcast: January 22, 2026

2 hour CLE

Tuition: $195.00
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Program Summary

Session I – Proactive Collection Management and Succession Planning – Anita Heriot

In this session, we’ll explore how to take a proactive approach to managing collections, focusing on strategies that maximize value, facilitate sales, and ensure thoughtful planning. You’ll gain insight into the five distinct types of value, their methodologies, and purposes, and learn why a comprehensive collection audit is a powerful tool for informed decision-making. Finally, we’ll discuss how to plan for long-term success by adopting an offensive approach to succession planning, ensuring your collection’s legacy is secure.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • Five types of value and how they influence planning
  • Benefits of a comprehensive collection audit
  • Long-term collection strategy

Session II – Tax and Transfer Planning for Art, Artists, and Collectors – Bradford Cohen

This session explores the complex intersection of tax law, estate planning, and the art world-adressing the unique challenges faced by artists, dealers, and collectors. Brad Cohen will discuss strategies for acquiring, selling, donating, and transferring art with an emphasis on income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes.

The session will highlight recent transactions, valuation issues, and charitable deductions during life and after death, as well as sales and use tax considerations. Additional topics include digital assets and NFTs, art-related crimes, and copyright concerns. Blending practical insights with real-world examples (and a bit of humor), the session offers a comprehensive look at planning for tangible and digital art collections.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • Taxation and estate planning for the artist, dealer, and art collector
  • Recent transactions
  • Income taxes
  • Income tax charitable deduction during life
  • Transfer taxes: Estate, gift, and generation skipping tax
  • Estate administration
  • Valuation
  • Digital assets & NFTs
  • Sales & use taxes
  • Art crimes
  • Copyright

Session III – Valuation, Authenticity, and Legal Risks in Art Transfers – Rebecca Lockwood

This session offers practical guidance on best practices for planning around art and valuable tangible assets. Attendees will gain insight into key valuation methodologies, including potential issues such as blockage, and learn how the IRS Art Appraisal Services and Art Advisory Panel evaluate appraisals. The session will also cover authentication procedures, droit moral considerations (with a comparison of U.S. and EU approaches), and the legal landscape surrounding stolen art, WWII restitution, and cultural patrimony. Additionally, participants will explore strategies for selling, donating, and distributing art and collectibles after death, with a high-level market update to provide context for informed planning and decision-making.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • Valuation methodologies and issues (including blockage discounts)
  • IRS Art Appraisal Services & Art Advisory Panel: Practices and processes
  • Authentication and droit moral: U.S. vs. EU approaches
  • Legal considerations: Stolen art, WWII restitution, cultural patrimony
  • Disposition strategies: Selling (private vs. auction), donating, and distributing property after death
  • Market context: High-level update to inform planning decisions

Date / Time: January 22, 2026

  • 1:00 pm – 3:20 pm Eastern
  • 12:00 pm – 2:20 pm Central
  • 11:00 am – 1:20 pm Mountain
  • 10:00 am – 12:20 pm Pacific

Closed-captioning available

Speakers

Rebecca Lockwood | Sotheby’s

Rebecca Lockwood joined Sotheby’s in 2014 as Vice President of the Fiduciary Client Group.

Rebecca advises individual and corporate fiduciaries on the valuation and sale of personal property. She works closely with clients and their advisors to provide appraisals for collection management, estate and gift tax, and insurance purposes, and to develop sale strategies for the liquidation of assets held in an estate or trust. During her time at Sotheby’s, Rebecca has been directly involved in the sale of many important collections and estates including Bowie/Collector, the Mellon Family Collection, the Collection of Elizabeth Mead Merck, the Collection of Lolo Sarnoff, the Collection of Ezra and Cecile Zilkha and the Estate of Mrs. John L. Marion. Prior to joining Sotheby’s, Rebecca served as Vice President of Trusts & Estates at Gurr Johns International.

Rebecca graduated from George Washington University with a bachelor’s in art history. She received a Master’s in Contemporary Art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art and a JD from New York Law School. Rebecca is also certified in Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

She has previously served as Chair of the Tax, Trusts & Estates Sub-Committee of the New York City Bar Association’s Art Law Committee and Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Real Property, Trusts and Estate’s Section, Art and Collectibles Committee.

 

Anita Heriot | The Fine Art Group

Anita Heriot is President of The Fine Art Group, The Americas. Prior to founding Pall Mall Art Advisors in 2012 which was acquired by The Fine Art Group, Anita worked in the auction world as a Director of Appraisals and a specialist.

Anita works with our top clients and is the point person for several significant national relationships throughout the United States. A secondary market specialist with a focus on blue-chip artists, Anita has a deep knowledge of American art, German Expressionism, and Post-War Contemporary art.

A nationally sought-after speaker, Anita has lectured at the Barron’s 100 and 500 Summits; to over 30 chapters of Tiger 21, a high-net-worth learning network; to the investment forum of YPO, the premier leadership organization of chief executives in the world, to bankers, attorneys, insurance specialists and accountants throughout the United States. She has appeared on several TV shows and is frequently interviewed by the media for her insights into the art world.

Anita grew up in a family of art collectors and graduated from Bowdoin College with advanced degrees from the University of London and New York University.

 

Brad Cohen | Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

Brad Cohen is a partner at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP, where he advises ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and closely held businesses on complex tax, corporate, and estate planning matters. His practice spans estate planning, income tax, estate tax, sales tax, and charitable contribution strategies.

Brad has extensive experience helping clients manage, preserve, and transfer significant collections of art and other tangible assets, including jewelry, automobiles, and wine. He counsels collectors on acquisition, financing, donation, and sale strategies, and has guided many in establishing private museums and foundations for long-term stewardship. Combining deep tax knowledge with a family-office approach, Brad designs multigenerational plans that align personal, business, and philanthropic goals.

Agenda

Session I – Proactive Collection Management and Succession Planning | 1:00pm – 1:45pm

  • Five types of value and how they influence planning
  • Benefits of a comprehensive collection audit
  • Long-term collection strategy

Break | 1:45pm – 1:55pm

Session II – Tax and Transfer Planning for Art, Artists, and Collectors | 1:55pm – 2:40pm

  • Taxation and estate planning for the artist, dealer, and art collector
  • Recent transactions
  • Income taxes
    • Types of sellers/buyers/donors
    • Acquiring and selling art
  • Income tax charitable deduction during life
  • Transfer taxes: Estate, gift, and generation skipping tax
    • Donations after death
  • Estate administration
  • Valuation
  • Digital assets & NFTs
  • Sales & use taxes
  • Art crimes
  • Copyright

Break | 2:40pm – 2:50pm

Session III – Valuation, Authenticity, and Legal Risks in Art Transfers | 2:50pm – 3:20pm

  • Valuation methodologies and issues (including blockage discounts)
  • IRS Art Appraisal Services & Art Advisory Panel: Practices and processes
  • Authentication and droit moral: U.S. vs. EU approaches
  • Legal considerations: Stolen art, WWII restitution, cultural patrimony
  • Disposition strategies: Selling (private vs. auction), donating, and distributing property after death
  • Market context: High-level update to inform planning decisions

Credits

Alaska

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through Alaska’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity.
Alabama

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Arkansas

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Arizona

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

California

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Colorado

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Connecticut

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

District of Columbia

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Delaware

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Florida

Approved via Attorney Submission
2.5 General Hours

Receive CLE credit in Florida via attorney submission.
Georgia

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Hawaii

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Iowa

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Idaho

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Illinois

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Indiana

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Kansas

Pending CLE Approval
2 Substantive

Kentucky

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Louisiana

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Massachusetts

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Maryland

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Maine

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Michigan

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Minnesota

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 General

Missouri

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Mississippi

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Montana

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

North Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

North Dakota

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through North Dakota’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity. Section 1, Policy 1.14
Nebraska

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

myLawCLE reports attendance to Nebraska on each attorney’s behalf for all programs. Please do not self-report.
New Hampshire

Approved for CLE Credits
120 General minutes

As of July 1, 2014, the NHMCLE Board no longer provides pre- or post-approval of courses. Attendees must self-determine whether a program is eligible for credit, and self-report their attendance online at www.nhbar.org, based on qualification provisions of Rule 53.
New Jersey

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New Jersey’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity, except for the courses required under BCLE Reg. 201:2
New Mexico

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Nevada

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

New York

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New York’s Approved Jurisdiction Group “B”.
Ohio

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Oklahoma

Pending CLE Approval
2.5 General

Oregon

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Pennsylvania

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Rhode Island

Pending CLE Approval
2.5 General

South Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

South Dakota

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Tennessee

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Texas

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Utah

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Virginia

Not Eligible
2 General Hours

Vermont

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Washington

Approved via Attorney Submission
2 Law & Legal Hours

Receive CLE credit in Washington via attorney submission.
Wisconsin

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

West Virginia

Pending CLE Approval
2.4 General

Wyoming

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

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