The Art Law Podcast Art Law at Christie's with Maggie Hoag
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Nov 12, 2025 Maggie Hoag, Senior VP and Deputy General Counsel at Christie's, shares her fascinating journey from art intern to a top art lawyer. She delves into the evolving role of legal work at auction houses and the impact of globalization on art law. Maggie discusses the importance of direct communication with sellers to resolve issues efficiently and shares insights on integrating legal teams into business strategies. She also offers advice for aspiring art lawyers on training and gaining practical experience in this unique field.
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A Small, Global Legal Network
- Christie's legal team is global but compact, with transactional, compliance, disputes and risk roles across New York, London, Paris and Hong Kong.
- The cohesion across offices makes multi-jurisdictional consignment work practical and centralized.
Risk, Compliance, And Specialist Division
- Risk at an auction house focuses on insurance and extending liability for clients, while compliance centers on AML, sanctions and tariffs.
- Transactional lawyers routinely cover cultural property, CITES and specialist material rules tied to departments.
Win Trust By Being Present
- Be visible and build trust by attending meetings and touring operations; integration comes from showing passion for the art, not hiding in an 'ivory tower'.
- Encourage junior lawyers to join calls and shadow specialists to learn department needs early.