Lisette specialises in disputes and transactions relating to art, antiques and the luxury sector, and also has a general commercial litigation background. During her 12 years as a senior in-house lawyer at Sotheby’s, and subsequently, Lisette has worked on some of the most high-profile cases in the art world. Lisette’s auction-house background has given her extensive experience of handling issues arising from questions of authenticity and attribution, provenance and ownership, World War II restitution, cultural property claims, export, loss and damage, copyright and fraud. In addition to this, Lisette advises on contracts relating to the purchase and sale of high-value art, musical instruments and other luxury goods, both at auction and privately, as well as general commercial agreements. Lisette frequently works with private and corporate collectors, trustees and family representatives, artists including those from the media and entertainment industries, dealers, art advisors, and art experts. Lisette also has an interest in defamation.
Lisette is fluent in French, with a good working knowledge of German and understanding of Spanish.
Expertise
- Auctioneering practice and business terms
- High-value sale and purchase agreements and other commercial contracts
- Authenticity and attribution claims, including negligence
- Ownership and insurance disputes
- World War II restitution and cultural property claims
- Art fraud claims
- NFTs and fractional ownership
- Anti-money laundering policies and compliance for art market participants
- General commercial litigation
Experience
- Acted for an individual in a claim arising out of a high-profile global art fraud.
- One of a team advising fine art studio Pantheon Art on the launch of NFTs based on artwork by the actor Johnny Depp.
- Advised on the sale and purchase of Impressionist paintings and Old Masters, high-value musical instruments and other items owned by collectors.
- Advised on the return of missing artwork to its original owners following its appearance at auction.
- Won at trial the case of Lancelot William Thwaytes v Sotheby’s [2015] EWHC 36 (Ch), successfully defending a negligence claim concerning the attribution and auction sale of a copy of Caravaggio’s “The Cardsharps”.
- Won at trial the case of Lord Coleridge v Sotheby’s [2012] EWHC 370 (Ch), successfully defending a negligence claim regarding the 18th-century dating of an alleged Tudor gold judicial chain of office.
- Successfully defended a misrepresentation claim in relation to the authenticity of a painting by a Russian artist.
- Liaised with law enforcement agencies in relation to antiquities, artworks flagged as stolen and items containing ivory.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in Chambers High Net Worth for Art & Cultural Property Law (2021-2025)
Acknowledged by Chambers 2025 for bringing significant art industry experience to transactional and contentious art and cultural property matters.She advises regularly on high-value art disputes for traditional and upcoming auction houses and collectors, particularly on art fraud.
“She is always available.“-Chambers High Net Worth 2025
“She understood our objectives and helped steer where we were going on a very time-sensitive issue.”–Chambers High Net Worth 2025
“I find her very approachable. She was very prompt in getting back to me with documents I needed or getting an answer to me if I had a question.” Chambers High Net Worth 2024
“Lisette is very practical and pragmatic. She understood our objectives and helped steer where we were going on a very time sensitive issue. She is always available.” Chambers High Net Worth 2024
“I very much enjoyed working with Lisette and felt that she always tried her best for me.” Chambers High Net Worth 2024
Recognised in The Legal 500 (2024-2025) for Art and Cultural Property
“I know Lisette Aguilar best – unusual as she has in-depth art world experience from her stint at Sotheby’s, engaging and sensible.” The Legal 500 2024
“Lisette Aguilar is a highly respected solicitor with great experience in the auction business.” The Legal 500 2024
“Lisette has a great view into the art market and has a great legal mind.” Chambers High Net Worth 2023
“Lisette provides us with valuable and well-rounded advice based on her many years of experience in the art world. We would recommend her without hesitation.” Chambers High Net Worth 2023
Recognised by Chambers UK (2023 – 2024) for Art and Cultural Property Law
“She’s very intelligent and has a proper understanding of the art world. She’s really bright and has a very nice manner.” Chambers UK 2023
“She’s very calm and does the right thing. She listens and you feel she’s there for you 100%. She’s thoughtful, kind and amenable.” Chambers UK 2023
“Lisette is somebody I have nothing but praise for. She’s an excellent person who is very committed to her clients.” Chambers UK 2023
Named in the Private Client Global Elite Directory as a specialist in art law
Recognised in Spear’s 500 2022 as a Top Recommended Art Lawyer
Recognised in Chambers UK 2022 for Art & Cultural Property Law
“Lisette is somebody I have nothing but praise for. She’s building her own art law practice and it’s doing very well ” Chambers High Net Worth 2022
“She’s doing a lot of transactional stuff and she will be doing litigation. I think she’s an excellent person who is very committed to her clients and she’s very bright and clever.” Chambers High Net Worth 2022
“She’s very calm and does the right thing. She listens and then explains. She does a great job and she understands the art world. You feel she’s there for you 100%. She’s done a fantastic job. She has a good manner and she’s great at explaining things. She’s thoughtful, kind and amenable.” Chambers High Net Worth 2022
“She is very measured, thorough and takes the time to understand the full picture of a transaction.” Chambers UK 2022
“She knows everything there is to know in this area.” Chambers High Net Worth 2021
“She would be up there on my list – she has fantastic hands-on experience.” Chambers High Net Worth 2021
Recognised in Spear’s 500 2021 as a Top Recommended Art Lawyer
Selected as an arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Art in The Hague
Winner of Legal 500 In-House Litigation Team of the Year 2015.
Features in Dutch photographer Carla van de Puttelaar’s “Women in the Art World” portrait series (www.womenintheartworld.com).
Career
Lisette qualified as a solicitor in 2001. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2019, she worked at the following firms:
- Sotheby’s
- Office of the Parliamentary Counsel
- Slaughter and May