Art Law Conference 2025: Nazi-Era Disputed Art: Research & Restitution

80 years after the end of World War II and more than 25 years after the 1998 Washington Conference, which set the stage for modern restitution efforts, we continue to face title disputes and build on the pioneering work of those who came before us. Decades of meticulous research, digitization, and scholarship have expanded our understanding of Nazi-era looted art, yet much remains unfinished. Armed with new tools and technologies, how do we persist in the pursuit of fair and just solutions to the enduring legacies of war, genocide, and theft?

The Nazi-Era Disputed Art: Research & Restitution Conference will examine ongoing efforts to document, analyze, and facilitate the restitution of Nazi-era looted art. It will highlight the evolving role of research, digital resources, and interdisciplinary collaboration in uncovering provenance, advancing legal claims, and ensuring accountability. By bringing together attorneys, art historians, museum professionals, heirs, journalists, and scholars, the conference will explore seminal cases, evidence-gathering methodologies, and the evolving challenges of restitution in the 21st century.

Organized by the Center for Art Law, this hybrid conference aims to foster dialogue, share critical insights, and chart the future of restitution efforts in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.

The Conference will include a keynote speech, followed by three panels and closing remarks. An exhibitors space will honor contributions of researcheres and attorneys who have been at the forefront of the field. A networking recpetion will follow the prorgam.

3.0 professional practice CLE credits will be provided to NY Attorneys. (CLE Sponsor: Dunnington Bartholow & Miller, LLP)

Discounts available to the Center for Art Law Premium Subscriber as well as members of EASL and AAA.

Tentative Schedule (subject to change)

12:00 PM – Conference Check in opens | 12:45 PM – Welcome Remarks

1:00 PM – Keynote Address: “Nazi-Era Provenance of Museum Collections: What and Who Guide Provenance Research” by Dr Jacques Schuhmacher, Executive Director of Provenance Research at the Art Institute of Chicago

1:30 PM – Panel 1: - Point of Departure: US v. Portrait of Wally (1.0 professional practice CLE credits)

2:30 PM – Break

2:45 PM – Panel 2: Sources and Uses of Data: Insights from Data Miners (1.0 professional practice CLE credits)

3:45 PM– Break

4:00 PM – Panel 3: Trust but Verify: How to Read and Interpret Information in Art Disputes (1.0 professional practice CLE credits)

5:00 PM – Closing Remarks: “Who’s Next? Walking into the Art Law Bar with Purpose” by Raymond J. Dowd, Attorney, Partner at Dunnington Bartholow & Miller

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Reception and Networking

Host or Publisher Center for Art Law