ABA ILS Conference 2024
Back from the ABA International Law Section Annual Conference, I can reflect on the impact of the Art & Cultural Heritage Committee (ACH), which I have the pleasure to co-Chair with Anne-Sophie Nardon. The ACH presented two panels, one on Art Restitution and the other on Sustainability in the Art World.
The restitution panel, It’s mine and I want it back!, discussed civil and criminal cases related to patrimonial claims in the US and the EU, as well as voluntary restitution by some entities. Of particular interest was the discussion of the 2019/880 EU Regulation on the import of cultural objects which will enter into force in June 2025. Also discussed, and causing awe among the audience, was the issue of New York jurisdiction and how, under certain circumstances, it can be attached to restitution claims even when all actors are in other States.
I participated in the sustainability panel, Artfully Sustainable, which presented a different perspective focusing on artists’ and art industry’s movements towards reaching sustainable goals. The discussion included efforts being made in use of materials, transport, packaging, energy consumption, as well as greenwashing regulations and claims both in the European Union and the US. We also delved into the role of lawyers in the push for a greener future in the industry. The goal of the panel was to start the conversation on how to reduce the carbon footprint generated by the Art World, and we did! The conversation followed well beyond the end of the panel.