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Intellectual Property Law Section: 2026 Art and Fashion Law Conference
On April 23 & 24, 2026 the Federal Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Section’s Art & Fashion Law Conference returns to Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller LLP. Featuring ten CLE sessions, two keynote speakers and networking opportunities, this two-day conference held in the heart of New York City is a must for those interested in the intersection of art, fashion, and the law. Registration is now open!
View the Brochure Here
April 23, 2026 – 8:30 am to 5:30 pm – Art Law Conference (5 NY CLE)
April 24, 2026 – 8:30 am to 5:30 pm – Fashion Law Conference (5 NY CLE)
FASHION LAW– Day 1 – Thursday, April 23, 2026
9:30am – 11:00 am
PANEL I – 90 minutes, including Q&A – 1.5 NY CLE
Trusts and Art – What Practitioners Need To Know About Using Trusts For Art Ownership And Succession Planning
Trusts are increasingly being used for art holdings and as tools for estate planning. What happens when life (and a second spouse) gets in the way? Join us for an informative and entertaining conversation about all the things that can go wrong with trusts and how practitioners can tackle some of these problems.
Hon. Hilary Gingold, Surrogate New York County
Lisa Barbieri, Supervising Court Attorney, New York County Surrogate’s Court
Vera Zolotaryova , Attorney-Referee, New York County Surrogate’s Court
Raymond J. Dowd, Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP
11:15am – 12:45pm – Keynote Presentation and Panel II– 90 minutes, including Q&A – 1.5 NY CLE
Hon. Jerrold Nadler (Invited)
Art Ashes and the HEAR Act: Opening US Courts To Holocaust-Era Justice
The 2016 HEAR Act was supposed to open statutes of limitations for six years for Holocaust-era art claims, and eliminate time-based defenses, with a sunset of December 31, 2026. However, court decisions narrowly interpreted the law, frustrating Congress’s intent that claims be decided on the merits. Thanks to the non-profit Art Ashes Foundation’s leadership, new legislation passed in 2026 gives hope to Holocaust victim families that lost artworks can still be recovered. Will the dream of restoring stolen artworks to true owners finally become a reality? Learn about how this new law came about and what it means from the front lines.
Joel Greenberg, Founder, Art Ashes
Sam Dubbin, Dubbin & Kravetz LLP
1:00pm-2:00pm
Panel III – 60 minutes, including Q&A – 1 NY CLE (Lunch)
The Armenian Genocide and Cultural Property Restitution: Lessons from California
Only one case for the return of looted Armenian property has resulted in a successful settlement to date. Learn how California statutes were crafted with the Armenian genocide in mind, only to be frustrated at the federal level. Destruction of Armenian cultural property continues today: what are the potential legal and diplomatic remedies?
Moderator: Claudia Jaffe
Rajika Shah, Visiting Clinical Associate Professor of Law LMU Loyola School of Law
Director, Loyola Justice for Atrocities Clinic
2:15 – 3:45
PANEL IV – 90 minutes, including Q&A – 1.5 NY CLE
Cassirer v. The Kingdom of Spain: The Most Important Art Litigation of the 21st Century?
This landmark battle over a Camille Pissarro masterpiece worth over $100 million has gripped the public imagination and roiled courts and legislatures for over two decades. No one disputes that the painting was looted by the Nazis from Lilly Cassirer in 1939, yet after Lilly’s grandson Claude discovered the painting was in the collection of Spain’s Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in 2000, Spain refused to return it despite having signed several international agreements calling for the return of Nazi looted art. The case has raised fascinating issues of jurisdiction, statutes of limitation, conflicts of laws, property rights under different legal systems, and ultimate questions of justice for Holocaust victim families. After a second U.S. Supreme Court ruling reversing a Ninth Circuit decision in favor the museum, the case is back in the Federal District Court in Los Angeles. Learn about this extraordinary case, and why it matters, from the inside.
David Cassirer, Lead Plaintiff
Sam Dubbin, Dubbin & Kravetz LLP
David Barrett, Boies Schiller Flexner LLP
4:00 pm – 5:00
Panel V – 60 minutes, including Q&A – 1.5 NY CLE
Ratlines to Latin America and Nazi-looted Art: The New Frontier
Moderator: Claudia Jaffe, Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP
Yaél Weitz, Freedman Normand Friedland, LLP
Charlène von Saher (invited)
Jacques Goudstikker’s art collection was looted by Nazi leader Hermann Goering. The Dutch government agreed in 2006 to return 202 works to his family. In the United States, the Norton Simon Museum successfully fought the family’s restitution efforts in federal court. In 2025, the Goudstikker collection grabbed international headlines when Argentine police seized an artwork belonging to the collection on behalf of the family. Nazi criminals escaping after World War II using ratlines through Switzerland have long been rumored to have smuggled important artworks. Learn how the Argentine police conducted the seizure and why the Goudstikker case is an important symbol for future recoveries.
5:00 – 6:30 – Cocktail Reception
FASHION LAW– Day 2 – Friday, April 24, 2026
9:30am – 10:30am
PANEL I – 60 minutes, including Q&A – 1 NY CLE
Infinite Innovation, Finite Protection: Rethinking Patent Strategy from Luxury to Mass Market After LKQ
This legal panel delves into the evolving landscape of patent law, focusing on challenges faced by luxury and mass market brands. Experts analyze the impact of recent decisions, such as LKQ, on innovation and protection strategies, offering insights into how companies can adapt their patent approaches in a competitive marketplace.
Speakers:
Padmaja Chinta, Partner, Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP
Lawrence Cruz, Chief Patent Counsel, Conair Corporation
10:45am – 11:45am
PANEL II – 60 minutes, including Q&A – 1 NY CLE
Fashion Forward: Navigating Employment Law on the Runway
This legal panel delves into current labor and employment challenges facing the fashion industry, such as non-compete agreements, workplace rights, and evolving regulations. Experts provide insights on compliance, protecting talent, and navigating complex employment relationships to help fashion businesses remain competitive and legally sound in a changing landscape.
Speakers:
Tiffani L. McDonough, Senior Director, Litigation & Employment, Louis Vuitton Americas
Katherine Gonzalez-Valentin, Capital Partner & Director Labor Department, Ferraiuoli LLC
12:00pm-1:00pm
Panel III – 60 minutes, including Q&A – 1 NY CLE
Trade Wind or Trade Wars? Navigating Global Commerce in the Trump Era
This legal panel will examine the latest international trade challenges and policies affecting fashion industry businesses. Experts will analyze shifting regulations, tariffs, and strategies for compliance, offering practical guidance for navigating the evolving global landscape during the Trump administration.
Speakers:
Michael J. Khorsandi, Vice President, Trade and Regulatory Counsel, Ross Stores, Inc.
Neena Shenai, Partner, WilmerHale
LUNCH: 1pm – 2pm with KEYNOTE (1:30pm)
MALIN LILJERT, Director, Centre For Child Rights and Business
Malin Liljert is the Director of the Centre for Child Rights and Business. She is recognized for her leadership in advancing child rights and responsible business practices globally. With expertise in policy development and corporate engagement, Malin has driven impactful initiatives to promote ethical standards and protect vulnerable children.
The global fashion industry often faces criticism for inadequate protection of child rights. Many children are vulnerable to exploitation in supply chains, lacking access to education, safe working conditions, and basic necessities. Addressing these issues requires stronger ethical standards, corporate accountability, and collaborative efforts to safeguard children’s welfare worldwide. Our keynote speaker, an expert in this field, will address these issues and how business should stay compliant with their business and ethical obligations.
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Panel IV – 60 minutes, including Q&A – 1 NY CLE
The Culture of Dupes: When is it Too Close?
As fashion, beauty, and luxury brands grapple with imitators and lookalikes, this panel will dissect what it means for a product to be “too close” to an original. The conversation explores how companies defend their intellectual property, the legal frameworks governing trademark rights, and the shifting line between inspiration and infringement. Panelists will share real-world examples, stories from both the courtroom and boardroom, and insights on how brands can balance innovation with protection. Expect spirited debate and practical guidance as the panel unpacks the legal, ethical, and business implications of the culture of dupes.
Speakers:
Susan Kayser, Partner, BakerHostetler
David Eshmoili, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, David Yurman
Jessica Heiss, Vice President and Trademark Counsel, The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Panel V – 60 minutes, including Q&A – 1 NY CLE
Persuasion and Its Limits: New Frontiers in Advertising Law
This dynamic legal panel explores the latest developments in advertising law, from influencer marketing and AI-generated content to enforcement trends and high-profile cases. Industry experts and practitioners will break down key rulings, emerging risks, and practical guidance to help businesses stay compliant while keeping their marketing creative, competitive, and effective.
Speakers:
Olivera Medenica, Partner, Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP
Maria Vathis, Of Counsel, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
CLOSING Champagne & Sweets
END: 5:00pm
Sponsored by the FBA Intellectual Property Law Section and the FBA Southern District of New York Chapter.
Registration
CLE
CLE Credit will only be issued for New York.
Attendees may receive up to 10.0 General CLE credits in New York.
Attendees outside of NY may contact their respective jurisdictions to determine if they’re able to claim credit independently.
Attendees will be responsible for checking in and out of programming onsite in order to meet New York attendance requirements. Certificates will be issued via email following the event.
For any questions regarding this program, including CLE matters, please email TCarter@Dunnington.com.
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By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communications from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.