ABA Web Store - Author Bio

Jessica Darraby is the founder of Darraby Law, a practice dedicated to art law, with offices in Los Angeles and affiliate counsel in New York and Europe, representing an international clientele in the arts, conservation, architecture, entertainment and publishing. Ms. Darraby represents clients on a broad range of issues, including copyright, trademark, licensing rights, clearances, public art, conservation, restitution and repatriation, international trade, indigenous cultural rights, corporate matters, estates and trusts. She is outside general counsel to national and international non-profit organizations, arts and appraisal organizations for board compliance and regulatory matters, intellectual property, corporate and general business matters. Ms. Darraby has successfully handled copyright registration appeals on conceptual art, three-dimensional works and art and music-sound installations.

Ms. Darraby is a former art dealer, owner and director of a contemporary art gallery. She has negotiated sales and acquisitions of major collections to museums and institutions, She has experience as an arbitrator and mediator on archives, new media, conceptual art, photography, labor, valuation, conservation, and general arts issues, and serves as a court-appointed expert witness on authenticity, insurance, counterfeits, fakes and fraud in civil and criminal matters.

She is the author of the comprehensive legal treatise ART, ARTIFACT, ARCHITECTURE & MUSEUM LAW (13th ed. 2008) published by Thomson West. She has been interviewed on National Public Radio, the BBC, the Smithsonian, and in Art & Auction, ABA Journal, Los Angeles Daily Journal, and Bloomberg Wealth Management Magazine, among others. She is a correspondent for foundations and corporate collections for Art&Living Magazine. Her byline appears in dozens of periodicals. She is invited to speak on arts, music, culture, law and policy issues around the world.

Ms. Darraby is the Division Chair of Arts & Museums of the ABA Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries, Vice Chair of Intellectual Property for the International Law Section of the ABA, and former Vice Chair of Art and Cultural Heritage. She is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. She is on the editorial board for the Journal of International Media and Entertainment. Ms. Darraby serves on boards of directors and is a donor to arts organizations, museums, and dance companies, including the Contemporary Arts Council of MoMA, the Curator's Circle at MOCA and a Partner of Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre.