Lawyer with a Passion for Art, M&A Specialist
Christoph Seibt: The Lawyer-Collector Bridging Art and Law
Christoph Seibt, a renowned German lawyer and avid art collector, has a unique perspective on the relationship between art and law. As a partner at Freshfields, one of Germany's leading firms for corporate law and M&A, and a collector of over 650 works of art, Seibt sees the two fields as deeply interconnected.
Seibt's passion for art started during his high school years and continued to grow throughout his career. He specializes in minimal art and has amassed an impressive collection, including pieces by Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, Fred Sandback, Carl Andre, Imi Knoebel, and A.R. Penck. His love for Japan, which began in the 80s, led him to study Japanology as a minor subject.
Seibt believes that legal frameworks play a crucial role in shaping the creation, ownership, and cultural significance of art. While specific statements from Seibt on this topic are not readily available, his dual roles suggest a perspective that law provides essential structures for protecting artistic expression, regulating art markets, and addressing intellectual property rights.
For Seibt, art is not just an aesthetic or cultural phenomenon but also a legal object that requires protection against forgery, theft, and misuse. Legal norms influence how art is acquired, exhibited, and transmitted, both historically and contemporarily, intertwining legal principles with artistic value and cultural heritage.
Seibt's approach to law mirrors his approach to art, with an emphasis on authenticity and calm. In his legal practice, he prefers to win with a narrow margin rather than a landslide. This philosophy extends to his art collection, where he enjoys trying out new compositions outside of what is shown in museums.
In addition to his legal practice and art collection, Seibt is also an active mentor to young artists and lawyers. He supports them in his collection and legal practice, often mentoring team members during their studies or legal clerkships.
In the future, Seibt plans to open an exhibition house to make parts of his collection accessible to the public. He also intends to celebrate his upcoming 60th birthday in Hamburg next spring with an "artistic" theme of "Quel Bordel/What a Mess."
Recently, Seibt acquired a work by Julian Charrière, an artist who combines environmental sciences and cultural history in his works. This acquisition further demonstrates Seibt's commitment to supporting young artists and exploring new artistic territories.
In the business world, Seibt has advised companies in special situations, including restructuring procedures, attacks by activist investors, and takeover offers. During the Continental takeover offer, he stood on the side of the takeover candidate and was involved in designing a contract model that included an independent control instance as a "guarantor."
Seibt has also shared his insights on the intersection of law and art at Bucerius Law School in Hamburg and Kyoto University. His unique perspective on these topics has no doubt enriched the discourse and inspired both students and professionals in the fields of law and art.
- Christoph Seibt, deeply interested in home-and-garden matters as reflected in his passion for Japanology, has plans to open an exhibition house that will allow the public to engage with parts of his extensive art collection, bridging his lifestyle preferences with his love for art and law.
- As a lawyer with a distinctive taste for minimal art and over 650 pieces in his collection, Christoph Seibt focuses on the legal aspects of art as essential structures for protecting artistic expression, regulating art markets, and addressing intellectual property rights, thus intertwining his home-and-garden lifestyle with his professional pursuits in both law and art.
