Richard De Palma
Partner and Founder of Art Law Practice, Thompson Hine LLP
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Richard is an attorney, arbitrator and mediator known for handling commercial disputes with creativity, practicality and integrity. Richard is committed to efficiently and successfully resolving disputes involving art, artists, authors, estates, galleries, agents, auction houses and collectors, drawing from his vast and varied global legal experience spanning more than 30 years. During the course of his career, he has handled a diverse range of disputes, including copyright claims in both the visual and literary arts, droit morale claims, replevin and ownership disputes, and disputes involving damage to works, valuation and attribution. He has been involved in proceedings administered by all of the major international arbitration bodies under their respective rules, and is adept at applying the governing applicable law in each dispute. He was appointed to the original Arbitration pool of CAfA in January 2020.
Driven by his passion for the arts, Richard devotes significant time to pro bono representation of individuals and organizations involved in the art community through Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. He has also given art workshops to young women who have been the victims of human trafficking. He is a member of the Katonah Museaum Artists Association and the Pound Ridge Artists Guild.
Richard is a partner of the law firm Thompson Hine LLP, resident in its New York Office, and Vice Chair of its Business Litigation Group, head of its International Arbitration practice, founder and head of its Arts Law practice and a member of its International Committee. Previously, he practiced law as a partner at Coudert Brothers and Baker & McKenzie LLP.
He is admitted to practice in the state of New York and before the United States Supreme Court; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Third and Federal Circuits; the U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Southern, Northern and Western Districts of New York; the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan; the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado; the District Court for the District of Columbia, and before the U.S. Court of International Trade.
Richard received his J.D. degree from Pace University School of Law in 1991, graduating magna cum laude, Dean’s List; Casenote and Comment Editor, Law Review; Moot Court - Winning Team, Best Brief, and Best Oralist. He graduated from Mercy College in 1988 with B.S. degree, graduating summa cum laude, Dean's List, and with Departmental Honors.
Jurisdiction: U.S.A