Joy Gibney Berus is a partner in the Orange, California firm BARTH  BERUS &  CALDERON, LLP.  Her practice is devoted to business law, contract law, and estate planning matters, focusing primarily on the application of these areas in art law.  She is an attorney who also has the unique distinction of holding certification in Appraisal Studies in Fine and Decorative Arts, as well as being an Affiliate Member of the American Society of Appraisers.

Ms. Berus structures, negotiates and assists collectors, investors, and dealers in the sale and acquisition of art, antiques, and collections, including the use of entities such as LLCs.  She structures and negotiates loan agreements and license agreements for artists, authors and owners.  She assists in authentication and valuation related matters.  She also structures charitable donations of art, antiques and historical objects, as well as charitable trusts and estate plans for collectors.

Her clients include business owners, dealers, investors and collectors, as well as appraisers, artists, gallery owners, museums and non-profit organizations.

Professional Achievements

• Authored "Tips on Donating Art for the Donor," CBS Marketwatch Retirement Newsletter
• Authored "Tips on Donating Art for the Professional," Steve Leimberg's Charitable Planning Newsletter, 55
• Authored the chapter; "The Role of the Personal Property Appraiser in Charitable Contribution Appraisals," to be published in the textbook, "The Appraisal of Personal Property - Principles, Theories, and Practice Methods for the Professional Appraiser," Fall 2004
• Instructor at George Washington University, Washington D.C., on "Personal Property Valuation - The Legal and Commercial Environment"
• Instructor at University of California, Irvine, on "Personal Property Valuation - The Legal and Commercial Environment," and "The Business of Appraising"
• Lectured on copyright law, Orange County Performing Arts Center
• Lectured to various small business owner organizations

• California Bar Association
• Certification in Appraisal Studies in Fine and Decorative Arts, University of California, Irvine, and the American Society of Appraisers
• Affiliate Member of the American Society of Appraisers
• California Lawyers for the Arts
• Member of the Board of Directors of VSA arts of California, the state chapter of the national VSA non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., which is devoted to assisting handicapped artists.

Contact Information

Barth Berus & Calderon, L.L.P.
Suite 2050
333 City Boulevard West
Orange, CA 92868-2944

(714) 704-4828 ext. 113
(714) 704-1513 (FAX)
joy@hmbfinlaw.com
http://hmbfinlaw.com