HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS ON CHRISTIE’S

Christie’s has had a long and sparkling history in its field, being one of the biggest auction houses to date. Christie’s was established in 1766 by James Christie, an English industrialist. The building’s premises are based in London’s King Street and New York City’s Rockefeller Center. The corporation is owned by François-Henri Pinault’s holding firm, Groupe Artémis. A notable fact is that the highest price paid for a single artwork in Christie’s was in 2017 when the Salvator Mundi was sold for four hundred million dollars at Christie’s in New York.

Since 1823, Christie’s main London saleroom has been located on King Street in St. James’s. In 1975, it debuted with a South Kensington, London saleroom, which mostly dealt with the mid-market range. In order to streamline the organization, Christie’s permanently shuttered the South Kensington saleroom in July 2017. The decline in revenue during the two-year period that preceded the closure was a significant factor in the closure, especially in the context of the company expanding into online sales.

BACKGROUND CHRISTIE’S INC

In 1977, the firm created an international division in the Delmonico’s Hotel’s grand ballroom on the second floor, at Park Avenue in New York City. After more than three decades, it took a $40 million lease on a site at Rockefeller Center for a 30-year period to secure it. The firm filed its Department of State registration on August 18^th, 1976, whereinafter it rechristened itself from Christie, Manson & Woods International, Inc. This change occurred in 1995.

Process Service on Christie’s Inc. may be done on its registered agent, Registered Agent Solutions, Inc. The main store of Christie’s East, which specialized in less expensive works of art and collectibles, was situated at 219 East 67th Street in New York City until 2001. This new purpose of Christie’s became clear in 1996 when the auction firm purchased a townhouse on East 59th Street in Manhattan as a separate gallery where specialists could conduct private treaty transactions without having to worry about attracting guests’ attention. The Beverly Hills salesroom was established by Christie’s in 1997.

In early 2017, Christie’s announced plans to close its secondary South Kensington salesroom at the end of the year and scale back its operation in Amsterdam. 

SUBSIDIARIES OF CHRISTIE’S INC

HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS ON CHRISTIE’S OF MANHASSET

Christie’s Of Manhasset, Ltd. was established on Oct 20 1992 as a domestic business corporation, The county for this New York company in Nassau. Consequently, the laws of New York are applicable herein. 

The Department of State will forward Process Service if accepted on behalf of the entity. In this instance, the Process Service is mailed to a high-ranking officer, Christie Mucci, in consideration of the fact that Christie’s of Manhasset Ltd. does not retain a registered agent.

HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS ON CHRISTIE’S FINE ART STORAGE SERVICES (CFASS)

Christie’s Fine Art Storage Services has evolved to be one of the most important subsidiary companies of Christie’s. The initiative for the subsidiary evolved while attempting to satisfy external customers’ growing demand for storage services, whereinafter Christie’s began providing 100,000 square feet of indoor storage space in London in 1984. The company thus opened a brick warehouse that was given ‘exempt status’ by HM Revenue and Customs, indicating that goods could well be imported into the UK and archived without having to pay import tariffs. CFASS is a fully owned company that manages Christie’s storage facility.

Christie’s then rented an early 1900s warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and has converted it into a 250,000-square-foot art storage facility for USD 30 million. It was completed in 2010 and has a bleeding-edge security system along with air-conditioning and humidity controls that maintain a remarkably consistent relative humidity.

The facility, located on the Atlantic Ocean shoreline along the Upper Bay tidal river, was struck by at least one surge from Hurricane Sandy in 2012. After certain customer breaches and complaints arose due to damage to pieces of art, CFASS had to confront even greater numbers of defections and complaints.

Christie’s Fine Art Storage Services was incorporated relatively recently with the Department of State on April 21^st, 2009. Although it is registered in Kings County, Christie’s  Fine Art Storage Services comes under Delaware jurisdiction. Process Service is accepted via a registered agent or by service upon a high-ranking officer of the company. 

HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS ON CHRISTIE’S NEW YORK ART TRADING SERVICE CO. LTD

Christie’s Fine Art Storage services should not be confused with Christie’s New York Art Trading Service Co. Ltd, filed for incorporation with the Department of State on September 21^st, 2016.

Christie’s New York Art Trading Service Co. Ltd is thus a domestic business corporation incorporated under the laws of New York, registered in the county of Albany. The Department of State will mail Process Service to the entity in case they ever receive Process Service on their behalf.  Process Service on a registered agent may be made in the manner provided by law for the service of a summons. This procedure acts as if the agent was a defendant and thus fulfills New Process Service upon the agent. Christie’s New York Art Trading Service Co. Ltd does not have a registered agent, whereinafter the requisite Process Service can be made to the Secretary of State on behalf of the agency. 

HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS ON CHRISTIE’S EDUCATION

One of the unique things about Christie’s Education is that it is entirely owned and operated by Christie’s auction house, which results in a curriculum that is difficult to replicate. For those interested in the art market, Christie’s Education offers a varied choice of courses, including art history, collecting, art business, and luxury. Christie’s Education was filed with the Department of State for its incorporation on January 26^th, 1996. 

The corporation is governed by the laws of the state of Delaware, although the corporation itself is located in New York in its capacity as a foreign business corporation for the state of New York. Notwithstanding the nature of the business and the category of the corporation, the Department of State-compliant Process Service will be performed in the State of New York for this company, with designated officers selected that are eligible to approve Process Service due to their position within the organization. Considering that the entity is based in Delaware and is a foreign business corporation, it stands to reason that the corporation’s New York base is identified as the Principal Executive Officer of Christie’s Education, which is not the same as the office where the Department of State may serve Process Service.

It must be understood at this juncture that Process Service for Christie’s Education may be done on their appointed Registered Agent, who remains CT Corporation. Generally, to address Process Service or to change the agent for the same, it is required that the corporation notify the current registered process operator, or notify the secretary of state. Some agencies will handle this change as one of their services

HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS ON CHRISTIE’S ENTERPRISES

At Christie’s Enterprises, the county of filing was Nassau when the Group filed for Department of State incorporation on August 7^th, 2008. If necessary, the Department of State is empowered to accept Process Service on behalf of the entity, given the power upon the filing of the incorporation with the state. 

Process Service on a registered agent may be made in the manner provided by law for the service of a summons. This procedure acts as if the agent was a defendant and thus fulfills New York City Process Service upon the agent. Christie’s Enterprises does have a registered agent, whereinafter the requisite Process Service can be made to the Secretary of State on behalf of the agency. However, unlike most of Christie’s subsidiaries, the registered agent is a Corporation Service Company. 

Process Service can be done upon a domestic or authorized foreign corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, or limited liability partnership, although this  Process Service usually requires that two copies of the Process Service be personally served on the New York Secretary of State or any person authorized by them at the Office of the New York Department. The Department of State will mail Process Service to the entity at their offices if they accept New York City Process Service on behalf of the entity.  

If New York City Process Service is levied on the Secretary of State as an agent of a domestic corporation an authorized foreign corporation, this Process Service is only acceptable by personally delivering to and leaving with the Secretary of State or their deputy said requisite documents. At the office of the Department Of State in the city of Albany, it is necessary to provide duplicate copies of such Process Service together with the statutory fee, which fee shall be a taxable disbursement in order to complete service. 

The Secretary of State shall promptly send one of such copies by certified mail, return receipt requested, to such corporation, at the post office address, on file in the Department of State, specified for the purpose of Process Service.

HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS ON CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE GROUP, INC

Christie’s International Real Estate Group Incorporated filed under the Department of State first on April 24^th of 1987, being eligible for New York-based jurisdiction. Christie’s International Real Estate Group Incorporated is thus a domestic business corporation incorporated under the laws of New York, allowing for New York jurisdiction over its functioning. The Department of State is supposed to mail the process to the entity in case they ever receive the process on their behalf.

Christie’s International Real Estate Group has designated Registered Agent Solutions as its registered agent. Consequently, the Department of State Process Service will be mailed on behalf of this entity to their registered agent. 

Regardless, DOS Process Service may be conducted for this entity in the State of New York, even if it is not exactly the office as located in Albany, with appointed officers being identified who are qualified to accept Process Service by being ranked as highly in the corporation. It must be noted at this juncture that the Principal Executive Officer of Christie’s International Real Estate Group is not the same as the office where Process Service may be levied by the Department of State. This is because this Principal Executive Office is located where the United States base of Christie’s Inc. has been established- Rockefeller Plaza. 

Interestingly, Christie’s International Real Estate Group has made minor modifications to its name from 1987, the current iteration being set into action on March 26^th of 2018. Prior to this, Christie’s International Real Estate Group was called Christie’s International Real Estate-NY Properties, Inc in 2017, and was filed as Christie’s Realty International, Inc when the original Department of State filing was done in 1987.

HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS ON CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE, INC

It is exceedingly important to note that Christie’s International Real Estate Group Incorporated is not the same as Christie’s International Real Estate, Inc, the latter of which was filed for incorporation with the Department of State much later on October 6^th, 2005. Perhaps clearing up potential miscommunication early on, Christie’s International Real Estate was filed with the Department of State originally as Christie’s Great Estates, Inc. Furthermore, Christie’s International Real Estate, Inc. does not fall under New York jurisdiction. 

The jurisdiction for Christie’s International Real Estate, Inc. is Delaware, although its location county is currently New York. Consequently, since Christie’s International Real Estate follows Delaware jurisdiction, it is deemed to be a foreign business corporation. 

Regardless, DOS Process Service may be conducted for this entity in the State of New York, with appointed officers being identified who are qualified to accept New York City Process Service by being ranked highly in the corporation. It must be noted at this juncture that the Principal Executive Officer of Christie’s International Real Estate is not the same as the office where Process Service may be levied by the Department of State. 

In their capacity as a foreign business corporation, Process Service for Christie’s International Real Estate may be done on their appointed Registered Agent, who remains Registered Agent Solutions, Inc. in this case. The registered agent, or agent of service, provides a legal address—within the jurisdiction where the company is established—where legal documents can be served during standard business hours. The registered agent’s duty is to receive and forward that Process Service to the entity’s designated contact within the service bracket. 

HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS ON CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE WESTCHESTER & HUDSON VALLEY NEW YORK, INC

Confusingly enough, Christie’s also has a subsidiary dubbed Christie’s International Real Estate Westchester & Hudson Valley New York, Inc in addition to Christie’s International Real Estate Group. However, the entity filed for incorporation in 2017 under the name Bramshill Realty, Inc, whereinafter it was dubbed its current appellation in 2019.

The jurisdiction of Westchester county is what governs Christie’s International Real Estate Westchester & Hudson Valley New York, Inc, and the subsidiary filed for its Department of State incorporation relatively late on May 11^th, 2017. Like Christie’s International Real Estate Group, the entity is a Domestic Business Corporation that comes under the laws of New York. However, the registered agent for Christie’s International Real Estate Westchester & Hudson Valley New York differs, with the Ruth Gilleo being registered with the Department of State as the registered agent. Furthermore, the address to which the Department of State will mail Process Service on behalf of the entity also differs, with service of process not being directed to Washington Avenue. 

HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS ON CHRISTIE’S LAKESHORE REALTY, CORP

Christie’s Lakeshore Realty, Corp is an additional real-estate-based subsidiary of Christie’s and filed its Department of State incorporation certification in 1993, being eligible for New York-based jurisdiction as a domestic business corporation from the county of Warren. The Department of State will mail Process Service to the entity in case they ever receive Process Service on their behalf, although they are also authorized to accept New York City Process Service on behalf of the entity, given the power upon the filing of the incorporation with the state.

New York City Process Service on a registered agent may be made in the manner provided by law for the service of a summons. This Process Service acts as if the agent was a defendant and thus fulfills New York City Process Service upon the agent. Christie’s Lakeshore Realty Corp does not have a registered agent, whereinafter the requisite Process Service can be made to the Secretary of State on behalf of the agency. New York City Process Service can be done upon a domestic or authorized foreign corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, or limited liability partnership, although this New York City Process Service usually requires that two copies of the process be personally served on the New York Secretary of State or any person authorized by them at the Office of the New York Department. The Department of State will mail Process Service to the entity at their offices if they accept New York City Process Service on behalf of the entity. 

If New York City Process Service is levied on the Secretary of State as an agent of a domestic corporation an authorized foreign corporation, this service is only acceptable by personally delivering to and leaving with the Secretary of State or their deputy,  the requisite documents.  This is usually an option undertaken by Christie’s Lakeshore Realty, Corp., since they have no registered agent.

HOW TO SERVE LGAL PAPERS ON CHRISTIE’S GOLF & MORE LLC

One of Christie’s subsidiaries is Christie’s Golf & More LLC, which was established on Apr 28 2005 as a domestic limited liability company. Since it is a domestic limited liability company,  the Process Service jurisdiction falls under that of New York laws. 

The county of governance for Christie’s Golf & More is  Suffolk. However, unlike many subsidiaries, there exists no registered agent for service of process, with even Department of State process being forwarded to a PO box. 

HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS ON CHRISTIE’S APPRAISALS INC

Since 1766, Christie’s has been providing reliable appraisals. Christie’s Estates, Appraisals & Valuations offers a simplified, efficient service. it is the responsibility of Christie’s Appraisals to supervise every part of a valuation, taking into account the many unique requirements of executors, attorneys, and other professional advisers.

The industry standard for fully illustrated valuation documentation is Christie’s. Our worldwide team produces values in over eighty collecting categories that may be used as the foundation for consignments, insurance, and taxes. These values are critical for collection management and informed estate planning. Christie’s Estates, Appraisals & Valuations collaborates closely with the Heritage & Taxation Advisory Service, which provides tax assistance to clients and their professional advisors on the many taxes and reporting rules impacting assets and heritage property.

Christie’s Appraisals Inc. is one of the oldest branches of Christie’s. It was incorporated with the Department of State on April 22^nd of 1977 in New York with New York jurisdiction. The entity is typified as a domestic business corporation and receives process forward from the Department of State via its registered agent. Like most Christie’s subsidiaries, the registered agent is Registered Agent Solutions, Inc, authorized to accept service of process on behalf of the entity. The principal office of Christie’s Appraisals remains Rockefeller Plaza.

HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS ON CHRISTIE’S CONTRACTING LLC

Christie’s further retains a subsidiary as is Christie’s Contracting LLC, established in the same year as Christie’s Golf & More as a domestic limited liability company. However, the county that Christie’s Contracting LLC falls under is Duchess County, although the company is still under New York law. There is no registered agent for Christie’s Contracting LLC, with service of process from the Department of State being directly forwarded to their address. 

Christie’s worldwide presence is comprised of a network of foreign salerooms and over sixty agents and offices located across the world. The website for Christie’s, Christies.com features in-depth information and films on the items for sale, as well as the newest advancements in digital viewing technologies, making Christie’s accessible to everyone. With Bonhams, Christie’s is a shareholder in the London-based Art Loss Register, a privately owned database used by law enforcement services worldwide to trace and recover stolen art.

for assistance serving legal papers

Simply pick up the phone and call Toll Free (800) 774-6922 or click the service you want to purchase. Our dedicated team of professionals is ready to assist you. We can handle all of your process service needs; no job is too small or too large!

Contact us for more information about our process serving agency. We are ready to provide service of process to all of our clients globally from our offices in New York, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Washington D.C

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives” – Foster, William A

Sources

1. Chief Executive Officer

JENNIFER ZATORSKI

20 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10020

Principal Executive Office

CHRISTIE’S INC.

20 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10020

2. DOS Process (Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity)

C/O REGISTERED AGENT SOLUTIONS, INC.

99 WASHINGTON AVENUE

SUITE 1008

ALBANY, NEW YORK, 12260

3. Christie’s had 85 offices in 43 countries including New York City, Los Angeles, Paris, Geneva, Houston, Amsterdam, Moscow, Vienna, Buenos Aires, Berlin, Rome, South Korea, Milan, Madrid, Japan, China, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Tel Aviv, Dubai, and Mexico City

4. Principal Executive Office

CHRISTIE MUCCI

18 TIMBER LANE

MANHASSET, NEW YORK, 11030

5. DOS Process (Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity)

CHRISTIE MUCCI

18 TIMBER LANE

MANHASSET, NEW YORK, 11030

6. Chief Executive Officer

CHRISTIE MUCCI

18 TIMBER LANE

MANHASSET, NEW YORK, 11030

7. Maintained at 70° and 50% relative humidity

8. Art collector Gregor Piatigorsky and his wife Jacqueline Rebecca Louise de Rothschild filed a complaint against CFASS in a New York court in 2013 saying that the insurance company’s ‘gross negligence’ caused harm to the art they purchased from the late cellist. About a year after the Neiman case was filed, StarNet Insurance Firm filed a claim in New York Supreme Court on behalf of the LeRoy Neiman Foundation and the artist’s estate, using the storage company for more than $10 million in damages caused to Neiman’s artwork

9. DOS Process (Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity)

C/O REGISTERED AGENT SOLUTIONS, INC.

99 WASHINGTON AVENUE

SUITE 1008

ALBANY, NEW YORK, 12260

10. Registered Agent

REGISTERED AGENT SOLUTIONS, INC.

99 WASHINGTON AVENUE

SUITE 1008

ALBANY, NEW YORK, 12260

11. Chief Executive Officer

EMILY SAROKIN

20 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10020

12. Principal Executive Office

CHRISTIE’S FINE ART STORAGE SERVICES INC.

20 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10020

13. DOS Process (Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity)

C/O REGISTERED AGENTS INC.

90 STATE STREET

SUITE 700, OFFICE 40

ALBANY, DELAWARE, 12207

14. New York Consolidated Laws, Not-For-Profit Corporation Law – NPC § 306. Service of process

15. Chief Executive Officer

DOUGLAS E. GIORDANO

235 EAST 42ND STREET

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10017-5703

16. Principal Executive Office

CHRISTIE’S EDUCATION

20 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10020

17. DOS Process (Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity)

CORPORATION SERVICE COMPANY

80 STATE STREET

ALBANY, NEW YORK, 12207

18. New York Consolidated Laws, Not-For-Profit Corporation Law – NPC § 306. Service of process

19. Registered Agent

CORPORATION SERVICE COMPANY
80 STATE STREET
ALBANY, NEW YORK, 12207

20. Registered Agent

REGISTERED AGENT SOLUTIONS, INC.

99 WASHINGTON AVENUE

SUITE 1008

ALBANY, NEW YORK, 12260

21. DOS Process (Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity)

C/O REGISTERED AGENT SOLUTIONS, INC.

99 WASHINGTON AVENUE

SUITE 1008

ALBANY, NEW YORK, 12260

22. Chief Executive Officer

DAN CONN

20 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10020

23. Principal Executive Office

CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE-NY PROPERTIES, INC.

20 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10020

24. DOS Process (Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity)

C/O REGISTERED AGENT SOLUTIONS, INC.

99 WASHINGTON AVENUE

SUITE 1008

ALBANY, NEW YORK, 12260

25. Chief Executive Officer

DAN CONN

20 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10020