Polina Ivko
Partner
Polina Ivko, a New Yorker with roots in Ukraine, is an artist and musician turned lawyer with a proven track record in the art and entertainment sectors. Recognized as a “powerhouse” by her clients and multiple organizations, she advises a global clientele that includes public and private companies, individuals, institutions, and governments. Polina is a frequent speaker and a prolific writer on cutting-edge topics related to art, music, film, and luxury goods, drawing from her experience as judicial law clerkship, private practice, in-house and business advising.
Experience
Polina Ivko is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Adwar Ivko. She has over two decades of combined art and entertainment experience as a creator, a businesswoman, an attorney, an educator and a board member. Her main concentration is in corporate law, intellectual property, regulatory and compliance, First Amendment, executive compensation, international law, and nonprofit law. A longtime Chair of Sponsorships for the American Bar Association's Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries, Polina has been recognized as a New York “Super Lawyer” in entertainment law by Thomson Reuters for five consecutive years, as well as other organizations.
An artist turned lawyer, Polina was inducted into Une Femme’s annual Hall of Femme, celebrating women who break barriers and shatter glass ceilings. According to Une Femme, honorees are “women at the top of their game—dreamers, doers, decision-makers, and influencers who embody strength, power, positivity, and inclusion.” They are also recognized for their commitment to bringing other women into conversations, opportunities, and leadership roles.
Polina’s commitment to uplifting women in law took center stage when her practice became the first to receive The She Mark certification for being 100% women-run, owned, and governed. Driven by her vision to break barriers, Polina’s dedication to client care and industry innovation also earned her a short-listed nomination for Partner of the Year from the Luxury Law Summit. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Big Law contenders, she remains grounded in a people-first approach, nurturing genuine connections with clients and colleagues.
A thought after advisor, Polina sits on various boards in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, including Triple Canopy, Digital Original, and Borshch of Art.
Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Arnold, a Judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, for whom Polina served as a trainee (the U.S. equivalent of a judicial law clerk) at the Chancery Chambers, significantly extended her term in recognition of her dedication to the judiciary and her passion for the arts, an exceptionally rare move at the time. During her clerkship, she observed and contributed to high-stakes litigation involving global corporations with robust IP portfolios, prominent public figures such as Rita Ora and former rugby captain Matt Dawson, and even the estate of the late oligarch Boris Berezovsky.
Polina’s work extends beyond traditional legal practice. She serves on the boards of companies and nonprofits, including Digital Original, Triple Canopy, and Borshch of Art. In addition, she offers mediation and expert witness services.
Prior to Adwar Ivko, Polina also served as a fellow for a distinguished nonprofit in Washington D.C., worked at prominent law firms specializing in art and entertainment sectors, served as an in-house counsel for Phillips (top three global auction houses), and ran her own law practice.
Polina is an active member of the following organizations, in some of which she holds leadership positions, including: the Recording Academy, Independent Music Publishers International Forum, American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment & Sports Industries, the International Trademark Association, Appraisers Association of America, Art Law Committee of New York City Bar Association, Communications & Media Law Committee of New York City Nar Association. She was also previously involved with the Aspen Institute Artist-Endowed Foundations Initiative and was a visiting researcher at the University of Tubingen in Germany.
Track Record
Among many other cases, Polina has contributed to successful representation of sovereign nations such as Italy and Greece in federal courts, which often required working alongside in-house counsel, ministry officials, foreign and domestic law enforcement agencies, and multiple law firms. One such landmark matter was a lawsuit against Greece initiated by Sotheby’s and the Barnets, a New York collector family, which helped shape current repatriation practices.
Polina has also represented musicians, family offices, artists, collectors, galleries, museums, production companies, and other clients in court and before arbitration bodies, with a focus on intellectual property, breach of contract, corporate governance, international law, and federal regulations.
A seasoned dealmaker, Polina’s practice is not limited to litigation. She has closed a range of deals with major auction houses, film and TV studios, global mass media companies, record labels, media distributors, financial institutions, alcoholic beverage companies, beauty conglomerates, and museums. No deal is ever too big or too small. Polina happily represents clients of all calibers with sensibility in mind.
A longtime advisor to the International Foundation for Art Research (IFAR), Polina developed an acumen for guiding institutions without in-house legal teams. IFAR is an educational and research organization that has promoted integrity in the visual arts for over 55 years.In addition to attending to IFAR’s day-to-day legal needs, she also oversaw its Art Law & Cultural Property database. It comprises two key resources: International Cultural Property Ownership and Export Legislation (ICPOEL) and Case Law & Statutes (CLS). These tools help readers navigate complex legislation and case law on acquiring and owning artworks.
Publications
“Artist Forgoes Supreme Court Hearing, Cementing Second Circuit’s Take on VARA,” IFAR Journal, Vol. 22, No. 1/2 (2023)
“Florida Court’s Banana Decision Results in ‘A Peel,’” IFAR Journal, Vol. 22, No. 1/2 (2023)
“Dutch Supreme Court Rules That the Crimean Gold Should Go Back to Ukraine, Not Museums in Russian-Annexed Crimea,” IFAR Journal, Vol. 22, No. 1/2 (2023)
“The Long-Running ‘Guelph Treasure’ Case Ends—Not Happily for the Plaintiffs,” IFAR Journal, Vol. 22, No. 1/2 (2023)
“Turkey’s Claim for Guennol Stargazer Quietly Ends,” IFAR Journal, Vol. 22, No. 1/2 (2023)
“Cassirer Case Returns to the Lower Court after Supreme Court Ruling,” IFAR Journal, Vol. 21, No. 1/2 (2022)
“Two Schiele Works on Paper to be Sold at Auction after Decision in Title Dispute,” IFAR Journal, Vol. 21, No. 1/2 (2022)
“New Law Mandates Notices by New York State Museums About Nazi-Tainted Artworks,” IFAR Journal, Vol. 21, No. 1/2 (2022)
“A Warhol Image Familiar to IFAR Journal Readers Scheduled for Auction,” IFAR Journal, Vol. 21, No. 1/2 (2022)
“A Museum by Any Other Name? ICOM Issues New Museum Definition—But Not Without Controversy and Struggle,” IFAR Journal, Vol. 21, No. 1/2 (2022)
“Court Rules for Howard University over Charles White’s Centralia Madonna,” IFAR Journal, Vol. 21, No. 3/4 (2022/2023)
“Dispute over Van Gogh Lent to Detroit Ends with Immunity from Seizure Law Intact,” IFAR Journal, Vol. 21, No. 3/4 (2022/2023)
Presentations & Media Appearances
Polina is a frequent speaker at leading academic and industry forums, sharing insights on art law, cultural property, and entertainment law. A non-exhaustive list of her appearances includes:
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Making it in Art and Entertainment Law
Circa: 2025 | New York, NY
The Art Daddy
Lisa Schiff Gets 30 Months in Prison—What Sets This Case Apart from Other Art World Scandals?
Circa: 2025 | Interview
California Lawyers for the Arts (CLA) / VLA Chapter
AI Essentials for Creatives and Startups: Legal Insights, Best Practices, and Industry Pitfalls
Circa: 2025 | Webinar
The Daily Blaze / Price of Business Podcast
Handling Art Restitution Cases: Insights from an Expert
Circa: 2024 | Interview
Q&A with Sally Jane Brown
Art Lawyer, Mediator, Speaker, Writer, Philanthropist: A Conversation with Polina Ivko
Date: 2024 | Interview
Amsterdam Dance Event
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Creativity
Circa: 2024 | Amsterdam, the Netherlands
University of Texas Law CLE & TESLAW’s Entertainment Law Institute
Planning Committee Contributor: Legal Issues with Artists Expanding into New Mediums
Circa: 2024 | Austin, TX
American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
Emerging Legal Challenges in Digital Asset Markets
Circa: 2024 | Austin, TX
UCLA School of Law – Art Law Society
Career Panel: Pathways in Art Law
Circa: 2023 | Virtual panel
Dallas Bar Attorneys
#NFT Litigation Update
Circa: 2023 | Dallas, TX
California Society of CPAs (CalCPA)
Art and Other Tangible Properties: Legal and Valuation Challenges
Circa: 2023 | Los Angeles, CA
ABA Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries
What is Fair? The Implications of the Warhol Decision on Entertainment and the Arts
Circa: 2023 | Philadelphia, PA
ONBD Magazine
Chitchat with a Founder: Polina Ivko (a candid conversation exploring Polina’s journey as an art lawyer, her perspective on Web3, and the evolving intersection of law, culture, and technology)
Circa: 2023 | Virtual
ABA Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries
Ukraine Under Siege: Ramifications of Russia’s War on Art & Entertainment
Circa: 2022 | Las Vegas, NV
ABA Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries
The Metaverse: What This New Immersive Virtual World Means for the Entertainment Industry and Virtual Creative Spaces
Circa: 2022 | Las Vegas, NV
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Museum Attorneys Group)
NFT 101 for Museums and Cultural Institutions
Circa: 2022 | Washington, D.C.
University of Miami School of Law
Lecture: NFTs and the Law
Circa: 2022 | Miami, FL
The Cutting Edge Music Business Conference
NFTs—The Good, The Bad, and The Confusing
Circa: 2022 | New Orleans, LA
Miami Web Fest
Film Law Panel
Circa: 2021 | Miami, FL
California Western School of Law
Guest Lecture: Auction Law and Market Practices
Circa: 2020 | Virtual
Baltimore Web Fest
Co-Keynote Speaker: Entertainment Law for Filmmakers and Web Creators
Circa: 2019 | Baltimore, MD
Columbia University – M.A. in Gallery Studies
Art Law Lecture
Circa: 2019 | New York, NY
myLawCLE
Breaking into Entertainment Law: Real Strategies for Aspiring Lawyers
Circa: 2018 | Miami, FL
ABA Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries
Breaking into Entertainment Law
Circa: 2019 | Miami, FL
Recognitions
Polina has been recognized as a top attorney in her field by multiple organizations throughout the years. A non-exhaustive list of her awards includes:
New York Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year (2025)
Lawyers Worldwide Awards – Outstanding Lawyers
Awarded to Adwar Ivko in recognition of the firm’s leadership in intellectual property law, driven by the vision of partners Polina Ivko and Stephanie Furgang Adwar.
Chambers & Partners (2025)
Media & Entertainment Spotlight Award
Honored for leadership and innovation in media and entertainment law.
Super Lawyers – New York Metro (2020-Present)
Recognized for excellence in art and entertainment law for five consecutive years.
Luxury Law Awards (2023)
Partner of the Year Finalist
Shortlisted alongside Big Law partners for excellence in client service and impact on the luxury sector.
The She Mark Certification (2023)
Recognized as the first law practice certified by The She Mark for being 100% women-run, owned, and governed.
Hall of Femme Inductee (2022)
Celebrated for contributions to the legal and creative industries as a woman leader and advocate.
American Bar Association (2020)
Rising Star in Entertainment and Sports
Credentials
Bar Admissions
New York State
U.S. District Court | Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court | Eastern District of New York
Florida | Authorized House Counsel
Education
University of Miami School of Law | Joint J.D. & LL.M. | Art, Entertainment & Sports Law
Georgetown University & King’s College London | J.D. Supplement | International Business, Trade and Tax Law
Certifications & Licenses
Notary Public | New York State Department of State
Certified Mediator | New York Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA)
Real Estate Broker | New York State Department of State
