Chillin’ in Court
Sotheby’s Guy. So, there’s this ongoing beef between Russian big shot Dmitry Rybolovlev and the fancy auction house Sotheby’s. They’re saying Sotheby’s helped bleed Rybolovlev of a cool $1 billion. This time, it’s their private sales head, Samuel Valette, back on the hot seat. But hold up, it’s not the same intense vibe – Sotheby’s lawyer, Marcus Asner, is the one asking the questions this time.
Easy Day in the Office
Compared to the previous day’s showdown with Rybolovlev’s lawyer, Daniel Kornstein, Thursday was like a laid-back coffee chat. Asner was digging into Valette about the nitty-gritty, but it felt way more relaxed.
Switching Gears
Asner’s move was to untangle the knots Kornstein was trying to tie up the day before. He went back to some of the same questions but hit them from a different angle, trying to get Valette to spill more details.
Key Client Manager Drama, Take Two
The other day, Kornstein asked Valette if he ever told Rybolovlev that he was his Key Client Manager (KCM). Valette’s answer was a flat-out “No.” Asner circled back to the same question, and this time, Valette spilled the tea. He explained that jumping in as the KCM would’ve been awkward since Rybolovlev was invited by art dealer Bouvier. Valette saw his role as building a connection over time, and since he was already working with Bouvier, going after Rybolovlev would’ve been a shady move. -koin303
Art School with Asner
Asner threw in some art history and market lessons, asking Valette to break down stuff like Impressionism, Surrealism, guarantees, and irrevocable bids. It wasn’t all serious – Asner managed to crack a few jokes and get some laughs in the courtroom.
Memory Lane
Funny thing, they didn’t dwell much on Valette admitting he wasn’t up to speed on certain Sotheby’s policies the day before. Asner’s main point was that in every deal with Sotheby’s, Bouvier was the main guy – the one responsible for the cash.
Bouvier’s Mic Drop Moment
Surprisingly, Yves Bouvier, the Swiss dude at the center of this mess, kept a low profile this time. But he didn’t stay completely quiet – he dropped a statement through his Swiss law peeps. Bouvier called the trial a “surreal charade” and reminded everyone that courts worldwide already cleared his name. Oh, and he made sure to point out how Rybolovlev made bank selling a painting he got from Bouvier.
Wrapping It Up
Thursday’s trial vibe was more like a chat, with Asner trying to clear up the mess around Sotheby’s, Bouvier. While the courtroom drama unfolded, Bouvier took a sec to remind everyone he’s innocent. The billion-dollar art world saga keeps rolling on, and every day spills more tea.