Raymond J. Dowd Examines the Legal Imperative for Nazi-Looted Art Restitution

Attorney and legal scholar Raymond J. Dowd has long championed the Foundation’s mission and shares its commitment to addressing the enduring injustices caused by the Nazis’ systematic looting of cultural property during World War II. Through his practice and scholarship, he has helped advance restitution and other “just and fair” solutions for rightful owners and heirs, while deepening public understanding of the legal issues that continue to surround Nazi-confiscated art.

The Foundation is pleased to share his latest essay, “Taking the Profit Out of War: Why International Law Requires Restitution of Nazi-Looted Art,” published in the Fordham Law Review Online. Written for legal and general audiences alike, the essay examines the historical and legal foundations of restitutions and argues that the return of Nazi-looted art is not merely a moral responsibility, but an obligation under international law.

We are grateful for Dowd’s continued contributions to the pursuit of justice and for his commitment to advancing legal understanding and offering solutions to the complex issues surrounding Nazi-confiscated art.

Raymond J. Dowd is a partner at Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP, an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law, a visiting professor (2023–25) and doctoral candidate at Panthéon-Sorbonne University School of Law (Paris I), and a trial and appellate counsel to families seeking to recover artworks lost during World War II.

DOWD_TAKING THE PROFIT OUT OF WAR: WHY INTERNATIONAL LAW REQUIRES RESTITUTION OF NAZI-LOOT.

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