Biography
Laura Woolley attended New York University, receiving a bachelor's degree in art history. She worked at Sotheby’s Auction house in New York from 1997 to 2001 in the company’s Collectibles department, participating in the sale of film posters, antique toys, Hollywood and rock-n-roll memorabilia.
She left Sotheby’s to study at The London School of Economics where she earned a master's degree in new media and communications. She returned to the United States as the chief operating officer of Julien’s Auction house in Los Angeles, where she helped the company build its live auction business, managing sales of Barbra Streisand, Marilyn Monroe, Cher, and Michael Jackson, in addition to a full schedule of entertainment memorabilia and charity sales.
As an independent appraiser she is a certified member of the Appraiser's Association of America, which is the highest level of membership representing those appraisers who have the most extensive level of expertise, education, and experience. She has also successfully completed the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) examination. Laura founded her own company, The Collector's Lab, in 2007, with the goal of providing individualized, high-level professional and appraisal services to private collectors, institutions, insurance companies, museums, and wealth management professionals.