Slobodan Petošević

  • Group COO
  • EECA Managing Partner
@slobodan.petosevic
slobodan.petosevic@cwbip.com
+352 27 700880

Slobodan oversees and streamlines all aspects of the firm’s practice in all regions in which CWB operates. He supervises the firm’s activities, provides leadership and mentorship to all offices and departments and devises strategies to improve client service. With more than 30 years of experience in the IP field, Slobodan’s practice ranges through all areas of IP and currently concentrates on contentious and negotiating strategies, brand development and enforcement of IP rights.

Slobodan was the founder and Chairman and CEO of PETOŠEVIĆ, before it merged into CWB. He led the firm with great success for over 30 years, having built a network of boutique, full-service IP firms throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Slobodan significantly contributed to the growth and development of the IP profession in the EECA region.

Slobodan is an active member of most influential and relevant IP organizations in the world and represents the Group at numerous conferences and events. He occasionally publishes articles and lectures on the subject of IP.

Experience

  • Successfully represented both regional and multinational clients across all industries throughout his career

  • Handled contentious and non-contentious patent, trademark and copyright matters throughout the EECA region, including IP rights enforcement and cross-border matters that require IP experience in multiple jurisdictions

  • As a specialist for the Balkan and other EECA countries, hired as an IP expert to work on several international projects, the objective of which was to improve IP rights protection in the region

Qualifications
  • Attorney at Law, Serbia Bar Association (1991-2014)
  • European Patent Attorney, 2011
  • Brussels Bar Association, B-list (1993-1997)
  • Patent, Trademark and Design Attorney, Serbia, 1992
Education
  • King's College, University of London, London, UK, Postgraduate Diploma in UK, EU and US Copyright Law (2000-2003, 2009-2011)
  • Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade, Serbia, LLB, 1989
Languages
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Serbian

Professional Activities

Publications

  • “EU Copyright Directive: Articles of Concern to Brand Owners”. The INTA Bulletin. Vol. 76. Issue 17. International Trademark Association. (April 28, 2021)

  • “EU-Ukraine IPR Dialogue Addresses Main Issues”. IPFrontline. IP.com. (November 20, 2015)

  • “The Patent Landscape in Eastern Europe”. The Patent Lawyer. CTC Legal Media. (September/October 2012)

  • Co-author “Exhaustion of IP Rights Provisions in the European Union and EU Candidate Countries” report - INTA European Legislative Analysis Sub-Committee, 2002

  • Co-author “Bad Faith Provisions in the European Union and EU Candidate Countries” report - INTA European Analysis Sub-Committee, 2001 - 2002

  • Co-author “Trade Mark Recordal Provisions in the European Union and EU Candidate Countries” report - INTA European Legislative Analysis Sub-Committee, 2001 - 2002

  • Analysis of the IP rights situation and strategy in Central, Eastern Europe and the Former USSR (data on 27 countries), published in multiple IP publications, 2001

  • Numerous articles concerning protection of intellectual property in publications such as Trademark World, Patent World, INTA Bulletin, World Intellectual Property Report

  • "AI and Copyright - Introduction from EU and UK Perspective", MARQUES Webinar "AI and Copyright - New Developments", June 10, 2022
  • "Leading with Agility - The Importance of Adaptability When Geopolitical Crisis and Change are Increasingly Common", Leading with Agility Panel Session, INTA Annual Meeting, 2022
  • “IP Rights and Social Networks,” ASIPI Panel on Challenges of IP Protection on Social Networks, Cuba, March 19, 2013
  • "Trademarks in Southeast Europe – What does the future hold?", PETOŠEVIĆ Webinar on Effect of EU Enlargement on Trademark Practice in Southeast Europe, BrightTALK, July 25, 2012
  • “Estimating the Value of IP in Litigation”, UNECE Training for Judges in Macedonia, Academy for Judges and Prosecutors, Skopje, Macedonia, September 25, 2012
  • "Enforcement Strategy in the Balkans", PETOŠEVIĆ Webinar on Enforcement Strategy in Eastern Europe, BrightTALK, December 1, 2010
  • "The Changing Landscape of Patents in Eastern Europe," New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), IP Section Annual Meeting, New York, NY, January 27, 2009
  • AIPPI
  • ASIPI
  • EPI (Board member 2012-2017)
  • INTA
  • LES
  • MARQUES
  • PTMG
  • AIPLA
  • FICPI
  • INTA Designs Committee, 2024-2025 Term
  • MARQUES Copyright Team, 2021-2023 Term
  • EPI's Professional Conduct Committee, 2020-2023 Term
  • INTA Unfair Competition Committee, 2022 - 2023 Term
  • INTA Chair of the Copyright Policy Subcommittee of the Copyright Committee , 2020-2021 Term
  • EPI's Professional Conduct Committee, 2017–2020 (Working Group on Revision of EPI's Code of Conduct; Advisory Group for EPI President in Disciplinary Matters)
  • INTA Vice-Chair of the Copyright Policy Subcommittee of the Copyright Committee, 2018-2019 Term
  • INTA Eastern Europe and Central Asia Subcommittee of the Anti-Counterfeiting Committee, 2016-2017 Term
  • INTA Eastern Europe and Central Asia Subcommittee of the Anti-Counterfeiting Committee, 2014-2015 Term
  • INTA Trade Names Subcommittee of the Enforcement Committee, 2012-2013 Term
  • INTA Legislation & Regulation Committee, 2010-2011 Term
  • AIPLA International and Foreign Law Committee
  • IACC / HIS - Expert Team Member
  • Substitute Member of the EPI Council, 2017-2023
  • Contributed to the "EU Copyright Directive 2019: Articles of Concern to Brand Owners" report by the Copyright Policy of INTA Subcommittee and the International & Legislative Subcommittee of the Copyright Committee, 2021
  • Contributed to the "Works Made for Hire: Review of Legislation and Practice" report prepared by a Cross-Subcommittee Task Force under the direction of the International & Legislative Subcommittee of the INTA Copyright Committee, 2021
  • Contributed to EUIPO-commissioned report "The Baseline of Trade Secrets Litigation in the EU", 2018
  • Co-chair of INTA’s 139th Annual Meeting in Barcelona, Spain, May 20-24, 2017
  • Regular Lecturer at INTA's "Course on International Trademark Law and Practice; Former USSR States and Eastern Europe". INTA Annual Meeting, 2009 - Present
  • Full Member of the EPI Council, 2011-2017
  • Lecturer at IP workshops, EU-funded project "Capacity Building of the Institute for IP through the Establishment of Information-Educational Centers", Consortium led by HD European Consulting Group, Bosnia and Herzegovina, February 2015
  • Regional Editor for "Trade Dress International Practice and Procedures". Global Trademark Research. INTA.
  • Close monitoring of developing intellectual property legislation in the Balkans and the former USSR, various INTA projects, 1985 - present
  • Legislation analysis for Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Poland, 2001 – 2002, INTA.
  • Legislation analysis for Poland, Russia, Hungary, Ukraine, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria relevant to enforcement of intellectual property rights - INTA Anti-Counterfeiting and Enforcement Committee, 1997-2000
  • Analysis of Yugoslavian intellectual property laws for the Federal Intellectual Property Office in Belgrade, Serbia, 1995
  • Member of the INTA's CPR Panel of Neutrals for Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2010-2015

  • Driving the practice forward is the group’s founder, Slobodan Petošević, a contentious ace, smooth negotiator and staunch brand protector. WTR 1000, 2023

  • “Highly professional, intelligent, charming and unbelievably energetic”, Slobodan Petošević “perfectly understands what clients need” and is a key driver of the firm’s longstanding success. WTR 1000, 2022

  • “Charismatic, bright and super-professional”, Slobodan Petošević is a pillar of the trademark community and a vital sounding board at the firm. WTR 1000, 2021

  • “Intelligent, charming, energetic and a total professional,” founder and CEO of the firm Slobodan Petošević is the organisation’s top strategist. WTR 1000, 2020

  • The firm’s illustrious founder Slobodan Petošević has been overseeing its operations for more than 25 years now; he is a venerated member of the IP community and an inspiration for up-and-coming practitioners. WTR 1000, 2019

  • Executive chairman and IP maven Slobodan Petošević has a ton of experience under his belt. He straddles the contentious/non-contentious divide with flair. WTR 1000, 2018

  • Slobodan Petošević specialises in the harmonisation of national and EU IP legislation; he has an intimate understanding of the legal complexities of the Western Balkans. WTR 1000, 2017

  • PETOŠEVIĆ offers a comprehensive package of contentious and non-contentious services to major names operating across the Balkans. The burgeoning team has enjoyed a series of decisive courtroom victories of late; it cracked down on infringements and the wholesale distribution of counterfeit goods. Away from the front lines, the group has also been busy with prosecution mandates. Luxembourg-based Slobodan Petošević lends inimitable wisdom to the team. WTR 1000, 2016

  • Slobodan Petošević is an eminent market figure, best known for handling cross-border cases. His practice covers patent and IP rights, and he is based in the Luxembourg office. Chambers Europe 2015

  • Slobodan Petošević is a leading market figure and he frequently handles complex cross-border cases. Chambers Europe 2014

  • The esteemed Slobodan Petosevic has been on the frontline of trademark developments for over 25 years. WTR 1000 Rankings 2014