Kujtesa Nezaj-Shehu

- Head of Office *
- Attorney At Law
- Patent and Trademark Attorney
With 15 years of experience in intellectual property, Kujtesa’s practice focuses on contentious and non-contentious patent, trademark, industrial design and copyright matters. She has successfully represented leading multinational companies across various industries, including oil, automotive, apparel, and food and beverage, in numerous IP matters, with a particular focus on enforcement. Kujtesa recently successfully represented a well-known multinational fast fashion company before the Kosovo Appellate Court in a case involving unauthorized importation and placing of goods on the local market. She represents clients before the courts, the Kosovo Industrial Property Office, where she is a certified Patent and Trademark Agent, as well as the local customs authorities.
Kujtesa is a certified trainer of the Kosovo Bar Association and regularly provides trainings on trademarks to Bar members. She was also a consultant in several USAID projects involving preparation of trademark and patent manuals for attorneys and judges, while she has also provided trainings for judges from courts of different instances. Kujtesa is also listed as an arbitrator with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Center of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo. She regularly writes articles and contributes to chapters on intellectual property protection in Kosovo for different international IP publications. Kujtesa is an active INTA and AIPPI member and has represented SDP KOSOVË at various conferences.
Prior to joining SDP KOSOVË in 2007, Kujtesa worked as a human rights trainer for the non-governmental organization Hareja. She also worked as a database operator for KosInvest/World Vision.
* Independent Contractor
- Attorney at Law, Kosovo Bar Association, 2016
- Patent and Trademark Attorney, Kosovo, 2008
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America, LLM in Intellectual Property, May 2010
- Faculty of Law, University of Prishtina, Kosovo, LLB, 2006
- "Kosovo: Latest IP Developments and Tips", PETOŠEVIĆ Webinar on Special-Status Territories: Kosovo, Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, BrightTALK, December 5, 2012
- "IP Rights in Kosovo – What You Need to Know", PETOŠEVIĆ Webinar on Enforcement Strategy in Eastern Europe, BrightTALK, December 1, 2010
- "Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Through Intellectual Property Protection". Horizon. Issue 29. AmCham Kosovo. (March, 2019)
- "Kosovo Chapter". Manual for the Handling of Applications for Patents, Designs and Trademarks throughout the World. Kluwer Law International. (2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
- "Kosovo Amends Patent and Trademark Legislation". World Intellectual Property Report. Vol. 29. No. 11. Bloomberg BNA. (November, 2015)
- "Stabilization and Association Agreement and its Impact on the Protection of IP Rights in Kosovo". IPWatchdog. (June 2016)
- “Amendments to Law on Trademarks come into force (Kosovo)”. World Trademark Review Daily. Globe Business Media Group. (October 2, 2015)
- “The State of Play in Kosovo”. Expert Review Section. CEE Legal Matters. (February 2014)
- "The State of Play in Kosovo". CEE Legal Matters. CEE Legal Matters. (February, 2014)
- "Problems With Kosovo's Criminal Copyright Enforcement". Law360. (November 2013)
- "Problems With Kosovo's Criminal Copyright Enforcement". IP Law360. Portfolio Media, Inc. (November 15, 2013)
- "Five IP-Related Administrative Instructions Enter into Force in Kosovo". Www.mondaq.com. Mondaq. (October 3, 2012)
- "Kosovo". Trademark Practice & Forms. Thomson Reuters/West. (July, 2012)
- Contributor for Kosovo to the online "Trademark Licensing Special". Country Index. (December, 2011)
- "Kosovo case summaries". The Trademark Reporter Vol. 101 No. 3. International Trademark Association. (May-June, 2011)
- "Kosovo". Trademarks Throughout the World 5th Edition. Thomson Reuters/West. (October, 2010)
- "Recent Intellectual Property Developments in Kosovo: Lessons Learned, Challenges Ahead". Bloomberg Law Reports Vol. 5 No. 44. (October, 2011)
- "Border Measures in Kosovo and Montenegro". Trademark World. (May 2008)
- International Trademark Association Committee Member, Copyright Committee, 2022 - 2023 Term
- International Trademark Association Committee Member, Geographical Indications Committee, 2018 – 2019 Term
- International Trademark Association Committee Member, Harmonization of Trademark Law and Practice Committee, 2016 - 2017 Term
- International Trademark Association Committee Member, Law & Practice – Europe and Central Asia Subcommittee of the INTA Bulletin Committee, 2014 - 2015 Term
- International Trademark Association Committee Member, Europe and Central Asia Subcommittee of the Legislation and Regulation Committee, 2012 – 2013 Term
- INTA
- AIPPI
- FICPI