Tarik Prolaz

  • Head of Office - Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Trademark and Patent Attorney
  • Attorney at Law *
  • Q&A

    • With over 15 years of IP-focused experience, Tarik mainly assists with contentious matters handled by the Sarajevo office, including legal research, gathering information requested in discovery, deposition preparation, filing of court documents and other litigation-related tasks. He also investigates possible infringements and drafts cease and desist letters.

    Over the course of his career, Tarik has represented a global hospitality company in multiple franchise cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina, enforced IP rights and fought counterfeits for the major players in the apparel, automotive, cosmetics and fashion industries, and advised a well-known social media platform on various legal issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including data protection and intellectual property matters.

    Tarik’s broad knowledge of the complex political, legal and cultural structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina ensues from participating in countless administrative, civil and criminal procedures before various governmental bodies. A skilled negotiator, Tarik has also participated in over 50 out-of-court settlements.

    In 2012, Tarik took a break from work to earn his LLM in intellectual property from University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

    In 2015, he participated in an EU-funded project aiming to improve the capacity of the Institute for Intellectual Property of Bosnia and Herzegovina by establishing centers for information and education. Tarik has participated in various other international projects aimed at raising awareness of IP, either individually, as a member of a consortium or as the head of the AmCham Intellectual Property Rights Committee.

    In 2018, Tarik was inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame, which highlights individuals who have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence.

    Prior to joining PETOŠEVIĆ in 2007, Tarik spent four years working in the field of social, business and market research.

    * Contractor

    Practice Areas

    Qualifications

    • Attorney at Law, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bar Association, 2016
    • Trademark and Patent Attorney, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2007

    Languages

    Bosnian (similar to Croatian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Serbian and Slovenian), fluent English, proficient Turkish

    Education

    • Faculty of Law, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, LLM in Intellectual Property, 2012
    • Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, LLB, 2005

    Publications

    Committees

    • International Trademark Association Committee Member, Public Information Committee, 2018 – 2019 Term, 2020 - 2021 Term
    • International Trademark Association Committee Member, Famous & Well-Known Marks Committee, 2016 - 2017 Term
    • International Trademark Association Committee Member, Europe & Central Asia Subcommittee of the Famous & Well-Known Marks Committee, 2014 - 2015 Term
    • International Trademark Association Committee Member, the Geographical Indications Subcommittee of the Related Rights Committee, 2012 – 2013 Term

    Membership

    • INTA

    Professional Activities

    • 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

    Testimonials

    • Tarik Prolaz regularly assists in contentious matters concerning domestic and international IP, and leads the team from the Sarajevo office. “Tarik Prolaz found suitable ways to achieve the goals of the client. He is a very capable attorney who is very knowledgeable in both domestic and foreign IP matters, which makes it very easy and pleasant to work with him.” Legal 500, 2023

    • PETOŠEVIĆ has a market-leading IP practice and is particularly highly regarded for its contentious offering, which includes prosecution, litigation and counterfeiting cases. Drawing on the wider firm’s network across the CEE region, the team is particularly able to provide support to cross-border businesses. Tarik Prolaz leads the team out of Sarajevo. Legal 500, 2022

    • PETOŠEVIĆ has an excellent market reputation across the intellectual property space and handles high-value litigation, prosecution and counterfeiting cases. Tarik Prolaz, who leads the team from the Sarajevo office, undertakes a number of contentious mandates for global clients operating in the hospitality and automotive sectors. Legal 500, 2021

    • Clients praise PETOŠEVIĆ as ‘the leading firm in intellectual property in Bosnia and Herzegovina’. Practice head Tarik Prolaz leads the team. A source has said: ‘Very outstanding partners and associates in multiple areas of intellectual property — including in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among others, I can name Ana Stojanović, Mihajlo Zatezalo and Tarik Prolaz, all of them with the highest level of integrity and professionalism.’Legal 500, 2020

    • IP boutique PETOŠEVIĆ is noted for providing comprehensive advice to domestic as well as international clients on contentious and non-contentious matters. The team, led by Tarik Prolaz, is increasingly active in counterfeiting cases and acted for a client in the fashion industry in a dispute concerning the import of counterfeit footwear. Legal 500, 2019

    • Specialist IP firm PETOŠEVIĆ’s team is ‘very responsive’. The group was active in several high-profile trade mark infringement disputes, with head of office Tarik Prolaz acting for a client in the restaurant sector in a dispute pertaining to unauthorised use of its trade marks by a competitor. Associate Berina Prolaz is another name to note. Legal 500, 2018

    • Specialist firm PETOŠEVIĆ is ‘professional, prompt and always bears in mind the client’s needs’. The team is led by the well-respected Tarik Prolaz, who acted for a longstanding international client from the automotive sector regarding the unauthorised use of its trade marks by a local construction company. Legal 500, 2017

    • Intellectual property specialist Petoševic has offices located throughout Southeastern Europe and is ‘one of the most efficient firms’, according to clients. Tarik Prolaz heads the team in BiH, which provides a full IP service including litigation, prosecution and anti-counterfeiting cases for a host of leading international companies and brand owners. Legal 500 EMEA, 2016

    • The 2013 Legal 500 EMEA edition wrote: “The highly recommended Tarik Prolaz has represented some of the world’s largest multinationals, and recently overturned a ruling by the Bosnian PTO refusing a client’s trade mark registration.”

    Awards