Our history

MSA IP was established in March 2012 by a group of professionals, led by Milan Milojevic and Vuk Sekulic, who previously worked together in a well-established regional IP firm.

The founders’ goal was to provide a best-in-class service for clients by:

  • Providing a more motivating working environment for smart, talented lawyers and paralegals
  • Working proactively alongside clients to better understand their needs and offer them the best solutions in a complex and constantly-changing environment.

Since 2012, MSA IP has grown significantly to become a major player on the regional IP scene. Our 1,000+ clients include leading international companies from various sectors: luxury goods, automotive, food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals, to name just a few.

We take pride in our team of attorneys and trademark agents, who possess an in-depth knowledge of local IP laws and procedures. They are backed by an experienced team of administrative staff, which enables a quick and expert response to our clients’ needs.

“Dynamic and modern”

“Fully deserves the highest possible ranking”

“Truly great business partner”

WTR 1000, 2022

“Covers a broad spectrum of areas, with fantastic availability”

“Innovators who are flexible, and have absolutely first-rate local legal knowledge, strategic minds and a laser focus on what their clients need to achieve”

“Hard to fault them at all – great availability with a strong network in various CEE countries and responses in a short time”

LEGAL 500, 2022

Our practice areas

Our expertise encompasses all areas of IP law, including:

  • Providing opinions on the registrability of trademarks, patents and designs
  • Searches to establish prior rights that could represent obstacles to registration
  • Filing, prosecution and maintenance
  • Assignments and licensing
  • Enforcing intellectual property rights through litigation, negotiation and arbitration
  • Anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy activities.

We also provide services in the fields of IT law, domain name registration,
and dispute resolution.

Our geographical coverage

While initially focused on South-Eastern and Eastern Europe, over time we have extended our activities to countries across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Central Asia.

We provide IP services in:

  • South-Eastern Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo (UNSCR 1244),
  • Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia
  • Central and Eastern Europe: Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia
  • CIS and Central Asia: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia,
  • Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine

Today, the firm also provides clearance and portfolio management work throughout the European Union and worldwide.

Awards & recognitions

MSA IP is highly ranked by and recommended by Chambers Europe, WTR 1000 and IP STARS. We’ve also won numerous industry awards, including the Client Choice Awards in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

These accolades are backed by phenomenal market feedback. As a brand, MSP IP has been recognised as “a young and dynamic outfit that does sterling work in intellectual property” (WTR 1000, 2020).

Meanwhile, as individuals, our legal experts regularly receive glowing feedback from clients. Milan Milojevic is regarded as “a highly active and well-respected market figure” (Chambers Europe 2014) and “a brilliant manager who is great with clients” (WTR 1000, 2020). Vuk Sekulic is praised by clients as “one of the most reliable lawyers in the region” (Chambers Europe, 2022) and “a top litigator whose performances in the courtroom are exemplary” (WTR 1000, 2020). You can read client feedback for our other top legal experts in their bios on our “People” page.

“Respected firm specialised in trade mark, design and patent litigation, acting throughout the CEE region”

“Their approach is both practical and original, always business-oriented and effective because of their great experience in the field”

CHAMBERS EUROPE, 2020

“Offers cradle-to-grave branding support across Southeast Europe”

“Works intimately with brand owners to better understand their business needs and craft portfolio management strategies that will weather any storm”

WTR 1000, 2019

Memberships

MSA IP and its attorneys are members of numerous international professional organisations, including:

 

“A formidable force”

“Substantial presence across Southeast Europe”

“Highly specialised expertise”

“Shines particularly brightly in the luxury goods, automotive, food and beverages and pharmaceuticals sector”

WTR 1000, 2017

“Formidable insight into the idiosyncrasies of the local trademark system”

“Premium, bespoke solutions to client’s problems”

“Fast, responsive and possessed of outstanding knowledge”

WTR 1000, 2016

Social responsibility

MSA IP undertakes practices and policies that are intended to have a positive influence on the world.

Initiatives to drive social responsibility by the company and its employees include:

  • Policies to reduce the firm’s impact on the environment, such as recycling bins in all offices and encouraging team members to minimise printing.
  • Promoting volunteerism among company employees, including by organising actions to help children in need and people with disabilities.
  • Corporate donations to charity.

Diversity and inclusion

As a multi-jurisdictional law firm that employs people from different countries and of different nationalities, we are naturally diverse. Today, we are proud of the gender and cultural balance of the company, and see diversity as one of our biggest assets.

Our hiring practices and our inclusivity initiatives, including those promoting the representation of women, make MSA IP an exemplar of workplace diversity. You can read more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion on our People page.

ISO Certification

We are proud to have achieved ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 certifications, showcasing our dedication to quality management, environmental management, and occupational health and safety.

Our ISO 9001:2015 certification signifies our adherence to high standards in quality management. It reflects our commitment to consistently meeting customer requirements and regulatory expectations. This certification is a testament to our rigorous quality control processes, ensuring our services consistently meet or exceed customer expectations.

Our certification to ISO 14001:2015, the internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems, reflects our commitment to taking proactive measures to minimize our environmental footprint, comply with relevant legal requirements, and achieve environmental objectives.

The ISO 45001:2018 certification demonstrates our prioritization of occupational health and safety within our organization. We are committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, and visitors.

Insurance

MSA IP has professional liability insurance with a coverage limit of up to €10 million (per claim and aggregate).