Renata Leka

Practice Areas

Renata Leka is a Partner at Boga & Associates, which she joined in 1997.

Her practice is mainly focused on commercial transactions, regulatory advice and project finance, advising numerous foreign investors in acquisitions and implementation of business law matters.

She leads the intellectual property practice and is described as “highly regarded” and ranked as a “leading individual” by major international legal directories. She is an authorised trademark agent and has ample experience in trademark filing strategy, portfolio management and trademark prosecution, and handles a range of international matters involving IPR issues.

Further, Ms. Leka advises private companies, NGOs and international organizations in all aspects of their business, including compliance with regulatory and general corporate governance matters, including employment law matters, competition and contracts.

Ms. Leka has more than 25 years of commercial, corporate and finance experience including a large number of landmark transactions in the market.

Professional Memberships

• Albanian Bar Association (1997)

• International Bar Association (1999)

• Authorized Trademark Attorney (1998)

• International Trademark Association - INTA (1999)

Publications

The International Comparative Legal Guide to Foreign Direct Investment Regimes 2022 | Kosovo

The International Comparative Legal Guide - “Digital Business”, Edition 2020 Albania & Kosovo

Trademark Litigation Guide 2018: World Trademark Review, Albania

The International Comparative Legal Guide - “Cybersecurity”, Edition 2018, 2020, 2021 Albania & Kosovo

The International Comparative Legal Guide - “Product Liability”, Edition 2018 Albania

The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Pharmaceutical Advertising 2015 and 2016 - Albania

Languages Spoken

Albanian, English, Italian

Work Highlights

Coca-Cola Bottling Shqiperia Shpk | CCBS. Legal advice and assistance regarding regulatory issues; review and comments on advertisement campaigns from regulatory and customer protection aspects, etc. Other legal assistance on regulatory matters regarding foodstuff and their ingredients with the relevant authorities.

Avon Albania. Legal advice with regard to corporate and commercial aspects of its activity in Albania, such as drafting of corporate acts and filing with the National Business Centre; advised on rights and duties of shareholders and administrators under the Albanian legal framework; review and comments on the contracts entered into with business collaborators; advised on the rights and obligations of business collaborators under Albanian Civil Code and other applicable laws. We also assist the client with regulatory queries and also on employment contracts, queries regarding hiring and termination of employment contracts, and related matters.

Public Power Corporation PPC Albania. Legal assistance with regard to client’s day-to-day activity. Our work mainly consists of drafting and reviewing contracts and other legal documents; advising and issuing legal opinions; proving assistance regarding transactions, operations and negotiations, including commercial and corporate matters.

Trans Adriatic Pipeline TAP related to all legal issues on employment and social security matters.

NewYorker, fashion retailer group, regarding employment law matters.

Mars Overseas Holding and Wrigley on labour employment law matters.

World Vision on employment-related matters.

HydroEnergy Shpk. Legal assistance related to company’s day-to-day activity, on commercial and employment issues.

French Embassy regarding employment law matters.

Czech Embassy with regard to employment law matters.

Sanofi Aventis Groupe with regard to employment law issues of its representative office in Albania.

Maurel & Prom in the ambit of acquisition of Stream Oil & Gas in Albania by conducting a legal due diligence covering employment aspects of the contractor.

Cairn Energy PLC engaged in oil exploration operations in Albania on employment issues.

ProCredit Bank Albania regarding regulatory, finance, contractual issues and employment issues.

Pliva Hrvatska d.o.o, including regulatory, employment, personal data, etc.

Assistance to Pfizer HCP Corporation regarding employment privacy and personal data protection.

Hewlett-Packard International Trade B.V., with regard to employment aspects.

Alitalia - advised on employment, and immigration issues for expatriates.

Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa. Assistance in the preparation and drafting of any legal documentation needed on employment matters, immigration issues for expatriates (i.e. employment and residency permits) and other related assistance.

Austrian Airlines AG for the representation before court on cases related with labour dispute and claims related to baggage delay.

Senior Expert in the development of strategic planning in cooperation with Humelica Consulting International (HCI) on the Project AL/IPA 2014/06: Technical Assistance to carry out effective market surveillance in line with acquis - Albania; Comparison of the IPR state surveillance practices of Albania and the best practices of the EU. Overall objective of the project was to further strengthen the institutional capacities of the relevant market surveillance authorities in order to carry out effective market surveillance in line with the requirements of the acquis.

Part of the ICC Secretariat Task force for the drafting process of the Intellectual Property Roadmap 2020. In charge with Copyright and Trademark Chapter. ICC Intellectual Property Roadmap is the result of collaboration between over eighty IP experts from around the globe. It provides businesses and policymakers with a comprehensive and concise overview of key intellectual property policy issues today.

Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL in advertising, privacy, competition and consumer protection on non-food products;

Mars Overseas Holding and Wrigley in advertising / marketing and labelling issues for the food market.

Piraeus Bank SA on specific legal issues arising in connection with the SPA and the transaction as a whole, including matters of trademarks and licenses law and regulatory approvals; assistance with the transitional services agreement and trademark license agreement.

Anheuser-Busch LLC in cooperation with Hogan Lovells International (Anheuser-Busch, LLC); in several trademark infringement cases against Budejovicky Budvar which are brought before the Albanian Trademark and Patent Office as well as court of all levels in Albania, regarding the enforcement of rights attached to the well-known trademark “Budweiser.

Mega Disposables SA in renewing/continuing the protection of company’s trademark “Everyday”; assistance in infringement procedures and counterfeiting.

Wenger SA with regard to a trademark transfer agreement and filings procedures with the Albanian Trademark Office.

ATLAS SH.A. related to the process of the registration of a series of trademarks in the framework of branding strategy, as well as trademark opposition procedures and strategy in the ambit of the business transfer deal.

Sony Corporation in identifying the strategy for potential trademark opposition regarding an application in Albania.

Google - legal assistance on advertising, privacy, competition and consumer protection.

YouTube - Kids Parental Guide i18n Expansion with regard to content including review of articles; children’s privacy; content ads, etc.

Motion Picture Association, in connection with a copyright infringement.

Yum! Brands, Inc in the process of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) entering into the Albanian market. Assistance in administration of their related brand portfolio in Albania and registration of the trademarks. Assistance in matters of trademark infringement and identification of strategies for the protection of the trademarks in the Albanian territory.

Hugo Boss Trade and Management GmbH & Co. KG regarding procedures of custom seizure of counterfeiting of goods.

Caterpillar Inc., Hugo Boss, on brand integrity matters, including registration with customs and pursuing of procedures for custom watch and border measures.

AB InBev in acting as preferential advisor for trademark protection services.

BNIC on counterfeiting and illegal use of a defined and protected Geographical Indication.

Major international pharmaceutical companies operating in Albania such as Sanofi-Aventis, Actavis – Allergan, Glaxo Smith Kline, Pfizer HCP Corporation, Mylan N.V., Pliva Hrvatska d.o.o with regard to advising in matters related to labelling as well as customs.