Welcome to the latest instalment of Managing IP’s ‘Five minutes with’ series, where we learn more about intellectual property practitioners on a personal and professional level. This time, we meet Vlad Stanese, managing partner at Dinca & Speciac in Romania.
Someone asks you at a party what you do for a living. What do you say?
I’m a lawyer working on trademarks, copyright, and design matters, mostly for FMCG and entertainment clients.
Talk us through a typical working day.
No two days are the same. I tackle the urgent stuff first, then work down the priority list. I try to split every workday between three pillars: legal work for clients, the admin that keeps a law firm running, and business development. If I hit those three, it’s a good day.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m coordinating several high-impact criminal and civil cases involving trademark and copyright infringement that I’m confident will shape Romanian case law. It’s a mix of court work and strategic advice.
Does one big piece of work usually take priority or are you juggling multiple things?
Always juggling. With a lot of help from my colleagues.
What is the most exciting aspect of your role and what is the most stressful?
The best part is seeing a direct, tangible impact: stopping an infringer, clearing a launch, or shifting behaviour in a market. These days, few work-related things feel “stressful”; early on, deadlines were my fiercest enemy. Once you get used to the pressure, build systems (exercise is non-negotiable), and rely on your team, it becomes business as usual.
Tell us the key characteristics that make a successful IP lawyer/practitioner.
There’s no single recipe, but a few non-negotiables: stamina and the ability to turn complex legal and technical issues into a clear, persuasive narrative.
What is the most common misconception about IP?
That only big companies need an IP strategy. Often, it’s the opposite: large companies can absorb a hit; for small businesses or solo entrepreneurs, misappropriation can be existential.
What or who inspires you?
I draw inspiration from all my colleagues, particularly my mentors, Irina Speciac and Razvan Dincă, for their legal acumen and work ethic, and my wife for her ability to see the best in people.
If you weren’t in IP, what would you be doing?
I’d be in general aviation, the romantic side of flying: small airfields, single-engine aircraft, maybe instructing.
Any advice you would give your younger self?
Invest earlier in building your network and soft skills. They compound. Also: delegate sooner and say “no” faster.
What is your motto in life?
“You steer the ship the best way you know. Sometimes it’s smooth. Sometimes you hit the rocks. In the meantime, you find your pleasures where you can.” – Corrado “Junior” Soprano.
