Dinca & Speciac partner reveals joy of ‘high impact’ work

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.

I’m a lawyer working on trademarks, copyright, and design matters, mostly for FMCG and entertainment clients.

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.

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.

Always juggling. With a lot of help from my colleagues.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I’d be in general aviation, the romantic side of flying: small airfields, single-engine aircraft, maybe instructing.

Invest earlier in building your network and soft skills. They compound. Also: delegate sooner and say “no” faster.

“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.