Welcome to the latest instalment of Managing IP’s ‘Five minutes with’ series, where we learn more about intellectual property practitioners, or those working in the IP profession, on a personal and professional level. This time, we meet Claudiu Feraru, founder of Feraru IP in Romania.
Someone asks you at a party what you do for a living. What do you say?
I’m an attorney passionate about using the mastery of law to achieve justice, especially in intellectual property and a fan of technology and its impact on our activity. Through my work, I help inventors, creators, universities and companies to protect, secure assets, enforce and commercialise their ideas, from patents and trademarks to complex IP disputes. My work sits at the intersection of law, technology and business, which makes every day different.
Talk us through a typical working day.
My days start early. As a founder and practising lawyer, I divide my time between casework, team coordination and business strategy.
Mornings are usually dedicated to our most urgent IP matters - preparing submissions, refining arguments for hearings, or handling patent, trademark and design disputes. If I have court, I go straight there.
Afternoons are for client meetings, negotiations, and short check-ins with my team on filings and ongoing litigation.
Towards the end of the day, I focus on business development - planning new services, partnerships or projects – and reviewing recent decisions to prepare for the next steps.
It’s a dynamic rhythm, and no two days ever look the same
What are you working on at the moment?
We have projects running in parallel. We have on one side trademark litigations, including counterfeiting and bad-faith trademark cases, as well as some patent disputes.
On the other side, we work intensely on patent drafting and prosecution projects concerning pharmaceuticals, green technology and mechanical engineering, alongside international enforcement strategies.
I’m also working on a technology-transfer agreement and planning to establish an NGO focused on IP licensing.
Does one big piece of work usually take priority or are you juggling multiple things?
Most of the time, I juggle multiple matters, but I try to maintain balance. I often dedicate a full day to one area – for example, trademarks – and the next day to patents. However, IP practice requires fast reactions: one moment you’re preparing a cancellation action before EUIPO, the next you’re advising on urgent enforcement measures. The challenge is prioritising whatever has the biggest strategic impact.
What is the most exciting aspect of your role and what is the most stressful?
The most exciting part is going to court hearings and developing strategies and turning complex technical or legal issues into clear, winning arguments or business strategies.
The most stressful aspect is dealing with simultaneous deadlines across multiple jurisdictions, often with high commercial stakes.
Tell us the key characteristics that make a successful IP lawyer/practitioner.
Understanding client needs, curiosity, strategic business thinking, attention to detail, and resilience. A successful IP lawyer must think both like a lawyer and a problem-solver. You also need to genuinely enjoy continuous learning about technology, patents, trademarks, case law, market dynamics, and business models.
What is the most common misconception about IP?
That IP rights are ‘just paperwork’ or an ‘unjustified expense’. In reality, they are business assets that can determine the success or failure of a company. Another misconception is that registration alone guarantees protection – very often, enforcement is the harder battle.
What or who inspires you?
The support and love from my family. I’m also inspired by open-minded, positive people who truly believe in their ideas and take risks to build something.
If you weren’t in IP, what would you be doing?
Given my master’s degree from the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, I would probably be a mechanical engineer or in a role that combines technology with strategy. I’ve always been drawn to understanding how things work and how ideas become real-world solutions. In many ways, IP law simply became the space where my legal reasoning and technical mindset came together – but the engineer in me would still be there
Any advice you would give your younger self?
Be patient, stay curious, ask questions constantly, learn continuously, stay consistent, and be confident. IP is one of the most beautiful areas of law.
Mastery in IP takes time – every case contributes to your growth.
What is your motto in life?
I don’t aim to be perfect, but in my own imperfection, I always try to give my best.
