June 2026
Every year, BACIU PARTNERS organizes the Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition (MCC IP) alongside our partners at ELSA Bucharest.
But who makes all these possible? And what are their takeaway from the experience?
To answer these, in the spirit of the transparency and accessibility that define how we work, we invited the BACIU PARTNERS team members involved in this year’s edition into a series of open conversations about ideas, expectations, professional instincts and the subtle details that often remain behind the scenes of such initiatives.
Titled “Conversations beyond the Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition“, the series continues with Iulia Ghiță, the architect behind this year’s competition case and a member of the jury. As the creator of the factual puzzle the students had to solve, Iulia shares her perspective on what transforms a predictable legal argument into a memorable, client-focused strategy, and why the ultimate skill in IP law is the ability to connect active listening with powerful storytelling.
Read the full interview below.
Looking at this experience as a whole, what stood out to you regarding how the participating students approached this competition?
Iulia Ghiță: I was thoroughly impressed by the seriousness with which the students treated this exercise. Beyond the academic stakes, I felt that the participants engaged as if they were representing a real client. They were not satisfied with merely being students “reciting” theory; instead, they came forward with unexpected ideas.
When evaluating memorials or pleadings, where is the difference actually made between an answer considered simply “correct” and one that is truly convincing—even a memorable benchmark for that participant?
Iulia Ghiță: A correct answer reproduces the legal text and then demonstrates how it applies to the facts of the case; it is predictable and safe. In contrast, a memorable answer is one that brings an unexpected perspective—when the participant does not just “recite” the law, but utilizes it strategically to sway the court’s opinion.
Looking beyond the actual performance, what stayed with you from your direct interaction with the students during the competition? How would you describe the energy and dynamic of interacting with them throughout the journey?
Iulia Ghiță: Their determination stayed with me, as well as the immense effort they put in during their free time for a voluntary competition. I read in this a genuine passion for law, which convinced me that they will become exceptional professionals.
Beyond legal knowledge, what do you think is that single element that tips the scale in favor of a participant’s performance? What if we look at it from a team perspective?
Iulia Ghiță: I believe the defining element is presence and adaptability. The winner is the one who actively listens to the judge and the opponent in the courtroom and addresses the issue directly, rather than the one who impeccably recites their pre-prepared notes from home.
From your experience, what is the factor that consistently makes a difference, beyond the theoretical framework a participating team presents?
Iulia Ghiță: For me, it is crucial that, beyond their theoretical preparation, the team crafts a compelling narrative—a speech that flows logically and is easy to follow, so that their proposed solution seems not only legally sound but also the only fair and natural outcome.
More details about the 2026 edition of the Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition organized by BACIU PARTNERS are available HERE.
BACIU PARTNERS is a Leading Partner to ELSA Bucharest for the academic year 2025-2026.
For more details about our approach and objectives, please contact: Ileana Nicolescu-Decsei, Raluca Comănescu and Anca Stefanescu Toma.