May 2026
We are excited to report on a new recognition of excellence: BACIU PARTNERS wins “Romania Trademark Firm of the Year” and Ana-Maria BACIU is named “Practitioner of the Year” at the 2026 Managing IP EMEA Awards Gala.
The consistent presence of BACIU PARTNERS at the Managing IP EMEA Awards over the years is a reconfirmation of its role as a benchmark for intellectual property in Romania. The 2026 Managing IP EMEA gala brought the team two major trophies, awarded in an arena where performance is measured against the highest international standards.
Trademark Firm of the Year: Strategic Growth with a Human Touch
This firm-level award reflects the team’s ability to stay grounded and effective even when the environment becomes unpredictable. In the past year, the firm has seen significant growth in enforcement and litigation, particularly in cases involving the cumulative protection of trademarks with copyrights, designs, and unfair competition claims.
While maintaining a steady volume of prosecution work, BACIU Partners has also seen an increase in settlement negotiations during the cooling-off stages of oppositions, reflecting a market tendency toward peaceful coexistence and cost mitigation. Furthermore, the firm has diversified its reach, assisting more clients in industrial technologies and innovative software, as well as in the retail and entertainment sectors—yet another confirmation that IP is at the heartbeat of modern business.
Individual Recognition: Ana-Maria Baciu, Practitioner of the Year
A central moment of the gala was naming Ana-Maria Baciu as Practitioner of the Year for Romania. This distinction validates the strategic vision Ana-Maria has instilled in the firm since day one. Notably, she is the first Romanian IP Lawyer to receive this honour at its inception in 2023, and the only one to be awarded the distinction for the third time.
Reflecting on the journey of BACIU PARTNERS to date, Ana-Maria recently highlighted that success in modern law is about hard and consistent work, seasoned with clarity of solutions and the courage and focus to be a real partner.
Our philosophy is straight forward: legal expertise must meet a deep understanding of business, all wrapped in assumed and empathetic interaction. This is what truly transforms an external counsel into an authentic business partner
says Ana-Maria.
Upon accepting the awards, she added:
I am beyond proud of our team’s work and deeply grateful to Managing IP for hearing our voice, time and again, and recognizing our commitment to amplifying the ‘sound of knowledge’.
The Power of 5: Full-Spectrum Performance
For the sixth consecutive year, BACIU Partners was nominated across all award categories (Copyright & Design, Patent, Trademark, Practitioner of the Year, and Rising Star). This 5-out-of-5 presence on the shortlist is the best proof of depth; the firm doesn’t just specialize in one corner of IP—the team masters the entire spectrum with the same rigor and passion.
A Landmark Year for Recognition
These awards continue a stellar chapter for the firm. BACIU PARTNERS secured the CEE IP Firm of the Year at the inaugural Legal 500 CEE Awards in October 2025—becoming the first Romanian firm to achieve this. Furthermore, Chambers and Partners Europe has recognized BACIU PARTNERS as the sole firm ranked BAND 1 for Intellectual Property and TMT in Romania in their latest market evaluations (April 2026).
Details about the 2026 Managing IP EMEA Awards Gala that celebrated the results of firms and practitioners across 50 jurisdictions globally, as well as the winners that have been acknowledge during the event that took place on 1 May 2026 in London, UK are available HERE.