September 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 Marta Datcu.

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?

Marta Datcu: I was pleasantly surprised to see highly motivated and well-prepared students, both in terms of research and in the way they delivered their arguments. I was also delighted by the level of performance they displayed during the final, which stood as a testament to their sustained effort throughout an intense oral phase.

What caught your attention about how students approached intellectual property law, specifically in the context of the case study proposed for this competition?

Marta Datcu: I was glad to see that they utilized the research resources we suggested, and went even beyond them. Although not all complex intellectual property concepts were fully mastered—which is entirely natural considering most participants have not yet studied this subject at university—they put immense effort into explaining the notions they spoke about as clearly as possible. It felt like they took a global, holistic approach to the case study, tapping into many of the facts explicitly provided, as well as those that were not explicitly mentioned but could be logically inferred.

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?

Marta Datcu: I believe the difference lies in the way it is drafted, and how sophisticated yet clear the delivery of the core idea is. Of course, a highly critical element is the evidentiary support they cite to back their argument—there is a clear distinction when arguments embrace the insights from doctrine, jurisprudence, and legislation altogether, because they manage to capture multiple, extremely important facets of the exact same concept.

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?

Marta Datcu: I was left with the impression that the students are respectful, yet relaxed enough to interact with us in a highly professional and constructive manner.

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?

Marta Datcu: Without a doubt, presence of spirit, paying close attention to the opposing team’s arguments, and the ability to counter them in real-time. Regardless of the strictly legal arguments, simply mastering the facts of the case study and correcting the opponent when they make factual errors is an element that makes a team significantly more persuasive before the jury.

From your experience, what is the factor that consistently makes a difference, beyond the theoretical framework a participating team presents?

Marta Datcu: Attention to detail is highly important, alongside presence of spirit. For me, the fact that a team knows its own arguments, pleadings, and the case instructions inside out is crucial. In a critical situation, this level of factual mastery can even cover up certain gaps in legal theory.

More details about the 2026 edition of the Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition organized by BACIU PARTNERS are available HERE.