Romania

Firm overview

Zivko Mijatovic & Partners (ZMP) is a full-service IP law firm, established in 1939 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, as a general practice law firm. It has grown progressively and today consists of 15 offices in 14 European countries. The overall protection of all IP rights, including prosecution, enforcement and litigation, is provided through the network of ZMP offices covering the Balkan Peninsula and Central and Eastern Europe, with a liaison office in Alicante, Spain, providing legal services in relation to European trademarks and designs and IP legal services in Spain. Over the last 30 years, ZMP’s primary activity has been the protection, via prosecution and litigation, of all IP rights.

The firm has gained reputation for having stellar and efficient services in the region. ZMP is known for being a creative, open and straightforward firm, with a meticulous approach tailored to the client’s needs. ZMP’s constant presence in Central and Eastern Europe means that clients receive immediate and simultaneous service across the region, simply by contacting one of the offices. That is why the service provided by ZMP is unique in the region.

ZMP offers a full range of IP services, providing legal assistance and advice on the protection of IP rights and management and enforcement of the same across Central and Eastern Europe. Services include filing and prosecution of IP rights; searches and watching services; IP portfolio management; dispute resolution; advice and representation in infringement and enforcement matters. ZMP and its attorneys are authorized to represent clients before judicial authorities, IP offices, customs offices and different administrative authorities of the countries in which the firm’s offices are located.

ZMP is particularly active in matters of counterfeiting and piracy. Given that the Western Balkans, due to its geographical location, is a gateway to the EU market and a fertile ground for the production and distribution of counterfeit goods, Rights' holders are advised to consider the measures available across the region and contemplate implementing a strategy that recognizes the root of the problem and provides a long-term solution. Countries of the Western Balkans should be considered as a single region. ZMP is uniquely positioned to provide this service through its network of tightly linked local offices. The firm has therefore introduced a “Customs Package” whereby it handles customs applications, seizures and destruction of all counterfeit products flowing through the countries of former Yugoslavia and Albania (eight jurisdictions in total) through only one point of contact, thus saving costs, avoiding heavy administrative burdens and consolidating customs matters with one agent.

As part of the firm´s business growth strategy, ZMP is more active on social media, dynamic, approachable and always on alert on the virtual space to detect any kind of unfair competition in the market through typo squatting, metatags, spamming and cybersquatting because we focus on our clients and consumer protection. ZMP strives towards corporate responsibility, through sponsorship activities and the number of professionals employed in our offices has increased by a minimum of 10% annually, with constant investment in education.

Network Memberships:
INTA, ECTA, AIPPI, MARQUES, PTMG

Firm overview

Established in 1990, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen (NNDKP) is independently recognized as one of the promoters of business law in Romania. The firm has built over the years a rock-solid reputation as a full-service provider of market leading advice across virtually all practice areas and business sectors.
In the IP area, NNDKP is the first law firm in the local market to have established a dedicated practice operating as a one-stop shop for all IP-related matters, 22 years ago. With a rich history of excellence and a forward-thinking approach, we have cemented our position as a trusted partner in navigating the complex landscape of intellectual property rights.
Our highly skilled team of professionals has deep expertise across various industries and is able to develop legal strategies that address the intricate nature of modern innovation. Their expertise is reflected in the bespoke solutions and comprehensive legal advice we offer on the full range of IP advisory or contentious matters.
Our lawyers are committed to providing tailored services for safeguarding and maximizing the value of our clients’ intellectual assets, as follows:
• comprehensive IP rights searches, registration, and strategic portfolio management regarding trademarks and designs;
• monitoring IP rights and opposing concerned applications;
• enforcing and defending IP rights, including by assisting in amicable negotiations and in cases where a settlement may no longer be reached, before the courts of law;
• in the context of merger & acquisition transactions in which IP rights play an extremely important role, assessing the value and risks associated with the target company;
• advice on contractual matters, including those related to software creation, software license matters, transfers of portfolios, platform transfers; as well as
• advice on matters related to know-how, trade secrets, copyright and related rights, domain names, etc.
The high level of specialization of our team positions us as a top choice for clients seeking advice on some of the most complex IP matters. Comprised of 3 trademark and design specialized attorneys and 2 patent attorneys qualified before the Romanian Office for Inventions and Trademarks, the team has extensive experience in helping clients protect and leverage IP rights.
Members of our team are also experienced litigators, with solid expertise in IP disputes, which allows us to provide strategic guidance to our clients through a multidisciplinary approach. Our IP specialists collaborate seamlessly with lawyers from other practice areas within the firm to ensure clients receive the full range of capabilities they require. This approach allows us to address the complexities of IP issues from various angles, providing our clients with a robust and multifaceted support system.
NNDKP is thus able to support clients by empowering their ideas and helping them secure a future where innovation flourishes and becomes the cornerstone for success.

Firm overview

Muşat & Asociaţii is a full-service Romanian law firm, advising leading national and international companies alike. A pioneer in the business law industry and one of the first established law firms in the country, the firm traces its history back 30 years.

In its over three decades of experience, Mușat & Asociații has built a strong, fully integrated, versatile and visionary team of lawyers dedicated to Intellectual Property. We are currently the only business law firm in Romania covering all areas of practice in the IP sector, from trademarks, patents, copyrights, data bases, designs, domain names to various issues of media & entertainment and unfair competition.

Our client portfolio is broad, but our approach is close and personal, tailored for the specific needs of each particular case.
We are the first Romanian business law firm to have acknowledged the importance of Intellectual Property and duly set up a dedicated department handling IP-focused dispute resolution.

Our IP Department provides the full range of legal services, both on a horizontal level, in relation to patents, trademarks, designs, copyrights, utility models, etc., and on a vertical level - from strategy in planning the building of an IP portfolio to securing, monitoring, enforcing the rights in judicial proceedings and defending them in court proceedings.

Our team’s expertise covers all areas of IP law, touching onto both the intricate aspects of non-contentious issues, and on all types of IP litigation issues. We were the first (and still only) Romanian law firm to:

• raise a patent hold-up defense in court
• file a claim for a compulsory patent license in Romania
• obtain a blocking preliminary injunction against an internet platform hosting provider for intermediation of copyright infringement
• claim under a patrimonial neighboring right in broadcasts in respect of must-carry television channels.

Competence across numerous practice areas at Mușat & Asociații provides the IP department with the capacity to execute highly complex briefs in collaboration with other in-house experts (as demonstrated in many of our work highlights below).

We are proud partners of our clients, understanding their business model and objectives. Thus, Mușat & Asociații’s IP lawyers are a go-to for many international market-leading companies.

Firm overview

CWB emerged as an unrivalled super-regional firm in 2023 following the merger of leading regional IP specialists Cedar White Bradley, PETOŠEVIĆ Group and Hahn & Hahn with 29 offices, 150 practitioners, and 250 employees, CWB now services and manages the portfolios of some of the world's leading IP owners across 100+ jurisdictions in Africa, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

Through an unrivalled footprint of offices and affiliated offices, we offer centrally managed IP solutions and dedicated client-specific, cross-jurisdiction teams. We blend the best advanced IP practices and the local know-how to deliver consistent quality service across a large geographical area, despite all the challenges posed by the countries we operate in.

CWB provides a full spectrum of IP services related to virtually all IP rights, as well as brand management and brand enforcement services. Our teams protect thousands of IP rights for market leading clients across a large section of industries. We also have a Media & Entertainment team, which provides highly specialized support to clients navigating local regulatory landscapes in fields such as film production, content streaming, crypto, advertising, data protection, social media, software licensing and music usage.

CWB is thinking beyond the technology available today to transform the IP services industry. We are implementing the most innovative technologies and leveraging automation and AI to enhance the client and employee experience and to achieve industry-leading efficiencies.

CWB Office Locations

Africa: Egypt, South Africa (Pretoria and Western Cape), Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Central Asia: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
Central & Eastern Europe: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo (UNSCR 1244), Luxembourg, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine
Middle East: Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai)

IP Practice Specialisms

CWB provides a full spectrum of intellectual property services related to trademarks, patents, utility models, industrial designs, copyright; domain names, trade secrets and other IP rights, as well as brand management and brand enforcement services. CWB teams file, prosecute, register, and enforce thousands of IP rights for market leading and globally renowned clients across a large section of industries, including consumer electronics, automotive, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, confectionery, FMCG, property development, luxury brands, fashion and cosmetics.