PhD in the Law of Civil Procedure, Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest, scientific supervisor Prof. Dr. V.M. Ciobanu with the thesis: ”Civil Proceedings in the Field of Intellectual Property Rights” (Excellent – Summa cum laude), September 2012

During doctoral studies av. Sonia Florea completed a three months research internship at the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property Law and Competition Law in Munich

Master (LLM) in Commercial and Corporate Law, University College of London, University of London (Merit, 2003-2004)

During the LLM studies av. Sonia Florea has acquired in-depth knowledge in the subjects:

• European Competition Law (professors: Valentine Korah, University College of London and Richard Whish, King’s College London)
• International and Comparative Trademark Law (professors: Gail E. Evans and David Llewelyn, Queen Mary University of London)
• International and Comparative Copyright Law (Professor: Adrian Sterling, Queen Mary University of London)
• International Commercial Litigation (Professor: Loukas Mistelis, University College of London)

Bachelor of Laws, Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest (2003)

Bachelor of European Law (Maîtrise), Franco-Romanian Legal College of European Studies, University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne (2003)

Jeremy Bentham Scholarship, offered by the University College of London, University of London (2003-2004)

Scholarship of the Academy of the World Organization for the Protection of Intellectual Property (WIPO Academy) for the Summer School organized by the Institution in Geneva, Switzerland (July-August 2002)

Erasmus Scholarship, Faculty of Law, University of Teramo, Italy (2001-2002)

Lawyer, member of the Bucharest Bar (since 2003)

Arbitrator of the Court of International Commercial Arbitration attached to the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (since December 2015)

Industrial Property Attorney, State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (OSIM) and European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), specializations: trademarks and geographical indications (2004), patents (2017), industrial designs (2017)

Internship at Withers LLP, London, Intellectual Property and Litigation Departments (6 months, 2003-2004)

Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law, Civil Law, Civil Procedure, National Institute for Lawyers (INPPA) (2021 – present)

Lecturer in Business Law (Intellectual Property Law, Competition Law), Civil and Civil Procedure, National Institute for Lawyers (2007 – 2011)

External collaborator (seminar leader), Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest, Intellectual Property Law (2008 – 2009 and 2010 – 2013) and the Law of Civil Procedure (2011 – 2012)

Publications are available in Romanian language.

“Actions in the Civil Process. Special Legal Provisions”, Universul Juridic Publishing House, Bucharest, 2015

“Actions in the Civil Process. General Legal Provisions”, Universul Juridic Publishing House, Bucharest, 2014

“Civil Proceedings in the Field of Intellectual Property Rights. Acquisition, Defense and Exhaustion of Intellectual Property Rights ”, Universul Juridic Publishing House, Bucharest, 2013

”MIHAIL ELIESCU” Prize awarded by the Union of Romanian Jurists, the “Titu Maiorescu” Society and the legal magazines “Dreptul” and “Palatul de Justitie” for the work “Civil Proceedings in the Field of Intellectual Property Rights. Acquisition, Defense and Exhaustion of Intellectual Property Rights” (2013)

”HENRI CAPITANT” Award for the best thesis of the year 2013 on private law, garanted by the ”Romanian Journal of Private Law”, in collaboration with the Henri Capitant Association – Romania and the National Union of Insolvency Practitioners in Romania, for the work ”Civil Proceedings in the Field of Intellectual Property Rights. Acquisition, Defense and Exhaustion of Intellectual Property Rights” (2014)

Articles are available on our page in Romanian language and on author’s page on www.ssrn.com

”Procedures for the Protection of Trade Secrets Confidentiality during Litigation in front of State Courts and Arbitration Tribunals”

”Conventional Representation of Legal Entities in Industrial Property Law Litigation in front of Judicial Authorities”

”Issues Related to the Procedural Exceptions of the Lack of Power to Represent a Party in Judicial Proceedings and the Lack of Proof of the Quality of Representative”

”Challenges of the Law of Civil Procedure in the Field of Intellectual Property Rights”

”Revocation and Cancellation of the Trademark. The Case of Registration as a Trademark of the Official Badge of the Lawyer Profession by An Entity Lacking Legal Personality”

“Legislative and Jurisprudential Developments on the Limits and Exceptions of Trademark and Copyright rights”, www.juridice.ro, 23.10.2017

“The Right to Represent Legal Persons in front of Tribunals in Industrial Property Law Litigation”, www.juridice.ro, 01.12.2017

“Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement. Comparative Study of Jurisprudence ”, Judicial Courier no. 9/2017

“Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement”, Romanian Journal of Intellectual Property Law no. 1/2016

“Some Problematic Provisions of the Law no. 138/2014 for the Amendment of Law no. 134/2010 on the Code of Civil Procedure”, www.juridice.ro, 22.10.2014

“Trademark Rights: Coexistence and Harmony Between National Protection System and the European Protection System”, Romanian Journal of Intellectual Property Law no. 4/2014

“Competence of the Appeals Commission within OSIM to Reject an Appeal on the Ground of Non-observance of time-limits”, Romanian Industrial Property Magazine no. 2-3 / 2014

“Legal Standing to Claim Provisional Measures for the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights and to File an Action for Infringement of IPRs”, Romanian Journal of Intellectual Property Law no. 1/2014

“Conflicts of Rights in Trademarks, Trade Names and Emblems”, Romanian Journal of Industrial Property, no. 3-4/2013

“Problematic Practical Aspects of the Procedure for Regularizing a Claim According to the New Code of Civil Procedure”, Romanian Journal of Private Law no. 5/2013

“Legal Regime applicable to Appeals According to Provisions of the New Code of Civil Procedure”, Romanian Journal of Private Law no. 4/2013

“Arbitrability of Disputes in the Field of Intellectual Property Law”, Romanian Arbitration Review, no. 4/2012

“Problematic Aspects of the Procedure in front of the Arbitral Tribunal of the Romanian Copyright Office”, Romanian Journal of Intellectual Property Law, no. 4/2012

“The Establishment of the Competent Jurisdiction in Actions in Counterfeiting with Foreign Elements”, Romanian Journal of Intellectual Property Law, no. 3/2012

“The Action for Infringement of IPRs in Romanian Law”, Romanian Journal of Private Law, no. 2/2012

“Considerations Regarding the Technical-Legal notion of Counterfeiting. Legal and Jurisprudential Evolutions”, Romanian Journal of Intellectual Property Law, no. 1/2012

”Issues On the Constitutionality of the Appeal Procedure Against the Decisions Issued by the Examination Commissions within O.S.I.M.”, Romanian Journal of Intellectual Property Law, no. 4/2011

“Regulation of Precautionary Measures in the Field of Intellectual Property Rights. The Implications of Art. 252, Art. 255 and Art. 257 of the Civil Code”, Romanian Journal of Private Law, no. 6/2011

“Practical Aspects Regarding Conflicts Between Rights in Trademarks, Commercial Names and a Domain Names”, Romanian Journal of Intellectual Property Law, no. 1/2010

“The Rights of the Trademark Owner in the Context of Parallel Imports”, www.juridice.ro, 02.10.2007

“Proof of Trademark Use”, Romanian Journal of Intellectual Property Law, no. 4/2006

“Theoretical and Practical Aspects Regarding the Limits of the Exclusive Right in a Registered Trademark”, Romanian Journal of Intellectual Property Law, no. 1/2006

“Problems Regarding the Resolution of the Exception of the Lack of Representative Capacity and the Exception of the Lack of Proof of Representative Capacity”, “Litigators” conference, 2023

“Challenges of Procedural Law in Intellectual Property Rights Litigation”, the national conference “In memoriam Prof. Viorel Mihai Ciobanu. The Civil Process at the Beginning of the Third Millennium. 10 Years from the Entry into force of the Code of Civil Procedure, 2023

“The Principle of Adequate and Proportionate Remuneration. The Implementation of the Provisions of Art. 18-23 of Directive 2019/790”, the conference “Copyrights Real Life. Remuneration of artists”, 2022

“The New EU Press Publishers Related Rights. Romanian Implementation and Comparative View” the international conference “Copyright Challenges 160 Years after Their First Regulation in Romania and 150 Years of Moral Rights in the World”, organized by the Romanian Group of the International Literary and Artistic Association ALAI, 2022

”Issues Related to the Cancellation of Trademarks Registered in Bad-Faith”, “Trademarks Real Life”, 2022

“Party and third-party Standing in Intellectual Property Litigation”, at the “Litigators” conference, 2021

“Practical Issues Related to the Protection of Intellectual Property in Romania”, at the Conference “Difficult Issues of Commercial Law” (ed. 4), organized by the Society of Legal Sciences and the Bucharest Bar in collaboration with the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bucharest, 16.11.2018

“Bad Faith as a Ground for Refusal and Cancellation of Trademark Registrations”, at the Seminar “100 Years of Trademark Protection in Romania. Evolutions, Perspectives, Challenges ”, organized by the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, 23 – 25.10.2018, Sinaia

“Legislative and Jurisprudential Developments Regarding the Limits and Exceptions of Trademark Right and Copyright”, at the National Conference “Counterfeiting, Competition and Protection of Traditional Products in the European Union”, organized by “Titu Maiorescu” University of Bucharest, 02 – 03.11. 2017

”Action for Infringement of IPRs. Jurisprudential and Legislative Developments”, at the Conference “IPR Counterfeiting”, 18th edition, organized by Rominvent, 11 – 13.10.2017, Poiana Brasov

“European Trademark Law Reform. Impact on the Romanian Legislation”, at the Seminar “Trademarks and Geographical Indications in the Current Economic Context ”, organized by the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, 30.08. – 01.09.2017, Sinaia

“European Trademark Law Reform. Opposition, Annulment and Revocation Proceedings”, at the Seminar “Trademarks and Geographical Indications in the Current Economic Context”, organized by the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, 30.08. – 01.09.2017, Sinaia

“Revocation and Cancellation of a Trademark. Case studies”, at the Seminar “Trademarks and Geographical Indications in the Current Economic Context”, organized by the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, 30.08. – 01.09.2017, Sinaia

“Liability of Intermediaries for Copyright Infringement on the Internet”, at the Conference “Difficult Issues of Internet law”, organized by the Society of Legal Sciences in collaboration with the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bucharest, 18.11.2016

“Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement”, at the biennial international Conference of the Faculty of Law within the West University of Timisoara, section “Trends and Transformations in IP Infringement and Enforcement”, October 28 – 29, 2016, Timișoara

”Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights. News in the European Union Legislation”, at the Conference ”IPR Counterfeiting”, organized by Rominvent, 19 – 21.10.2016, Poiana Brasov

”The Impact of the European Trade Mark Law Reform on the Romanian Legislation ”, at the international Conference ”Challenges of the Knowledge Society ”, organized by ”Nicolae Titulescu” University and ”Nicolae Titulescu Foundation for Law and International Relations”, 20 – 21.05.2016

”Enforcement of Trademark rights. Jurisprudential Evolutions and Regulatory Perspectives “, at the Conference “IPR Counterfeiting”, organized by Rominvent, 28 – 30.10.2015, Sibiu

”Trademark Rights. Coexistence and Harmony Between National Systems and the European Protection System”, at the Conference ”IPR Counterfeiting”, organized by Rominvent, 15 – 17.10.2014, Sibiu

“European Network of Trademarks and Design – Procedural Harmony”, at the Seminar “OHIM – OSIM Cooperation in the Context of Convergence Programs and International Projects”, organized by the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, 03 – 05.09 .2014, Jupiter

”Difficult Issues of Civil Procedure ”, Society of Legal Sciences in collaboration with the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 21 – 22.02.2014

“Problems Regarding the Arbitrability of Disputes in the Field of Intellectual Property Rights”, at the Conference “Arbitration in the New Codes”, organized by the Court of International Commercial Arbitration attached to the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 16 – 17.12.2013

“Procedural Aspects of the Action for Infringement of IPRs”, at the Conference “IPR Counterfeiting”, organized by Rominvent, 9 – 11.10.2013, Sibiu

“Conflict of Rights in Registered Trademarks,  Unregistered Trademarks and Other Signs Used in the Commercial Activity”, at the Seminar “Protection of Industrial Property – Ways and Consequences”, organized by the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, 28 – 30.08.2013, Cap Aurora

“Newly Enacted Legal Provisions of the New Civil Code and of the New Code of Civil Procedure Having an Impact on Actions for IPR Infringement”, at the Conference “IPR Counterfeiting”, organized by Rominvent, 21- 23.11.2012, Sibiu

”Arbitration of IPR Disputes”, at the international Conference “Modern Trends in International Commercial Arbitration”, organized by the Faculty of Law of the University of Bucharest, Leaua & Asociatii and the Society of Legal Sciences, 6 – 7.09.2012, University of Bucharest

”About the Technical-Legal Term of IPR Infringement and Counterfeiting”, at the Conference ”IPR Counterfeiting”, organized by Rominvent, 9 – 11.11.2011, Sibiu

”The Action for Infringement of Trademark Rights According to Provisions of the Modified Law no. 84/1998 ”, at the Conference ”IPR Counterfeiting”, organized by Rominvent, 8 – 10.12.2010, Sibiu

“Conflicts of Rights in Domain Names, Trademarks and Trade Names”, at the Conference “IPR Counterfeiting”, organized by Rominvent, 18 – 20.11.2009, Mangalia

“Remedies for IPRS Infringement”, at the Conference “IPR Counterfeiting”, organized by Rominvent, 12 – 14.11.2008, Mangalia

“Problems of Enforcement of Industrial Property Rights in the Context of Parallel Imports”, at the Conference “IPR Counterfeiting”, organized by Rominvent, 12 – 14.12.2007, Mangalia

”Gray Imports vs. Exhaustion”, at the international Seminar ”Business Law in an Economy in Transition: from Sub-contracting to Branding”, organized by the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA) and the International Union of Lawyers (UIA), 28 – 29.09.2007 , Bucharest

“Proof of Trademark Use”, at the Conference “IPR Counterfeiting”, organized by Rominvent, 1 – 4.11.2006, Mamaia

“Theoretical and Practical Aspects Regarding the Limits of the Exclusive Trademark Right”, at the Conference “IPR Counterfeiting”, organized by Rominvent, 7 – 9.12.2005, Mangalia

Interviews are available on our page in Romanian language.

“In the Exercise of the Lawyer’s Profession, One Can Have Full Freedom of Conscience and an Own Professional Creed”, interview with Alina Matei, www.juridice.ro, 18.07.2016

Video recording are available on our page in Romanian language

”Copyright in the Online Environment”, Society of Legal Sciences, www.juridice.ro, 02.10.2019

“How Effective is Trademark Protection?”, Society of Legal Sciences, www.juridice.ro, 02.04.2018

”Copy Paste. About Plagiarism ”, Society of Legal Sciences, www.juridice.ro, 13.06.2016

Bucharest Bar (since 2003)

German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (GRUR) (since 2016)

European Trademark Association (ECTA) (since 2014)

International Trade Mark Association (INTA)

Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle (AIPPI)

Romanian Chamber of Patent Attorneys (since 2005)