PETOŠEVIĆ PEOPLE: Q&A with Camilla Ismatullayeva

Based in our Tashkent office, Trademark Attorney Camilla Ismatullayeva handles trademark prosecution and maintenance in Uzbekistan and across the CIS region. She handles all aspects of the trademark registration process, including overcoming complex office actions. We asked Camilla about her work, her hobbies, her favorite food, and much more.

1. How did you start your career in IP?

   As an office manager at a local law firm, among other things I was managing a lot of documentation connected with trademark registration procedures and was visiting the local PTO almost every day. I started to learn what my colleagues were doing and became pretty interested in this field. I then became a paralegal and finally a Trademark Attorney. I’m very thankful to a colleague who taught me everything when I started — this has changed my life in a way.

2. What is the most challenging aspect of your work?

   Expressing and explaining complex issues in simple language.

3. What do you most enjoy doing at work?

   Working as a team and cooperating with my colleagues abroad – I like that feeling of doing something big and important. Also, I love difficult cases because they make you think broadly and creatively.

4. What would you be working in, if you weren’t working in IP?

   In the field of pharmaceuticals.

5. What was the first job you’ve ever had?

   My first job was at British American Tobacco in Uzbekistan, where I was Staff Administration Specialist.

6. What is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?

   I love camping in the mountains and traveling across Uzbekistan. I wish I had more opportunities to travel abroad as well. I also like cooking and eating good food! Reading used to be my favorite hobby, but that was before I had two kids.

7. What book did you read last?

   “Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman.

8. What is your favorite song/music at the moment?

   My music preferences are quite eclectic and depend on my state of mind. I like listening to rare old songs because they seem to be more melodic than the ones popular today. For example, I recently listened to a song by Simply Red – “The Air that I Breathe”.

9. What is your favorite dish of all time?

   Mashed potatoes and cutlets!

10. If you could meet anyone in the world, from the past or present, who would it be and why?

    I would like to meet yogi and mystic Sadhguru and Albert Einstein; it would be amusing to talk to both of them.

11. What was your favorite subject in school and why?

    English and History. I loved both teachers and was the best in my class in these subjects.

12. What did you want to be when growing up?

    Singer, producer and lawyer.

13. Tell us three things most people don’t know about you.

    I’m a cat lover, I’m very shy and almost no one knows that I’m a fan of camping.

14. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

    Drawing and sewing/tailoring.

15. What is your biggest frustration about the world around you?

    The changing values of society and blurred lines between good and bad.

16. What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years?

    Everything has its own place and time, you just have to wait for it.

17. What do you wish you could have told yourself at age 13?

    Be flexible in life, take your time in making long-term decisions, and listen to yourself better.

18. What cities/countries have you lived in?

    I’ve only lived in Tashkent.

19. If you could live in another country of the 30+ countries where PETOŠEVIĆ operates, which would you pick and why?

    I would pick Croatia or Luxembourg. I’ve watched travel documentaries and fell in love with them.

20. If someone came to your city for 24 hours, where would you take them?

    I’d start the day in the city center, where there are interesting museums, parks and buildings, and then take you for a real Uzbek pilaf or, as Uzbeks say — “palov”. I bet you’ve never tried the one like ours! Finally, absolutely everyone has to visit our bazaars with exclusive souvenirs!