{"id":2066,"date":"2026-04-28T12:22:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T11:22:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/?p=2066"},"modified":"2026-04-28T12:22:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T11:22:46","slug":"parade-profile-michael-pugh-ba-modern-languages-and-european-studies-1995","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/2026\/04\/28\/parade-profile-michael-pugh-ba-modern-languages-and-european-studies-1995\/","title":{"rendered":"Parade Profile: Michael Pugh (BA Modern Languages and European Studies 1995)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Modern Languages\u00a0and European Studies\u00a0alumnus\u00a0Michael\u00a0is\u00a0a lawyer, academic and\u00a0founder\u00a0of the Llangwm Literary Festival.\u00a0His course\u00a0allowed him\u00a0to\u00a0live and work throughout Europe, something\u00a0that had shaped his life and career.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u00a0caught up with him to find out about\u00a0his new book,\u00a0Riding Through War and Peace<\/i>, and\u00a0how his\u00a0\u201cmagical\u201d\u00a0time at Bath started it all.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why did you choose to study at Bath?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bath offered a fantastic degree in Modern Languages (French and Russian) and European Studies.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The degree was different from most languages degrees at the time,\u00a0as it offered modules in politics and economics, and perhaps most importantly for me, a fully funded month in Russia at the end of the first year to allow\u00a0<\/span>beginners\u00a0<\/span>like me the chance to apply our language skills on the ground.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Did you have a particular career in mind when you chose your course?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not really.\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0thought in broad terms of the diplomatic corps or working in some capacity within the European Union. I always wanted\u00a0to\u00a0write,\u00a0and\u00a0I guess\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0achieved that now with\u00a0my book,\u00a0<\/span>Riding\u00a0Through War and Peace<\/span><\/i>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you tell us about your experience of studying here? Any favourite memories, or places to go on campus and in the city?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was an amazing experience. It was a small and friendly university and campus life in the first year was a great chance to flex one\u2019s freedom in a safe environment. The other students on the course were incredible,\u00a0and in some ways,\u00a0I learned as much from them as I did during my lectures.\u00a0Totally\u00a0different\u00a0topics, of course!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I was lucky enough to live in Rainbow Wood Farm on Claverton Down in my final year. It was a dream\u00a0house\u00a0share\u00a0\u2013 so close to campus, but on the edge of beautiful countryside, and with great friends.\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0often see deer dart from thickets during my morning runs.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes we used to go to The George in Norton St Philip to imbibe the spirit of Russian poetry over a pint or two. It was a magical time.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Were you a part of any societies or sports clubs during your time at Bath? What did you enjoy most about them?<\/span><\/b> \"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u00a0acted in plays in English,\u00a0French\u00a0and German. It was a wonderful way to develop language and have fun. I was a keen runner and used to play\u00a0men\u2019s\u00a0lacrosse. I also learned how to make pottery in the Arts Barn in the first year. Somehow there was time to fit in all these activities.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Describe your career journey since graduating. What is a typical day like in your current role?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My first job out of Bath was working as assistant to the General Director of the Poltava Petroleum Company in Ukraine. Ukraine was full of hope then. It was an amazing couple of\u00a0years,\u00a0and it sparked my interest in law.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When I returned to the UK, I did the Law Conversion Course at Nottingham Law School before training as a lawyer with Lovell White Durrant,\u00a0now Hogan Lovells. I became a partner\u00a0seven\u00a0years\u00a0after qualifying and spent\u00a0eight\u00a0and a half years working in the Moscow office.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now I teach law at St Mary\u2019s University in Twickenham and act as an expert in areas of finance connected to the former Soviet Union. After so much international travel in my\u00a0previous\u00a0job, I am more UK-based now. My typical day is teaching, running tutorials, preparing\u00a0lectures\u00a0and marking.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m\u00a0also an author. Over the years,\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0written for many publications, including\u00a0<\/span>The Sunday Times<\/span><\/i>\u00a0and the Royal Geographical Society.\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0written\u00a0a book on contract law for those trying the Solicitors Qualifying Exam.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most recently,\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0written\u00a0a book about my journey by\u00a0horse\u00a0from Moscow through Belarus,\u00a0Ukraine\u00a0and Romania. I set off in 2014 as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine was escalating and the book gives a real insight into life on the ground at the time,\u00a0so\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0called it\u00a0<\/span>Riding\u00a0Through War and Peace<\/span><\/i>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you enjoy most about your career? Has anything surprised you?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Law is always evolving. You\u00a0have to\u00a0move with it. The knowledge of law is a great enabler. I love teaching and\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0perhaps not\u00a0surprising as\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0fourth generation teacher.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How did your studies help\u00a0you\u00a0develop?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My studies\u00a0remain\u00a0useful every day. They enriched my understanding of the world and its cultures.\u00a0My languages always allow me to find common ground with the wide range of people I meet.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During my time working in Russia, my knowledge of Soviet Russia and Russian literature allowed me to connect with my clients. It added\u00a0a very positive\u00a0dimension to my time there and contributed to my success.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In my spare time,\u00a0I run the Llangwm Literary Festival. I was able to develop my passion for literature at Bath,\u00a0and it is invaluable in my work at the festival,\u00a0and\u00a0in my own writing.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about studying your course at Bath?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You learn so much in a language-related\u00a0degree,\u00a0but you need to be able to quantify that for an employer. Get as much work experience as\u00a0you can and make the most of every opportunity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During my time at Bath\u00a0\u2013\u00a0including\u00a0the year abroad\u00a0\u2013\u00a0I\u00a0worked at the British Embassy in Moscow, for JKX Oil & Gas in Crimea and Kyiv, for Time Out and at Eridania\u00a0B\u00e9ghin-Say in Paris and studied in both Moscow and Paris.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s\u00a0your top piece of advice for students or recent\u00a0grads\u00a0aspiring to have a career like yours?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Any employer wants to know what you bring to the table, so take time to quantify that.\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0worked at a dog kennels while I was at school. It\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0sound like\u00a0a very important\u00a0job, but when you break it down to individual responsibilities and learning points, it was invaluable.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You need to aim high. There\u2019s always space in any organisation for hard working people who deliver results. Enjoy the journey, it goes very quickly, unless\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0on a\u00a0horse!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Modern Languages\u00a0and European Studies\u00a0alumnus\u00a0Michael\u00a0is\u00a0a lawyer, academic and\u00a0founder\u00a0of the Llangwm Literary Festival.\u00a0His course\u00a0allowed him\u00a0to\u00a0live and work throughout Europe, something\u00a0that had shaped his life and career.\u00a0 We\u00a0caught up with him to find out about\u00a0his new book,\u00a0Riding Through War and Peace, and\u00a0how his\u00a0\u201cmagical\u201d\u00a0time...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2002,"featured_media":2067,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[124,3,119],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-humanities-social-sciences","category-international","category-parade-profiles"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/04\/Parade-profile-header-44.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2066","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2002"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2066"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2066\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2066"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2066"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/on-parade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2066"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}