About Anton
Anton Karpov arrived in the United States after completing legal training in Moscow. He built a career that bridges two legal traditions. The early part of his education came at Moscow State University, where he earned a J.D. in Civil Law in 1999. He returned to study in the U.S. and completed an LL.M. in 2006 at William & Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law, a program centered on the American justice system.
Education served as a clear pivot point. The Moscow degree grounded him in continental civil law. The LL.M. gave him formal exposure to U.S. procedural and substantive law. That mix of perspectives informed his decision to pursue criminal defense work in Virginia.
Karpov moved into public service soon after his studies. In 2007 he served as a senior felony lawyer at the Virginia Beach Public Defender's Office. He took on serious criminal matters and worked in courtrooms across the region. Those years in the public defender's office shaped his approach to trial preparation and client advocacy. They also gave him extensive courtroom experience handling felony-level charges.
In 2019 he shifted to private practice, becoming a partner at Pugh & Karpov Law PC. His role at the firm involves case management, trial work and mentoring junior lawyers. Colleagues describe him as steady under pressure. Clients see someone who has both trial experience and a background that spans legal systems.
Karpov maintains current professional memberships and participates in the legal community. He draws on his international education when cases raise comparative or procedural questions. The transition from Moscow State University to William & Mary is a recurring theme in his career; it explains why he is equally comfortable discussing civil law principles and the nuances of American criminal procedure.
Outside court, he spends time refining case strategy and preparing witnesses. His public defender years continue to influence how he approaches jury selection and cross-examination. He is based at Pugh and Karpov Law PC and handles matters across Virginia.
He currently focuses his practice on criminal defense matters in Virginia.
