Profile
Work Department
Position
Described by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 as “extremely knowledgeable” and “widely respected,” Paul Varul is often referred to as the father of Estonian bankruptcy law.
He advises on all areas of private law, with deep expertise in insolvency and contract law, and has acted in numerous high-profile disputes, including international arbitration in Stockholm, London, and Washington.
He is also a respected arbitrator and expert witness in global proceedings.
Paul was a principal drafter of the Estonian Bankruptcy Act and chairs the Ministry of Justice’s Insolvency Law Expert Commission. A member of the International Insolvency Institute and INSOL Europe, he also co-authored the European Common Frame of Reference and led the drafting of Estonia’s Law of Obligations Act, Commercial Code, and Civil Code General Part as Chair of the Private Law Commission.
Career
Since 2017Senior Partner, law firm TEGOS (formerly TGS Baltic)
1994–2017Senior Partner, law firm Varul
1995–1999Minister of Justice of the Republic of Estonia
1992–2015Civil Law Professor, University of Tartu
Languages
Memberships
Education
1985St. Petersburg University, Legal Science, PhD
1975University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, BA (cum laude)
Content supplied by TEGOS (Formerly TGS Baltic)
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘TEGOS is a top tier law firm in Estonia. ’
‘Paul Varul and Peeter Viirsalu are true specialists in bankruptcy law.’
‘The team is reliable and professional, with solid experience. Clients can appreciate their pragmatic approach and ability to provide clear, workable advice.'
'The team is well-organised and dependable, ensuring that projects are delivered on time and to the required standard.’‘The individuals I have worked with are dedicated and approachable, bringing a clear and straightforward style of communication. They distinguish themselves by their responsiveness and willingness to support the client’s needs in a timely manner.'
'Martti Peetsalu brings authority and confidence to their advice, while associates like Carel Kivimaa show good attention to detail and reliability in execution. What we value most is their consistency and readiness to assist, which makes them dependable professionals to work with.’‘This is a highly capable dispute resolution team. I would like to specifically point out their ability to anticipate and address risks and to explain those to the client.’
‘We highly value the work of Martti Peetsalu - his professionalism, attention to detail, strategic thinking and strong analytical skills.’
'Strong team experienced in civil cases.'
'Listening carefully and meeting customer expectations.'
'They are quickly available. They know our business and therefore it easy to communicate and they understand the issues quickly.'
'Chirag Mody stands out. Very hands on, capable both on legal and commercial thinking, thinks outside of the box. We use him always at Tegos.'
Key clients
- Red-Tail Aviation Ltd Swedbank Operail Auto-Bon Baltic Inchcape JLR Finland Oy AdCash Estonian Center for Integrity in Sports (ESTCIS) Estonian Centre for Defence Investment Rimi Eesti Food AS (Rimi) Estonian Public Broadcasting CoopPank AS Jetoil AS EstateGuru AS MDC Daetwyler AS Citybee Eesti OÜ Inclusion OÜ Port of Tallinn Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) NAC Aviation 2 A/S and NAC Aviation 3 A/S Estonian Transport Administration