Europe - Estonia
2

Dispute resolution

TGS Baltic

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Overseeing the dispute resolution practice at TGS Baltic are Paul Varul, a ‘senior academic whose presence in the team makes a lot of difference’, alongside Martti Peetsalu and Chirag Mody. The group ‘is backed up by very talented senior associate’ Kedli Anvelt, who has strong knowledge of the financial services industry. The diverse work covered by the practice includes civil disputes, an area of expertise for Varul, who displays an ‘immense knowledge of European civil law’. Indrek Leppik, Indrek Kukk, Priit Lätt and Erki Fels were new arrivals following the firm’s merger with PwC Legal.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘TGS has one of the best and most proficient dispute resolution teams on the Estonian market. They are able to handle the biggest and most difficult cases effectively and with great results. What I especially value is the fact that their dispute resolution team is very well balanced having a very good representation of very experienced attorneys but at the same time they have been able to attract young talent as well.’

  • ‘My business is handled by senior partner Paul Varul who is an undisputed star of Estonian civil law being the main author of most of the civil law acts of independent Estonia. Paul is backed up by very talented senior associate Kedli Anvelt and partner Peeter Viirsalu. The team has produced excellent results, and I am very pleased with their work.’

  • ‘The team comprises an excellent mix of people combining deep academic knowledge of law with rich practical experience in the field of dispute resolution. They are approachable and able to communicate complex issues with ease. Their command of the English language is impeccable.’

  • ‘Chirag Mody was our main contact. He makes the best possible impression both as a lawyer and a person by combining legal excellence with amazing communication skills. He is capable of analysing even the most complex factual scenarios and laws in a creative and fruitful manner while not losing sight of the broader strategic objectives. His service is competent, fast and highly effective - actually he has never lost a case we entrusted him with.'

  • 'Paul Varul is a senior academic whose presence in the team makes a lot of difference. He has immense knowledge of European civil law and is able to use it for the client's benefit creatively. This has proved particularly useful in Estonia, whose law has apparently taken a lot of inspiration abroad and remain open to foreign influence. Professor Varul is a calm, experienced and highly competent individual.'
  • '‘Professional attitude. The team is aware of the latest developments in the field.’

  • ‘Martti Peetsalu has a professional attitude, is friendly and always offers solutions.’

  • ‘Young, eager and professional team. Tackle problems with a passion. Sufficient depth to cover matters effectively. Senior partners still involved to provide interesting viewpoints.' 

Key clients

  • Port of Tallinn
  • Swedbank
  • Operail
  • Taxmal Ltd
  • Inchcape JLR Finland Oy
  • AdCash
  • Estonian Center for Integrity in Sports (ESTCIS)
  • Eesti Traat OÜ
  • Estonian Road Administration (ERA)
  • Rimi Eesti Food AS (Rimi)
  • CityBee
  • Estonian Public Broadcasting
  • CoopPank AS
  • Jetoil AS
  • CrowdEstate AS
  • EstateGuru AS
  • MDC Daetwyler AS
  • Dreymoor Fertilizers Ltd
  • Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications
  • TS Laevad and TS Shipping
  • Republic of Estonia Health Board
  • Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (formerly Enterprise Estonia)
  • Lääneranna Vallavalitsus/The Government of Lääneranna Parish
  • Sunly Solar
  • Delfi Meedia
  • Eesti Metsa Abiks/Estonian Forest Aid
  • AS GoBus
  • Eesti Tervisekassa (Estonian National Health Insurance Fund)
  • Estonian Railways
  • Tartu Municipality
  • GoTravel AS
  • Ida-Tallinna Keskhaigla (East Tallinn Central Hospital)
  • Riigi Kinnisvara Aktsiaselts
  • AS LHV Pank
  • Salinee OÜ
  • Scandagra Eesti AS
  • The Estonian Chamber of Enforcement
  • Officers and Trustees in Bankruptcy

Work highlights

  • Represented Estonian Centre Integrity in Sports (ESTCIS) in all Estonian proceedings and in the Court of Arbitration for Sports against a top Estonian athlete and Olympic medallist who tested positive for letrozole.
  • Representing Swedbank in a complex case concerning the transport of metal goods with an approximate value of $18m and a warranty given to Swedbank.
  • Represented and negotiated a favourable compromise for AS Operail in a high-profile case over the legality of rail infrastructure fees.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Kedli Anvelt
Kedli Anvelt is an attorney-at-law with extensive experience in the field of dispute resolution. Kedli advises and represents clients in civil disputes, incl. bankruptcy and reorganisation proceedings, financial disputes and criminal proceedings related to economic offences, incl. proceedings of bankruptcy offences. Kedli has considerable practical experience in comprehensive and evidentially complex and precedent-setting court actions, which makes her a valued representative in even the most complex court cases. Kedli is also the firm’s specialist in insolvency law. She advises clients in all matters related to insolvency, incl. cross-border issues. She has years of experience in advising and representing trustees in bankruptcy and creditors in various insolvency matters, incl. initiation of proceedings, solving issues arising during the conducting of bankruptcy proceedings, ascertaining possibilities for filing claims and court actions (incl. concerning recognition of claims, recovery of property to bankruptcy estate and exclusion of property from bankruptcy estate). In addition, Kedli has wide experience in providing consultation on refinancing and restructuring. Kedli also participates in the work of the bodies of bankruptcy proceedings. She is head of the bankruptcy committee in the first-ever and precedent-setting bankruptcy proceeding of a management company GA Fund Management (bankrupt) in Estonia, which has led to the reviewing and amendment of the Estonian Investment Funds Act with regard to the provisions concerning the liquidation of venture capital funds. Kedli also has experience in preparing legal opinions in very complex issues concerning insolvency law regarding which there is no explicit regulation in legal acts, and in cases concerning insolvency law and other fields of law where a conflict between several different fields of law and their principles has arisen. In addition, Kedli advises clients in the field of capital markets, primarily on the subject of banking, provision of investment services and insurance. She has also conducted trainings on insolvency law and published articles. Kedli is a member of INSOL Europe.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Paul Varul
Paul Varul has advised a wide range of Estonian and international clients on all aspects of private law. He has extensive knowledge and experience in the field of contract law and insolvency law. Paul Varul is renowned for his competence in dispute resolution, having represented clients in several high-profile actions, including international arbitration in Stockholm, London and Washington. Paul Varul has also served as an arbitrator for the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce and for the Arbitration Court of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has also acted as an expert witness in several international arbitration proceedings in Stockholm, London, Washington and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. Paul Varul is a renowned expert in insolvency law. He has been one of the main authors of the Estonian Bankruptcy Act, is the Chairman of the Insolvency Law Expert Commission at the Ministry of Justice, is a member of the International Insolvency Institute and INSOL Europe and has been involved in many bankruptcy proceedings as a representative of both debtors and creditors. Paul Varul is also a recognized expert in contract law, being one of the authors the model law of central importance in the EU, the Common Frame of Reference (Definitions, Principles and Model Rules of European Private Law). As the Chairman of the Expert Commission of new private law development, Paul Varul has been involved in drafting all the major private law legal acts in Estonia, such as the Law of Property Act, General Part of the Civil Code Act, Family Law Act, Law of Succession Act, Law of Obligations Act, Commercial Code, Bankruptcy Act, Reorganisation Act and Electronic Communications Act. He is also one of the compilers and authors of the quoted articles of the Civil Code General Act, the Law of Property Act and the Law of Obligations Act.
Priit Lätt
Attorney-at-Law Priit Lätt is a Partner at PwC Legal Eesti responsible for the fields of IP/IT, tax disputes and public procurement at PwC Legal in Estonia. Priit is a renowned specialist in IP, IT (including the internet of things and cryptocurrencies), tax and public procurement law, representing and advising Estonian and international companies and public institutions. Priit also has significant experience in representing clients in disputes which have created precedents at the Supreme Court, including the constitutional review chamber. Among other things, Priit has represented a client in Estonia’s biggest software dispute and in Estonia’s first bitcoin-related legal regulation lawsuit. Priit also successfully represented a client in a trademark dispute, in which the Supreme Court declared several important provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, and Government Regulations that established limits to legal expenses in civil disputes, as invalid and unconstitutional. Priit participated as the only attorney in a public and private sector work group, which for the first time in Estonia developed a recommended standard contract for the public procurement of software development. Priit has given many presentations at seminars and conferences, and has published articles on several legal issues. He is also a lecturer in the IT law training program at the University of Tartu on the subject of IT contracts.  
Indrek Leppik
Indrek develops litigation strategy and often represents clients in commercial, business, and administrative law disputes. Indrek has successfully represented clients in three cases in constitutional review proceedings, leading to the abolition of unconstitutional legal provisions that were harmful to his clients’ interests. Indrek has successfully represented credit institutions, insurance companies, and other businesses in landmark cases of considerable value. Indrek also advises and defends clients in disputes related to economic and malfeasance crimes.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Paul Varul, Martti Peetsalu, Chirag Mody

Other key lawyers

Kedli Anvelt, Peeter Viirsalu, Priit Lätt, Indrek Leppik, Indrek Kukk, Erki Fels

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