Varul, Paul

Job

Professor of Civil Law, University of Tartu
Head, Institute of Private Law, University of Tartu

Personal data

Born: December 10, 1952, Valga
E-mail: paul.varul@ut.ee

Education

Ph.D., University of Leningrad, 1985
Faculty of Law, University of Tartu, 1975 (cum laude)

Career

Professor of Civil Law, University of Tartu, 1992–1995, 1999–current
Professor of Civil Law (Part-time), University of Tartu, 1995–1999
Minister of Justice of the Republic of Estonia, 1995–1999
Head, Institute of Private Law, University of Tartu, 1993–1995, 1999–current
Head, Department of Civil Law and Procedure 1991–1992
Docent, Faculty of Law, University of Tartu, 1986–1991
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Tartu, 1977–1986
Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Tartu, 1976–1977
Assistant-scientific Employee, Faculty of Law, University of Tartu, 1975–1976

Main areas of research

Civil Liability and Protection of Subjective Rights
Fundamental Principles of Drafting the Estonian New Civil Code and Commercial Code and the Main Institutes of Civil Law: Persons, Transactions, Contract Law
Principles of Drafting Estonian Private Law, Codification of Private Law and Harmonisation Thereof with the EU Legislation
Law of Bankruptcy
Reform of Property

Grants and projects

Estonian Science Foundation (ETF) grant No. 7297 for project: Theoretical Bases of the Harmonisation of Main Institutes of Civil Law in Europe and Its Impact on Civil Law and Lagislation in Estonia, 2008–2011
Estonian Science Foundation (ETF) grant No. 5841for project: The Mutual Influences of Estonian Civil Law and the European Civil Code, 2004–2006
Estonian Science Foundation (ETF ) grant No. 4453 for project: Estonian Private Law Reform: Further Development and Connection With the European Civil Code. With team members H. Pisuke, A. Hussar, J. Lahe, U. Liin, 2000–2003
Estonian Science Foundation (ETF ) target financing on the topic: Main Problems in the Drafting and Developing of the Estonian Private Law. With 12 team members, 1996–2000
Estonian Science Foundation (ETF ) grant No. 1214 for project: Estonian New Civil and Commercial Law. With team members I. Kull, U. Liin, H. Pisuke, E. Salumaa, H. Sepp, A. Siibak, H. Veinla, A. Vutt, 1994–1997

Professional activity and membership

Member of the International Insolvency Institute, 2008-current
Member of the INSOL Europe, 2008–current
Member of the INSOL Europe Academic Forum, 2008–current
Member of the Consulting Committee for Minister of Justice of Estonia, 2006–current
Member of the Redaction Team of the Common Frame of Reference, 2005–2008
Member of the Consulting Board of the European Review of Contract Law, 2005–current
Member of the Expert Committee for Insolvency (Ministry of Justice of Estonia), 2004–current
Member of the Study Group on a European Civil Code, 2003–2008
Member of the Academy of European Private Lawyers, 2002–current
Chairman of the Main Committee of the Civil and Commercial Codes, 1992–1999
Chairman of the Expert Committee of the Drafts of Law of Obligations Act and General Part of the Civil Code Act, 1999–2001
Chairman of several Working Groups for Drafting of Legislation, 1989–2001
Member of the Council of the University of Tartu, 1991-1995, 1999–current
Member of the Council of the Faculty of Law, 1986–current
Member of the Council of the Iuridicum Foundation, 1998–current
Member of the Estonian Bar Association, 1994–current
Chairman of the Council of Crime Prevention, 1995–1999
Chairman of the Central Committee for Restitution of and Compensation for Unlawfully Expropriated Property, 1995–1999
Chairman of the Expert Committee of the Constitution of Estonian, 1996–1998; Chairman of the State Committee of Legal Terminology, 1995–1999
Editor-in-chief and Member of Editorial Board of the Law Journal Juridica and Juridica International , 1993–current
Member of the Estonian Academic Law Society (EAÕS), 1991-current
Member of the Estonian Lawyers Union, 1994-current
Chairman of the Council of Estonian Law Centre Foundation, 1995–1999
Chairman of the Expert Committee of Civil Legislation of Estonia, 1989–1991

Participation in scientific conferences and seminars

INSOL Europe Annual Congress, Stockholm, 2009
The Foundation of European Private Law, Florence, 2009
INSOL Europe Academic Forum, Brighton, 2009
The Draft Common frame of Reference, Ljubljana, 2008
Developments in European Law: European Initiatives (CFR) and Reform of Civil Law in New Member States (dedicated to the 375th anniversary of the University of Tartu), November 15-16, 2007, Tartu
15 years of Insolvency Law in Estonia, Tallinn, 2007
Modern Trends and Perspectives of Civil Law Development, Vilnius, 2005
European Legal Harmony: Goals and Milestones (dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Juridica International), December 6, 2005, Tartu
The Common Core of European Private Law, Trento, 2004
Worldrwide Harmonisation of Private Law and Regional Economic Integration, Rome, 2002
Zivilrechtsreform im Baltikum: Gegenwartsfragen in historischer, vergleichender und europarechtlicher Sicht, Greifswald, 2002
Estonian Civil Law in European Private Law Context, September 27-28, 2001, Tartu
On Development of Bankruptcy Law, Tartu, 2001
Problems of Transformation of Law in Connection with European Integration, Riga, 2001
International Symposium ‘Legislation and Legal Policy’, September 28–October 1, 2000, Tartu
Five Years of the Estonian Constitution, Tallinn, 1997
Protection of Constitutional Rights, Tallinn, 1996
Property Rights: Bankruptcy and Judicial Liquidation, Strasbourg, 1994
Constitutional Protection and Public Regulation, Oslo, 1994
Problems of Ownership, Tartu, 1993
Plan and Market, Helsinki, 1991

Studies abroad

Visiting lecturer, North Carolina University at Chapel Hill, USA, 1995
University of Uppsala, Sweden, 1991 and 1993
University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, 1993
University of Helsinki, Finland, 1991

Hobbies and community work

Physical Exercise, Sports

Teaching practice

General Part of the Civil Code, 1992/1993, 1995/1996, 1999/2000–current
Law of Property, 1994/1995
Law of Bankruptcy, 1994/1995–current
Law of Property and Law of Inheritance, 1993/1994
Law of Ownership and Law of Inheritance, 1992/1993
Legal Problems of Entrepreneurship 1992/1993 and 1993/1994
Civil Law (for Master Students), 1999/2000–2004/2005
Law of Bankruptcy (for Master Students), 1998/1999, 2004/2005
Current Problems of Private Law (for Doctoral Students), 1998/1999–current

Publications

P. Varul, I. Kull, V. Kõve, M. Käerdi, K. Saare. General Part of the Civil Law. Tallinn: Juura, 2012, 376 p. (in Estonian).
P. Varul, I. Kull, V. Kõve, M. Käerdi. General Part of the Civil Code Act. Commented Edition. Tallinn: Juura, 2010, 558 p. (in Estonian).
P. Varul, H. Pikmets. Corporate Recovery and Insolvency: Estonia. – The International Comparative Legal Quide to: Corporate Recovery and Insolvency 2009. Global Legal Group (GLG), London, 2009, pp. 74-79.
P. Varul, H. Pikmets. Bankruptcy Law and Planned Amendments. – International Financial Law Review (IFLR) 2009, pp. 15-18.
P. Varul, I. Kull. Concept of Change of Circumstances in the Harmonized European Contract Law. – Tidskrift, utgiven av Juridiska Föreningen in Finland (JFT) 2009, 3-4, pp. 383-399.
P. Varul, I. Kull, V. Kõve, M. Käerdi. Law of Obligations Act III (§§ 619-916 and 1005-1067). Commented Edition. Tallinn: Juura, 2009, 737 p. (in Estonian).
Ch. von Bar, E. Clive, H. Schulte-Nölke, H. Beale and J. Herre, J. Huet, M. Storme, S. Swann, P. Varul, A. Veneziano, F. Zoll. – Principles, Definitions and Model Rules of European Private Law. Draft Common Frame of Reference (DCFR). Munich: Sellier European Law Publischers GmbH, 2009.
P. Varul. The Creation of New Estonian Private Law. European Review of Private Law, 2008, pp. 97–111.
P. Varul, M. Tamme. Perehod predprijatija po sdelke v estonskom prave. D.O. Tuzov (Ed.), Veštšnõe prava: sistema, soderžanie, priobretenie. Sbornik nautšnõh trudov v tšest` professora B. L. Haskelberga, Moskva: STATUT, 2008, pp. 216–228 (in Russian).
P. Varul, U. Liin. Two Reforms of the Estonian Law of Succession. Vytautas Mizaras (Ed.), Private Law: Past, Present and Future. Liber Amicorum Valentinas Mikelenas. Vilnius: Justitia, 2008, pp. 301–310.
P. Varul. The Civil Code as a Basis for the New Estonian Private Law. M. Bussani, U. Mattei (Eds.). Opening Up European Law. The Common Core Project towards Eastern and South Eastern Europe. Sellier, 2007, pp. 273–283.
P. Varul. The Problems and Perspectives of Development of the Estonian Contract Law. Trends and Perspectives in the Development of Contemporary Civil Law. Vilnius: Justitia, 2007, pp. 217–220.
P. Varul. Creation of New Estonian Private Law. ARS AEQUI TAALGIDS VOOR JURISTEN. Nijmegen, 2007, pp. 574–582.
P. Varul, I. Kull, V. Kõve, M. Käerdi. Law of Obligations Act II (§§ 208–618). Commented Edition. Tallinn: Juura, 2007, 757 p. (in Estonian).
P. Varul. The New Estonian Civil Code. Heiss, H. (Ed.). Zivilrechtsreform im Baltikum. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2006, S. 51–57.
P. Varul, L. Hallik. Voleizjavlenije i sdelka. Varul, P. (Ed.). Sbornik statei k 55-letiju Jevgenija Alekseevitsha Krasheninnikova, Jaroslavl, 2006, pp. 7–17 (in Russian).
P. Varul, I. Kull, V. Kõve, M. Käerdi. Law of Obligations Act I (§§ 1–207). Commented Edition. Tallinn: Juura, 2006, 705 p. (in Estonian).
P. Varul, A. Kaljurand, A. Mailend, H. Pikmets, L. Tolstov. Governing Bodies of an Incorporated Entity: Rights, Obligations and Liability of Governing Bodies of Incorporated Entities [Äriühingu juhtorganid: äriühingu juhtorganite liikmete õigused, kohustused ja vastutus]. Tallinn: Äripäeva Kirjastus, 2005 (in Estonian).
P. Varul. Fifteen Years of Legislative Drafting in Estonia. Law – Master or Servant of the Society and Economy? [Viisteist aastat õigusloomet Eestis. Õigus - kas ühiskonna ja majanduse teener või valitseja ?]: Conference Book. Tallinn: Eesti Ekspressi Kirjastus, 2005 pp. 10-15, 80-81, 104-106. (in Estonian).
P. Varul. CISG: Source of inspiration for the Estonian Law of Obligations. Uniform Law Review, 8, 2003, pp. 209-210.
P. Varul. Estonian Private Law and the European Union. In: Problems of Transformation of Law in Connection with European Integration: Riga: University of Latvia, 2002, pp. 190–203.
P. Varul. Creation of New Private Law in Estonia. Krawietz, W.; Narits, R. (Eds.). Gesetzgebung und Rechtspolitik. Internationales Symposium der Estnischen Juristischen Fakultät in Tartu. - Rechtstheorie. Zeitschrift für Logik, Methodenlehre, Kybernetik und Soziologie des Rechts. Berlin: Duncker-Humblot, 31, 2000, S. 349-367.
P. Varul. Legal Expertise of the Constitution: Aims, Organisation of Work, Results. – Riigikogu Toimetised (Journal of the Estonian Parliament), 2000, No. 1, pp. 65–76 (in Estonian).
P. Varul, H. Pisuke. Louisiana’s Contribution to the Estonian Civil Code. – Tulane Law Review, 1999, Vol. 73, 4, pp. 1027–1031.
P. Varul, Vesa A. Lappalainen. Viron kaupallista lainsäädäntöä – Eesti kaubanduse seadused – Estonian law on business. – Helsinki: Lakimiesliiton Kustannus, 1991, 326 p.
P. Varul. On Creation of Legislation on Business Activity in Estonia. - Market and Plan in the Regulation of Economy. Helsinki, 1991, pp. 3–12.

Articles in Juridica

Void Transactions, Juridica Abstract, 2011, No. 1, pp. 35-46
Declarations of Intention, Juridica Abstract, 2010, No. 7, pp. 497-507
Dear Reader, Juridica Abstract, 2010, No. 7, pp. 461
Dear Reader, Juridica Abstract, 2009, No. 10, pp. 665
New Proposals for Amendments to the Bankruptcy Act, Juridica Abstract, 2008, No. 6, pp. 359-368
Dear Reader, Juridica Abstract, 2008, No. 6, p. 349
Entrepreneurial Law. Action Plan for Improving the International Competitiveness of the Corporate Legal Environment, Juridica Abstract, 2006, No. 4, pp. 227-233
Cross-border Bankruptcy Proceedings, Juridica Abstract, 2004, No. 4, pp. 243-251
Claims in Bankruptcy Proceedings, Juridica Abstract, 2004, No. 2, pp. 96-102
Debtor's Liability in the Event of a Bankruptcy, Juridica Abstract, 2003, No. 7, pp. 449-456
Dear Reader, Juridica Abstract, 2002, No. 4, p. 209
Issues Concerning Bankruptcy Law, Juridica Abstract, 1999, No. 8, pp. 376-380
Dear Reader, Juridica Abstract, 1999, No. 7, p. 313
Restoration of Estonian Legal sDystem, Juridica Abstract, 1999, No. 1, pp. 2-4
Dear Reader, Juridica Abstract, 1995, No. 7, p. 281
Abstracts of the Presentation “Problems of Law Drafting” Made during the XIX Days of the Estonian Jurists, Juridica Abstract, 1995, No. 5, pp. 180-180
Dear Reader, Juridica Abstract, 1995, No. 1, p. 1
Part VI Provisions Enforcement, Juridica Abstract, 1994, No. 8, pp. 205-205
Part III Rise, Modification and Termination of Civil Rights and Obligations., Juridica Abstract, 1994, No. 8, pp. 190-191
Part II Persons, Juridica Abstract, 1994, No. 8, pp. 183-183
The Act on General Principles of the Civil Code. Commentary. Part I General Provisions, Juridica Abstract, 1994, No. 8, p. 182
Dear Reader, Juridica Abstract, 1994, No. 8, p. 181
Elucidatory Notes on the Bankruptcy Law, Juridica Abstract, 1994, No. 1, pp. 2-13
Dear Reader, Juridica Abstract, 1994, No. 1, p. 1
On the Development of Civil and Commercial Legislation in Estonia, Juridica Abstract, 1993, No. 6, pp. 120-121
Editor's Column. Introduction: General Remarks on Real Rights, Juridica Abstract, 1993, No. 4, pp. 70-71
Dear Reader, Juridica Abstract, 1993, No. 4, p. 69
Tenement, Juridica Abstract, 1993, No. 4, pp. 81-82
Ownership. General Enactments, Juridica Abstract, 1993, No. 4, pp. 78-80
Explanatory Remarks on the Law of Bancruptcy (3). Bodies and Organs Involved in Bancruptcy Procedure, Juridica Abstract, 1993, No. 3, pp. 52-52
Explanatory Remarks on the Law of Bankruptcy (2), Juridica Abstract, 1993, No. 2, pp. 30-30
Dear Reader, Juridica Abstract, 1993, No. 1, p. 2
Clarifying Remarks on the Law of Bankruptcy, Juridica Abstract, 1993, No. 1, pp. 6-7

Articles in Juridica International

BOOK REVIEW: Prof. Dr. Bob Wessels, International Insolvency Law 3rd ed., Kluwer, Deventer, 2012, Juridica International, 2012, No. 1, pp. 187-188
Performance and Remedies for Non-Performance: Comparative Analysis of the PECL and DCFR, Juridica International, 2008, No. 1, pp. 104-110
Dear Reader, Juridica International, 2008, No. 1, p. 1
Dear Reader, Juridica International, 2006, No. 1, p. 1
Dear Reader, Juridica International, 2005, No. 1, p. 1
Restrictions on Active Legal Capacity, Juridica International, 2004, No. 1, pp. 99-107
Debtor’s Liability under Bankruptcy, Juridica International, 2003, No. 1, pp. 197-202
On Effect of Constitution on Bankruptcy Law, Juridica International, 2002, No. 1, pp. 150-157
Dear Reader, Juridica International, 2001, No. 1, p. 1
Legal Policy Decisions and Choices in the Creation of New Private Law in Estonia, Juridica International, 2000, No. 1, pp. 104-118
On the Development of Bankruptcy Law in Estonia, Juridica International, 1999, No. 1, pp. 172-178

Languages

Estonian (Native)
English (Fluent)
Russian (Fluent)

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