Dr. Urmas Volens, LL.M.

Legal Counsel
Head of Real Estate Transactions and Leases

+372 610 8013
+372 506 3470
urmas.volens@nove.ee

Expertise
Real Estate Transactions and Leases
General Contract Law
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and Corporate Law
Relations with State, Policy Development, Research
Consturction and Design
Enforcement, Reorganisation and Bankruptcy Proceedings
Insurance Law

Legal Counsel Urmas Volens focuses on real estate transactions, including matters related to the sale and acquisition of real estate, as well as on property law, corporate law, and the law of obligations. He also advises on government relations, policy development and research.

Urmas Volens has over 25 years of unique experience in the field of law and is one of the most recognized experts in civil and business law in Estonia. He has long been involved in both lawmaking and law application, serving as a attorney-at-law, a judge, as well as a legal academic and university lecturer.

Before rejoining NOVE, Urmas worked for five years as a judge at the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court, also fulfilling the duties of the Chair of the Civil Chamber. While at the Supreme Court, he was also a member of the Constitutional Review Chamber for four years.

During his tenure at the Estonian Ministry of Justice from 1998 to 2009 in various positions, Urmas participated in the drafting of all major private law statutes, including the Property Law Act, Law of Obligations Act, Land Register Act, Succession Act, Employment Contracts Act, and the Code of Civil Procedure, as well as in amendments to the Commercial Code, the Personal Data Protection Act, the Restructuring Act, and others, and in the parliamentary proceedings related to these laws in the Riigikogu – the parliament of Estonia.

While working in the Ministry of Justice, Urmas participated as a representative of Estonia in accession negotiations between Estonia and the European Union in the field of the law of obligations and corporate law, and after the accession in EU legislative processes at various levels (civil law and corporate law workgroups of European Commission and the EU Council). He has also represented Estonia at the European Committee on Legal Cooperation of the Council of Europe and the Hague Conference on Private International Law. Urmas has been involved in preparing codification of environmental law, social law, construction and planning law and economic governance law. 

Concerning the real estate law, Urmas advises clients primarily in questions related to rent and lease agreements, planning and construction contracts, as well as sale/purchase transactions. He has extensive experience in judicial proceedings: in addition to real estate and construction related disputes he has significant experience in commerce, public procurement and transport related disputes. Urmas also has a long-standing experience in advising clients in various matters of corporate law. 

Urmas has lectured on the follow-up training programme for judges and public prosecutors and the pre-attestation follow-up training programme for notaries, as well as taking part in training and examining judges, bailiffs, assistant judges and other court officials.

Urmas has served as a respected lecturer in the continuing education program for judges and prosecutors.

He is a recognised seminar and conference presenter, and a visiting lecturer in Tallinn University. Urmas regularly contributes to legal journals and literature, eg, in 2014 he co-authored a book commenting on the Law of Property Act in Estonia and in 2015 the first textbook in the field Corporate Law I. Incorporated Enterprises.

In the field of academic activity Urmas obtained a one-year scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for LLM studies in Cologne and a two-month research scholarship for doctoral studies at the University of Konstanz under the cooperation program between the University of Konstanz and the University of Tartu.

In the autumn of 2011 he was on a two-month secondment in Germany at law firm Hengeler Mueller through the IRZ Network programme organised by the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ Foundation) in cooperation with the Federal Bar and the German Bar Association. In 2024, Urmas completed an internship at the Federal Court of Justice (der Bundesgerichtshof, BGH) Bundesgerichtshof, BGH) in Karlsruhe, Germany.

*  According to Art 40 (3) of the Bar Association Act counsel does not provide legal services. Counsel is assisting the attorneys.

Work experience

2026–... Law Firm NOVE, Legal Counsel
2025–... Tallinn University, Visiting Professor
2020-2025 Supreme Court of Estonia, Justice
2016–2020 Law Firm NOVE, Attorney-at-law, Partner
2010–2016 Law Firm Sorainen, Attorney-at-law, Specialist counsel
2015–... University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, Associate Professor of civil proceedings
2010–2015 University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, Lecturer of civil law
2006–2009 Ministry of Justice of Estonia, Deputy Secretary General
2003–2006 Ministry of Justice of Estonia, Legal Policy department, Head of Private Law section
2000–2002 Ministry of Justice of Estonia, courts division, registers and notariate division, Specialist counsel
1998–2000 Ministry of Justice of Estonia, Private Law department, Specialist

Education

2011 University of Tartu, Estonia (Dr Iur)
2001 University of Cologne, Germany (LLM, summa cum laude)
1999 University of Tartu, Institute of Law, Estonia (BA in Law, magna cum laude)

Membership

Academic Law Association
Estonian Lawyers Association

Recognition

  • Chambers Europe, the field of real estate: “Urmas Volens is praised by both peers and clients. He is appreciated for his ability to find new solutions in a broader context and his network of business contacts.”

  • Legal 500, the fields of real estate and construction: Legal advisor and head of the working group Urmas Volens is “extremely helpful, dedicated and has a sharp mind for commercial thinking.”

  • • Best Lawyers, the fields of corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, administrative law, bankruptcy act and reorganisation act, dispute resolution, commercial law and public law.

Scientific publications

  • Volens, U.  ptk 4. jagu (“Õigusabikulude kindlustus”) kommentaarid. Teoses Varul, P. jt. Võlaõigusseadus IV. Kommenteeritud väljaanne. Juura. Tallinn 2021
  • Volens, U. 25. ptk (“Elukindlustus”) kommentaarid. Teoses Varul, P. jt. Võlaõigusseadus IV. Kommenteeritud väljaanne. Juura. Tallinn 2021
  • Volens, U. 27. ptk (“Ravikindlustus”) kommentaarid. Teoses Varul, P. jt. Võlaõigusseadus IV. Kommenteeritud väljaanne. Juura. Tallinn 2021
  • Volens, U. 44. ptk (Pakettreisileping) kommentaarid. Teoses Varul, P. jt. Võlaõigusseadus IV. Kommenteeritud väljaanne. Juura. Tallinn 2020
  • Käerdi, M., Kärson, S., Kõve, V., Pavelts, A. Saare, K., Volens, U., Vutt, A., Vutt, M. Ühinguõiguse revisjon. Analüüs-kontseptsioon. Justiitsministeerium 2018
  • Volens, U., Mikk, T., Murumets, V. 57. peatükk (Pärandi hoiumeetmed, § 584-590) kommentaarid. Teoses Kõve, Villu jt. Tsiviilkohtumenetluse seadustik III. Kommenteeritud väljaanne. Juura. Tallinn 2018
  • Volens, U., Johanson, S. 18. peatükk 5. jagu (menetluskulude kindlaksmääramine, § 173–174, 176–179). Teoses Kõve, Villu jt. Tsiviilkohtumenetluse seadustik I. Kommenteeritud väljaanne. Juura. Tallinn 2017
  • Volens, U., Püümann, H. 19. peatükk (tagatis, § 194–197); Teoses Kõve, Villu jt. Tsiviilkohtumenetluse seadustik I. Kommenteeritud väljaanne. Juura. Tallinn 2017
  • Volens, U., Püümann, H. 22. peatükk (kolmandad isikud, § 212–216); Teoses Kõve, Villu jt. Tsiviilkohtumenetluse seadustik I. Kommenteeritud väljaanne. Juura. Tallinn 2017
  • Volens, U., Lepik, G. 26. peatükk  (eeltõendamismenetlus tõendite tagamiseks ja asjaolude eelnevaks tuvastamiseks, § 244–250). Teoses Kõve, Villu jt. Tsiviilkohtumenetluse seadustik I. Kommenteeritud väljaanne. Juura. Tallinn 2017
  • Volens, U., Pihlak, M. Puhkusereisist saab ohtlik seiklus. Kas reisija või reisikorraldaja risk? Juridica III 2017, lk 168–177
  • Pavelts, A., Kallaste, E., Järve, J., Volens, U (2017). Ühingute piiriülese liikumise reguleerimine Euroopa Liidus
  • Urmas Volens, Kåre Lilleholt. Consumer Insolvency Law in Estonia and Norway: Comparative Aspects (2016) 24 European Review of Private Law, Issue 5.pp. 759– 789
  • Saare, K., Volens, U., Vutt, A., Vutt, M.Ühinguõigus I. Kapitaliühingud. Juura 2015, Tallinn
  • Pärk, B., Püümann, H., Haamer, M., Kranich, O., Vaske, V., Lepasepp, K., Volens, U., Järve, J(2015). Analüüs Rail Baltic raudtee rajamisega kaasnevate võimalike negatiivsete mõjude hüvitamise võimalustest kinnisasjade omanikele ja kasutajatele.
  • Sein, K., Volens, U. Legal Problems and Regulations related to Easy-access Non-secured Consumer Loans in Estonia. Juridica International. 22/2014, pp 120-137
  • Volens, U. 8. osa 2. ptk 1. jao (käsipant, §-d 281–295) kommentaarid. Teoses Varul, P jt Asjaõigusseadus II. Kommenteeritud väljaanne“. Juura. Tallinn 2014, lk 209–286
  • Volens, U. 8. osa 2 .ptk 2. jao (registerpant, §-d 297–303) kommentaarid. Teoses Varul, P jt Asjaõigusseadus II. Kommenteeritud väljaanne”. Juura. Tallinn 2014, lk 286-366
  • Volens, U. Kommertspandiseaduse kommentaarid. Teoses Varul, P jt Asjaõigusseadus II. Kommenteeritud väljaanne”. Juura. Tallinn 2014, lk 368–431
  • Madisson, K., Volens, U., Loor, K., Hammerberg, R., Lepasepp, K., Altmets, K., Raudsepp, P., Puolakainen, V., Künnap, P., Miidla, M., Eelmets, I., Lõhmus, G., Matjus, M., Lehtsaar, P., Soonsein, R.  Juhatuse liikme vastutus. Tallinn 2014. Äripäev
  • Volens, U. 3. osa 3. ptk 2. jao (kinnisomandi ulatus, §-d 127–134) kommentaarid. Teoses Varul, P jt „Asjaõigusseadus I. Kommenteeritud väljaanne“. Juura. Tallinn 2014, lk 519–537
  • Volens, U. 3. osa 3. ptk 3. jao (kinnisomandi kitsendused) 1. (üldsätted,  §-id 140-142), 2. (naabrusõigused, §-id 143–151), 4. (veed §-d 159–161)  ja 5. (mets, § 167) jaotise (sh 3. jao sissejuhatus ja § 140 kaasautorina) kommentaarid. Teoses Varul, P jt „Asjaõigusseadus I. Kommenteeritud väljaanne“. Juura. Tallinn 2014, lk 538-585 ja 627 -636
  • Volens, U (2013). „Ses hulluses on siiski järjekindlust“ ehk kinnisomandi kitsenduste süsteemi otsimas. Juridica, VII, lk 478–493
  • Saare, K., Tamm, K., Volens, U. Ehitise garantii kehtivas eraõiguse süsteemis. Juridica. 2013. III, lk 168–182
  • Pihlak, M., Volens, U (2013). Remedies for International Sellers of Goods. Estonia. In: Campbell, Dennis (Eds.). Remedies for International Sellers of Goods (EST1 – EST33). Huntington, USA: Juris Publishing 2013;
  • Volens, U., Moor, M. Kas osanikul on õigus osaühingust välja astuda ja nõuda oma osa eest ühingult hüvitist? Juridica, 2012. X, lk 752–767
  • Volens, U. Outsourcing Legal Services: Impact on National Law Practices. Estonia. The Comparative Law Yearbook of International Business 2012 (pp 29–49). Salzburg: Kluwer Law International
  • Volens, U. Usaldusvastutus kui iseseisev vastutussüsteem ja selle avaldumisvormid (Doktoritöö) Tartu. 2011
  • Volens, U. Expert’s Liability to a Third Person at the Point of Intersection of the Law of Contract and the Law of Delict. Juridica International 2010, pp. 176–187
  • Volens, U. Pakettreisilepingu peatüki kommentaarid (45. ptk, §-d 866–882) teoses: Varul, P., Kull, I., Kõve, V., Käerdi, M. jt Võlaõigusseadus III. Kommenteeritud väljaanne. 2009, lk 441–489
  • Käerdi, M., Lang, R., Raidla, J., Varul, P., Volens, U. Ettevõtja õigus. Tegevuskava ettevõtlusealase õiguskeskkonna rahvusvahelise konkurentsivõime parandamiseks. Juridica, 2006, nr. 4, lk 227–233
  • Volens, U. Müügileping. Äripäeva Kirjastus, Tallinn 2006
  • Kull, I., Käerdi, M., Paal, K., Parkel, K., Tropp, M., Volens, U. LEPINGUD. Näidised ja kommentaarid. Käsiraamatute Kirjastus, Tallinn 1999 jj;  . – liisingulepingu ja krediidilepingute ning seltsingulepingu, kompromissilepingu ja toetamislepingute kommentaar.
  • Volens, U. Äriseadustik arvestab muutustega ärikeskkonnas. Ärielu 02/05
  • Volens, U. Tehingud: tühisus ja tühistamine. Eesti Majanduse Teataja, Nr 10 (173)/2005, lk 39–44
  • Volens, U. Euroopa majandushuviühing – uus koostöövorm rahvusvaheliselt tegutsevatele ettevõtjatele. Eesti Majanduse Teataja, Nr 12 (163)/2004;
  • Volens, U. Äriseadustiku muutmisest. Eesti Majanduse Teataja, Nr 11 (162)/2004
  • Volens, U. Asjaõiguslik väljaandmisnõue, selle kõrvalnõuded ja valdaja vastuõigused. Õigusinstituudi Toimetised, sügis 1999

Publications

Languages

Estonian, English, German, Finnish, Russian