OUR PEOPLE

Current career

• 2020-... Lecturer in Environmental Law at the University of Tartu
• 2021-2024 Law firm WALLESS, Conusel, through law firm EnvirLaw
• 2018-... Law firm EnvirLaw partner, environmental law attorney
• 2019–2021 Member of the Board of Estonian Association for Environmental Management (EKJA)
• 2011–2017 Environmental law attorney at law firm GLIMSTEDT
• 2015–2016 Member of the Board of Estonian Association for Environmental Management (EKJA)
• 2010–2011 Member of the working group on the codification of the environmental law
• 2009–2013 Forestry Level IV consultant (Certificate no 043485)
• 2008–2011 Attorney at law firm bnt attorneys-at-law
• 2004–2008 Head of the Legal Department of the Ministry of the Environment
• 2002–2004 Adviser to the Legal Department of the Ministry of Justice

Education

• 2008–… University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, Doctoral studies (PhD, Environmental Law) (https://www.etis.ee/CV/Mirjam_Vili/est?lang=ENG)
• 2003–2008 Tallinn University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Master in Social Sciences (Social management strategies)
• 2001–2002 Freie Universität Berlin, Law, LLM
• 1996–2001 University of Tartu, Law, Master degree equated bachelor’s degree

A selection of experiences in the field of environmental cooperation

CROSS SECTORAL ACTIVITIES

• On behalf of an international cooperation partner, verification of the correct transposition of European Union legislation into Estonian law (various environmental legislation).
• Drafting of and participating in the development of a number of other environmental laws and regulations.
• Conducting of a number of trainings in the field of environmental law and related fields, as well as participation in conferences giving presentations both in Estonia and abroad. E.g. development and implementation of a course in environmental law with a specialisation in areas of law relating to sustainable development within the framework of the Micrograduate Program in Applied Resource Management at the University of Tartu, Pärnu College; In cooperation with AS Äripäev, conducting various legal webinars in the field of forestry in the period 2019-2020.
• Representation of companies dealing with local government or state authorities in matters concerning planning and building law.
• Compiling of the parts concerning environmental law for the LDD of acquisition of companies.
• Advising holders of environmental protection permits on compliance with permit requirements.
• Environmental consultancy for different farmers (environmental impact assessment, environmental charges, environmental permits, producer’s liability, packaging regulations).

PROTECTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE, INCLUDING CLIMATE CHANGE

• Preparation of a legal overview of the legal framework for the establishment of offshore wind farms (incl. the legal framework for hydrogen production), on behalf of a foreign company.
• Advising of a gas sales company on issues related to LNG sales in Estonia.
• Drafting of an amendment to the Ambient Air Protection Act in connection with the transposition of Directive 2009/30/EU.
• Periodic consultation of a state-owned company on matters relating to environmental law (environmental monitoring, emissions trading and ambient air protection, in particular).

CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

• Legal analysis of the implementation of the new waste reporting system based on the real time economy, on behalf of the Ministry of Climate.
• Analysis of the possibility of treating the sludge generated during the production process as a byproduct or product (end of waste status) rather than as waste for an industrial company.
• Legal analysis for Ministry of Climate of the implementation of Regulation 2020/741/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on minimum requirements for the re use of water in the Estonian legal framework. The analysis also included options for using reclaimed water from sources other than urban wastewater, including using reclaimed water in aquaculture and proposals for changes to the legislation (in cooperation with Law Firm WALLESS).
• Preparing, on behalf of the Environmental Board, draft orders of the Government of the Republic granting consent to the granting of a extraction permit on the grounds of overriding national interest (in the event of a local authority's disagreement with the granting of a extraction permit).
• Advising public authorities on the implementation of the principle of producer responsibility in waste management.
• Drafting of a legislation on amendments to the Waste Act with the transposition of the Waste Framework Directive.
• Advising of state institutions in regards to the maintenance of the register of products of concern.
• Participating as a legal counsel in state-run residual pollution elimination projects.

BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION

• Advising property owners both in administrative and court proceedings on the establishment of a protected natural site (protected area or species’ protection sites).
• Representation of property owners in the procedure for acquisition of immovable containing protected natural object.
• Ensuring the legal correctness of draft regulations regarding placing natural object under protection on behalf of the Environment Agency for several years.
• Advising companies on the application for the permit in proof of right to use hunting district, both in administrative and court proceedings, drafting contracts for use of immovables for hunting.
• Legal counselling for private forest owners in relation to forest management.
• Preparation of contracts for a transfer for the cutting right or timber and consulting in the performance of contracts.

HORIZONTAL AREAS

• Representing companies in environmental charging procedures, both in administrative and court proceedings.
• Participation in the reform of the system for paying and accounting for environmental fees.
• Representation of applicants in challenge proceedings and court proceedings concerning environmental subsidies issued by Environmental Investment Centre and Agricultural Registers and Information Board.
• Analysis of compliance with different state aid rules in the environmental field at the request of both the state and private companies.
• Advising companies on administrative procedures for environmental liability (in cases of environmental damage or threat of environmental damage).