` Karina Paatsi | COBALT
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Experts / Karina Paatsi

Karina Paatsi

Partner / Estonia
+372 514 6405
+372 665 1888

About

Karina Paatsi is a Partner at COBALT Estonia and head of the fields of employment law and corporate law. Karina advises clients with regard to commencement of business activities as well as all legal matters related to the everyday business activities of companies, including the restructuring, merger and liquidation of companies, matters related to the liability of the members of management bodies and corporate governance. She has long-term experience in counselling clients in matters related to employment relationships, including the preparation of employment contracts and other documents pertaining to employment law, termination of employment relationships and labour disputes.

In addition to her work as an attorney, Karina regularly gives presentations in professional conferences, gives lectures in the Estonian Business School and contributes to writing articles on topical issues.

Karina has been ranked by Chambers Europe in band 1 as a leading employment lawyer in Estonia.

Karina has been a member of the Estonian Bar Association since 2000 and she is also a member of the Employment Law Committee of the Bar Association since 2014.

Practice

Recognition
CV
Experience
Publications
  • Employment – Band 1, Chambers Europe 2025
  • Employment – Ranked Lawyer, Band 1, Chambers & Partners 2024
  • Employment – Leading Individual, The Legal 500 2024
  • Financial and Corporate – Expert Consultant, IFLR1000 2024
  • Financial and Corporate – Notable Practitioner, IFLR 1000 2022

Languages

  • Estonian, English, Russian

Membership & education

  • Member of the Employment law Commission of Estonian Bar Association (2014)
  • Estonian Bar Association (2000)
  • Master of Arts in Law (M.A.), University of Tartu, Faculty of Law, Estonia (1998)
    Estonian DeepTech startup MuRayTech raises funding for advanced imaging
    2025 - 08 - 13
    European Lingerie Group acquires Baltika
    2025 - 05 - 21
    Via3L Spedition OÜ won in court against firm’s former managers
    2024 - 01 - 10
    Interchemie reached an agreement with Kepro in court
    2023 - 10 - 04

    Whistleblower Protection Act finally adopted (2024 - 05 - 22)

    More flexible on-call time for ICT employees (2022 - 12 - 16)

    Changes in organising occupational health and safety (2022 - 12 - 16)

    Hiring foreign workers (2022 - 12 - 16)

    Exceptions concerning consecutive fixed-term employment contracts with people registered as unemployed (2022 - 12 - 16)

    Employees with independent decision-making capacity (2022 - 12 - 16)

    Construction contractor liability for wages not received by the employees of a subcontractor (2022 - 12 - 16)

    Estonia: Salary subsidies extended to March (2021 - 03 - 09)

    COVID-19 Estonia: Coronavirus in employment relations – payment of salary subsidies extended, employees return to workplaces (2020 - 06 - 01)

    COVID-19 Estonia: The effects of the coronavirus on the adoption of resolutions by shareholders and the formal requirements for non-electronic share transfers (2020 - 05 - 20)

    COVID-19 in Estonia: The coronavirus in employment relations & taxes – April update (2020 - 04 - 03)

    COVID-19 in Estonia: The coronavirus in employment relations & taxes – March 20 update (2020 - 03 - 20)

    COVID-19 in Estonia: The coronavirus in employment relations (2020 - 03 - 13)

    Baltic Employment Law News – May 2019 (2019 - 05 - 13)

    Baltic Corporate Law News – February 2019 (2019 - 02 - 12)

    Comparative investment guide to the Baltics – January 2019 (2019 - 01 - 01)

    Baltic Corporate Law News – February 2018 (2018 - 02 - 25)

    Baltic Employment Law News – November 2017 (2017 - 11 - 01)

    Baltic Corporate Law News – July 2017 (2017 - 07 - 27)

    Baltic Employment Law News – March 2017 (2017 - 03 - 20)

    Comparative Investment Guide to the Baltics – July 2016 (2016 - 07 - 28)

    We are driven by your recognition

    "Karina Paatsi is very responsive, thorough, and consistently assists us in navigating applicable employment law and regulations. Her colleagues Dina Tanaga and Kadri Michelson also deserve special mention, as they are extremely diligent, very well prepared, and have an exceptional, collaborative approach to problem solving.“
    Legal 500 2025, Employment
    "I would say that Karina Paatsi has exceptional skill at dealing with complex cases and finding the most elegant and practical solution for the client."
    Legal 500 2025, Employment
    "She is very quick and to the point. She aims at the most efficient solutions."
    Chambers Europe 2025, Employment
    "Karina Paatsi is one of the best lawyers I've worked with. She has a calm and solution-oriented approach. 10/10 service every time!"
    Legal 500 2024, Employment
    "Karina is one of the best lawyers we have worked with. With a practical approach, she is able to support with various legal issues."
    Chambers Europe 2024, Employment
    "Karina Paatsi knows and remembers all the details and always gives the best advice. Even if I have forgotten some details, I can be sure she remembers the whole situation as well as making sure that everything that we discuss is clear and stands out."
    Legal 500 2024, Employment
    "Karina Paatsi has been integral to our business and her speed of response has been exceptional along with her thoroughness in taking the time to understand our case management through to providing highly effective solutions. Karina Paatsi has consistently provided us with high quality feedback, always supporting us with local legislation for wider business context and understanding."
    Legal 500 2024, Employment
    "She is very pragmatic," a client says, adding: "Her turnaround is swift and she is very time-conscious."
    Chambers and Partners 2021, Employment