Background
Urmas Arumäe was born on January 1, 1957 in Tootsi, Estonia.
Urmas Arumäe was born on January 1, 1957 in Tootsi, Estonia.
Arumäe graduated from the Tartu State University (now University of Tartu) in 1988 with a degree that is equivalent to a Master of Laws degree (Master of Laws). In 1992, he received a Master of Business Administration from the Estonian Business School, and in 1998, graduated cum laude from the Stockholm University Department of Law with a Master of Laws (Master of Laws) in European Union law. In 2010, he defended his doctoral dissertation entitled Territorial communities and the Legal Organization of their Management at the Estonian Business School and acquired a doctorate (Doctor of Philosophy) in management science.
On June 2, 1994, he became Minister of Justice in the first government of Prime Minister Mart Laar, an office he retained until November 8, the same year. After being admitted to the Estonian Bar Association in 1994, he founded his own law firm, while also being active in the public sector by serving in local government. Since 1992 he has lectured at the Estonian Business School (European Business School) and other private schools of higher education.
And since 2008, he has been Associate Professor of Law and Public Administration at the Estonian Business School and Chairman of the Advisory Board of European Business School Helsinki (Finland).
He has also been active in the development of the Estonian system of local government, written on topics related to local government and been a spokesperson for local government issues. In 2011, he founded Andresson Consulting Network Law Office, in which he serves as Chief Executive Officer and senior consultant.
Arumäe first established the Concordia Law Office (1995-1999), and thereafter established the Landwell Law Office (2000-2001) in cooperation with PricewaterhouseCoopers Estonia (2000-2001). In 2001, he re-established his law office under the original name Concordia Law Office, which operated until the end of 2005, when Arumäe entered the public sector.
In 2011, Arumäe established a new law office under the name Andresson Consulting Network.
From 2005-2008, he served as the Mayor of the Viimsi Rural Municipality and Chairman of the Harju County Local Government Association (2006-2010). He was the Estonian Minister of Justice in 1994 (June 2–November 8). He was among the founders of the Estonian Lawyers Association and its long-time president
Arumäe was registered as a member of the conservative Pro Patria Union between 1998 and 2010, and the centrist Estonian Centre Party between 2009 and 2011.
He is a member of the Estonian Bar Association (as of November 11, 1994) and the International Bar Association (International Business Alliance). He is also a member of the Estonian Consultants Association.
Urmas Arumäe is married to Tiiu Arumäe. They have one daughter, two sons.
