Paul A. Varela

Paul A. Varela


Varela, Lee, Metz & Guarino, LLP

Recognized since 2009

Tysons, Virginia

Practice Areas

Construction Law

Litigation - Construction

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Paul Varela counsels clients in contract planning, administration, and complex dispute resolution matters nationally and internationally in the engineering and construction industry. His broad range of legal experience includes government and private data centers, roads, bridges, tall buildings, nuclear and conventional power facilities, environmental remediation, biomedical centers, energy and chemical projects, airports, professional sports stadiums, pharmaceutical projects, mass transit, and other heavy construction projects, as well as embassies and all types of general building design and construction.

Paul has extensive claims negotiation and prosecution experience with private as well as state and federal government entities, and his expertise includes EPC and design-build, P3, government contracts, suretyship, and international construction. Paul is an authority on federal government contracting issues spanning compliance, bid protests and claim preparation, pricing, and dispute resolution. He has represented clients nationwide in jury and bench trials, mediations, arbitrations (AAA, ICDR, ICC, and ad hoc), boards of contract appeals, dispute review boards, and state and federal court for both domestic and international disputes. Paul has represented clients on international projects in countries as varied as Japan, the Philippines, Egypt, Ghana, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Dubai, Lebanon, Chile, Mexico, Honduras, Tanzania, Australia, Spain, Cuba and the United Kingdom.

Paul also frequently advises clients in key risk management issues. He has represented clients in the drafting and negotiation of complex engineering and construction contracts priced up to US$8 Billion.

Location
  • 1600 Tysons Boulevard, Suite 900
    Tysons, VA 22102
Education
  • College of William & Mary, JD, graduated 1989
  • University of Virginia, BA, graduated 1985
Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia, United States
  • Virginia, United States
  • New York, United States
  • Colorado, United States

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for work in:
  • Construction Law
  • Litigation - Construction
Special Focus:
  • Arbitration and Mediation
  • Architects and Engineers
  • Commercial Development
  • Construction Disputes
  • Contract Review and Negotiation
  • Contractors
  • Design
  • Government Contracts
  • International
  • Plaintiffs
  • Public Agency
  • Residential Development
  • Surety
Awards:
  • Chambers USA - list of Top Construction Lawyers: 2005 - 2015
  • Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law and Construction Litigation Categories: 2009 - 2016
  • Washington DC's Best Lawyers , Construction Law and Litigation Categories: 2009 - 2015
  • Virginia's Best Lawyers, Construction Law and Litigation Categories: 2010 - 2015
  • Legal 500 United States - Construction Category: 2013 - 2015
  • Super Lawyers Business Edition: 2011 - 2012, 2014 - 2015
  • Washington, DC Super Lawyers: 2011, 2015
  • Virginia Super Lawyers: 2010, 2014-2015
  • Washington DC Legal Elite: 2010
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Government Contracts

AWARDS/RANKINGS

Chambers and Partners – Band 1 Construction Law: 2005-2023

- One of only 10 Individuals Ranked by Chambers and Partners Nationwide for Construction

Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders: Global Elite 2020 – One of only 6 Individuals Listed for Construction in the United States

Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law and Construction Litigation Categories: 2009 - 2024

Washington, DC Super Lawyers: 2010-2011, 2014-2023

  • "Top 100" List: 2019

Virginia Super Lawyers: 2010-2011, 2014-2023

  • "Top 100" List: 2016-2021

The Legal 500 – Construction: 2013-2023

Who's Who Legal: Thought Leader – Construction: 2017-2023, Global Leader - Construction 2017-2023

Finance Monthly Legal Awards - Construction Lawyer of the Year-USA: 2019

Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards – Construction Lawyer of the Year-USA: 2018

Finance Monthly Global Awards – Construction Category: 2016-2017

Washington DC Legal Elite: 2010

BAR ADMISSIONS

District of Columbia

Virginia

New York

Colorado (Inactive)

EDUCATION

College of William & Mary, J.D., 1989

William & Mary Law Review

University of Virginia, B.A., 1985

MEMBERSHIPS

International Bar Association

- Arbitration Committee

- International Construction Projects Committee

Washington Building Congress

- Past Chairman's Council

- Board of Governors, 1998 - Present

- Chairman, Washington Building Congress Foundation, 2009 - 2010

- Immediate WBC Past Chairman, 2009 - 2010

- WBC Chairman, 2008 - 2009

- WBC Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Director, 1999 - 2008

American Bar Association

- Forum on Construction Law

-Past Chair and Founding Steering Committee Member of Division 13 (Government Construction)

- Litigation Section

- Public Contract Law Section

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