Atty. Paul A. Varela

Atty. Paul A. Varela

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

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Profile Summary

About Paul A. Varela at a glance

Paul A. Varela is a construction attorney based in Tysons, Virginia, practicing at Varela, Lee, Metz & Guarino LLP. Admitted to practice in District of Columbia, United States, Virginia, United States, New York, United States, and Colorado, United States. Educated at William & Mary Law School (J.D., 1989) and College of William & Mary (JD, 1989). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Construction Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Construction (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Tysons, VA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • 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

Practice Areas Explained

Paul A. Varela's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Paul A. Varela handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Construction Law

Paul A. Varela is one of 40,689 construction attorneys indexed nationally. Browse construction attorneys in Virginia →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Virginia

Practicing law in Virginia. Legal matters in Virginia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Tysons are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Virginia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Virginia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Virginia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Virginia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Tysons or all attorneys in Virginia.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Paul A. Varela

Where is Paul A. Varela's law office located?
Paul A. Varela's law practice is located in Tysons, Virginia. The firm is Varela, Lee, Metz & Guarino LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Paul A. Varela handle?
Paul A. Varela focuses on construction. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Virginia.
Where did Paul A. Varela go to law school?
Paul A. Varela earned their education at (J.D., 1989); (JD, 1989); (BA, 1985).
How can I contact Paul A. Varela for a consultation?
You can contact Paul A. Varela directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Paul A. Varela received?
Paul A. Varela's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Construction Law; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Construction; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Government Contracts; Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:.

Education

J.D.
William & Mary Law School
- 1989
JD
College of William & Mary
- 1989
BA
University of Virginia
- 1985

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Construction Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Construction
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Government Contracts
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Arbitration and Mediation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Architects and Engineers
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Development
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Construction Disputes
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Contract Review and Negotiation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Contractors
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Design
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — International
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Plaintiffs
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Public Agency
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Residential Development
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Surety
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Chambers USA - list of Top Construction Lawyers: 2005 - 2015
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Washington DC's Best Lawyers , Construction Law and Litigation Categories: 2009 - 2015
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Virginia's Best Lawyers, Construction Law and Litigation Categories: 2010 - 2015
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Legal 500 United States - Construction Category: 2013 - 2015
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Super Lawyers Business Edition: 2011 - 2012, 2014 - 2015
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Washington, DC Super Lawyers: 2011, 2015
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Virginia Super Lawyers: 2010, 2014-2015
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Washington DC Legal Elite: 2010
- 2026

Bar Admissions

District of Columbia, United States
Virginia, United States
New York, United States
Colorado, United States

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