The Legal 500 United States has recognized the firm as being among top Construction Law Firms in the United States, stating:

Varela, Lee, Metz, & Guarino, LLP was established in March 2014 after 17 attorneys broke away from Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP. The boutique construction firm has offices in Northern Virginia and San Francisco, and has already attracted praise for its‘responsive, diligent, and efficient’ attorneys who ‘provide excellent value’. The firm specializes in complex litigation for large contractors as well as owners. Paul Varela, who has a ‘strategic, trustworthy, and tenacious’ demeanor, advises a number of large engineering and construction companies entities on cross-border matters. Joe Guarino is also singled out as an ‘extremely thorough and aggressive advocate’.

The Legal 500 United States is a directory of leading legal practitioners compiled on the basis of independent, client and peer-based referrals. Their research is based on feedback from 250,000 clients worldwide, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers, and a team of researchers who have unrivalled experience in the legal market.