Overview

Juan Carlos Varela is an international attorney licensed and admitted to practice before the courts in Venezuela, Colombia and Florida. He focuses his practice on representing and advising global clients on matters throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, involving:

  • Labor and employment law
  • Litigation
  • International arbitration and alternative dispute resolution
  • Global investigations and audits

He focuses in traditional labor law, employment law, and maritime law, with master's degrees in maritime, international and comparative law.

Juan Carlos is the office managing shareholder of Littler Mendelson's Venezuela offices in Caracas and Valencia, and he also works out of the Miami office. He supports the interests of clients throughout the entire Latin America region and is actively involved in the firm's International Employment Practice Group.

Juan Carlos has written numerous articles on labor-related issues and is regarded as one of the best labor lawyers in Venezuela.

Recognition

Named, The Best Lawyers in America©

2018-2019

Named, Best Lawyers in Venezuela©

2014-2020

Named, Labour and Employment

Chambers Latin America

2014-2017

Named, Leading Lawyer in Venezuela

Legal 500 Latin America

2015-2016

Named, Latin America’s Top 100 Lawyers

Latinvex

2016-2017

Named, International Who's Who of Management Labour and Employment Lawyers

Who's Who Legal

2015

Named, World’s Leading Business Lawyers, Corporate/M&A

Venezuela

Chambers Global

2014

Named, Excellence in Client Service

Client Choice International

2013

LACCA Approved, Labour

Latin America Corporate Counsel Association

2020-2021

News, Analysis & Press

Employment Contracts in the Americas

Podcast

March 31, 2023

A Global Vision and the American Dream

Podcast

October 4, 2021

Some Big Law Firms Hang On in Turbulent Venezuela

The American Lawyer

May 21, 2018

Littler Global Guide - Venezuela - Q1 2018

Global Guide Quarterly

April 23, 2018

Pensions & Retirement Plans 2016

Getting the Deal Through

May 1, 2016

Latin America's Top 100 Lawyers

Latinvex

January 13, 2016

Venezuela: Useful online resources on employment law

XpertHR

November 2013

Outsourcing in Latin America

Latin American Law & Business Report

July 1, 2012

Books & Book Chapters

  • Pensions & Retirement Plans - Venezuela, Getting the Deal Through, Law Business Research Ltd., chapter author, 2013 and 2014

Speaking Engagements

Exposure Under the New EU “Whistleblower Directive” and Beyond: How to Comply with the World’s Emerging Whistleblower Anti-Retaliation and Hotline Mandates

Littler Executive Employer Conference

May 5, 2022

International Wandering Workers: Avoiding the Legal Pitfalls for Multinational Employers

April 8, 2021

Not All Who Wander Are Lost: Managing Employee Relocation in the Era of Remote Work

March 11, 2021

Sexto Foro Regional de Derecho Laboral

Panama City

September 20, 2019

Venezuela: Political, Economic and Legal Outlook

Boleita, Caracas

April 2, 2019

Visión General de Venezuela: Nuevas Reformas Financieras

Boleita, Caracas

October 3, 2018

Venezuela Overview: New Financial Reforms

Boleita, Caracas

October 3, 2018

Perspectivas Laborales 2017: Empresas del presente para la Venezuela del futuro

Boleita, Caracas

February 23, 2017

Labor and Employment Outlook 2017: Companies of Today for the Venezuela of Tomorrow

Boleita, Caracas

February 23, 2017

Inaugural Europe Conference - Germany

Berlin

November 10, 2016

Régimen Laboral Transitorio y Obligatorio en Venezuela

August 22, 2016

Mandatory Transitory Labor Regime in Venezuela

August 22, 2016

The Art of Global Restructuring and Global Workforce Integration

The 2016 Executive Employer® Conference

May 5, 2016

Brazil: Country Outlook for 2016

February 26, 2016

Venezuela Labor Outlook 2016

Boleita, Caracas

February 24, 2016

Perspectivas Laborales 2016 - Venezuela

Boleita, Caracas

February 24, 2016

Latin America HR Challenges and Solutions

Latin America Employee Relations Group, Miami, FL

February 25-26, 2016

Venezuela: Country Outlook for 2016

January 28, 2016

Littler Global Mexico Conference

November 11, 2015

Littler Global Primera Conferencia en México y Monterrey

November 11, 2015

Littler Global Mexico Conference

November 10, 2015

Littler Global Primera Conferencia en México y Monterrey

November 10, 2015

Littler Global Colombia Conference

Bogotá

September 10, 2015

Labor Update

Boleita, Caracas

May 27, 2015

Latin America Labor & Employment Law Update

April 29, 2015

Labor Market and Global Mobility

February 27, 2015

Perspectivas Laborales 2015

Boleita, Caracas

February 24, 2015

Labor & Employment Issues: Three Things an Employer Should Master for Success in Latin America

Miami, FL

November 13, 2014

Hiring and firing: Save your multinational millions by taking precautions and avoiding “rookie” mistakes

Miami, FL

November 7, 2014

Compliance and Liability Fundamentals

Association of Corporate Counsel, South Florida Chapter

May 2, 2014

Critical Changes to the Labor Landscape in Latin America and the Implications for U.S. Employers

Dallas, TX

April 4, 2013

Employment Agreements, Restrictive Covenants, and Trade Secrets: A Review for Multinational Employers

March 28, 2013

Critical Changes to Mexico and Venezuela's Labor Landscape and the Implications for U.S. Employers

Houston, TX

January 29, 2013

Out & About: LGBT Issues and the Globally Mobile Workforce

Global Employer Institute

Littler Mendelson, Washington D.C.

November 9, 2012

Sustainable Innovations for a Changing Global Workforce

Global Employer Institute

Littler Mendelson, Washington D.C.

November 8, 2012

Protecting Your Operations in Latin America: Risks and Opportunities in the Region’s Current Legal Landscape

Global Employer Institute

Littler Mendelson, Washington D.C.

November 8, 2012

Nueva Ley del Trabajo en Venezuela

Boleita, Caracas

July 17, 2012

New Labor Law In Venezuela

Boleita, Caracas

June 29, 2012

Doing Business South of the Border

The 2012 Executive Employer® Conference

Littler Mendelson, Scottsdale, AZ

May 10, 2012

Education

  • J.D., University of Miami, 2019
  • LL.M., University of Miami, 2019
  • LL.M., University of Miami, 2011
  • LL.M., University of Illinois, 1995summa cum laude
  • J.D., Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, VZ, 1992cum laude

Languages

  • Spanish
  • English
  • Portuguese

Bar Admission

Venezuela
Colombia
Florida

Courts

  • Supreme Tribunal of Justice of Venezuela
  • Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia