João Varela worked for over 10 years as a political advisor to local members of parliament and members of the Executive Council. He began his legal career in Macau, joining the team of the prestigious lawyer Leonel Alberto Alves, where he remained until late 2018.

In 2018, he accepted the challenge of developing his career as General Counsel at one of the largest corporate groups in Macau, operating in the fields of operation and maintenance of transportation infrastructures, hotels, casinos and urban waste management.

He is also the Managing Director of several companies based in Macau, with business activities bridging China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

In 2020, he founded RV Lawyers, where he is a partner. He is primarily responsible for the areas of corporate governance and commercial litigation. He also advises companies on commercial and civil disputes. His experience includes advising on investments and international transactions.

He has also acted as lead defense lawyer in high-profile, widely publicized cases before the Courts of Macau.
João Varela frequently serves as a local consultant for teams handling cross-border disputes involving Hong Kong and the BVI. His experience also includes international arbitration.