Mr. Dhawan specializes in providing independent expert services and strategic advise in the international construction industry on complex building and infrastructure projects. His expertise spans construction claims, dispute resolution, commercial negotiations, project management, and contract administration. He has more than 13 years of experience across a range of sectors, having worked on projects in Canada, USA, Europe and West Asia.
Varun Dhawan has more than 13 years of experience in the international construction industry, specializing in dispute resolution, forensic schedule analysis, commercial negotiations, preparation of construction claims, and project management. His experience spans the full project lifecycle, from proposal development and bid strategy through execution, commissioning, and turnover.
He has contributed to a diverse portfolio of complex projects, including critical minerals mining infrastructure in remote locations, power generation and distribution assets, light rail transit, healthcare campus, justice facilities, airports, and industrial processing plants. He has advised on and delivered projects ranging in value from $5 million to over $2 billion, across multiple delivery models, including Public-Private Partnerships (P3s), EPC, Construction Management, Cost-Plus, and Lump-Sum contracts.
Varun has extensive experience supporting international & domestic arbitration and mediation, involving Contractors, joint ventures, publicly traded companies, and public-sector owners. He has worked alongside leading international law firms, contractors, owners, engineers, and architects on major projects across Canada, the United States, Europe, and West Asia. In addition to formal dispute proceedings, Varun has been jointly appointed by owners and contractors as a part of a neutral consulting expert team, providing independent assessments to facilitate early resolution and negotiated settlement.
Prior to joining Secretariat, Varun worked as a Project Manager with a leading Canadian general contractor, where he oversaw a large health care infrastructure project in Sub-Arctic Canada. His role included the implementation of ESG-driven delivery practices tailored to Indigenous communities, providing him with first-hand experience delivering complex projects in challenging regulatory, environmental, and logistical environments.
Construction Dispute Damages: Key Claims and Quantification Methods in International Arbitration
Secretariat Experts contributed a chapter to the GAR – The Guide to Damages in International Arbitrations. The chapter provides an overview of the types of damages common to international construction arbitration and the methods of quantification that may be adopted by the parties to the arbitration.
New offering bridges the gap between technology expectations and real-world performance, helping clients manage disputes, remediation efforts, and emerging technologies.
What Companies Should Be Watching in Securities Enforcement for the Remainder of 2026
Companies face a shifting securities enforcement landscape in H2 2026, where AI, digital assets, prediction markets, and parallel investigations create new risks even as financial reporting and controls remain core priorities driving more targeted, tech-focused, and multi-agency scrutiny.