Varun advises appropriations, technology, commerce, and oversight clients on a broad spectrum of legislative issues. He brings over a decade of experience in the public and private sectors, advising policymakers, corporations, and trade associations on how to drive advocacy, build coalitions, and run campaigns. In particular, he has a proven track record of advancing legislation and acquiring funding for new and emerging technologies.
Before beginning his career in private practice, Varun served for eight years in various roles in the U.S. House of Representatives for two members, most recently as chief of staff for Representative Brenda Lawrence of Michigan's 14th district. In this role, he managed the staff and oversaw all operations across three offices. In addition, as a technology policy adviser, Varun crafted legislation that lead to funding ethical and safe development of artificial intelligence (AI), played an instrumental role in the development and funding of the AI Risk Management Framework at NIST, and secured the passage of regulations relating to AI, cybersecurity, transportation and infrastructure, and emerging technologies.
Varun also volunteers his time and skills as a member of several advisory boards, including the Council on Extended Intelligence (a not-for-profit formed by MIT & IEEE-SA) and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association.
Prior to joining the firm, Varun was the head of federal affairs for a nonprofit. There, he oversaw a successful effort to appropriate hundreds of millions of dollars for biosecurity and technology-centric public policy issues. Previously, Varun was a director of Invariant's Technology and Appropriation practice group, advancing the interests of Fortune 500 companies and startups in the technology, commerce, appropriations, and defense sectors.
Varun earned his B.S. from Louisiana State University. He also has completed a Theatre Security Decision Making Certificate from the U.S. Naval War College and a Legislative Negotiation Certificate from Harvard University.