Harsh Patel: Legal Visionary Shaping Dubai's Real Estate Landscape
From Mumbai's bustling streets to Dubai's international boardrooms, Harsh Patel's journey has earned him a unique place as the only lawyer featured in 'Masters of Real Estate'.
Real EstateLegal StrategyHarsh PatelDubaiWater SharkReal Estate PuneMay 29, 2025
Today, Patel’s journey from Mumbai’s classrooms to international boardrooms has earned him a singular honour: he is the only lawyer featured among experts in Masters of Real Estate (MORE), a prestigious coffee table book launched on May 15, 2025, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Dubai, celebrating the visionaries shaping the emirate’s skyline.
Patel’s inclusion in MORE, authored by Vikas Bhargava, underscores his role as a cross-border legal and tax strategist. “Structures build assets. Strategy builds legacies,” Patel declared at the launch, encapsulating his philosophy. Unlike traditional real estate players, he brings a legal lens, advising unicorn founders, royal families, and institutional investors across 12 countries. His firm, Water & Shark, specializes in global real estate structuring, trust creation, succession planning, and compliance frameworks, as highlighted in the book. “Being featured in MORE shows that legal structuring is the backbone of real estate,” Patel notes, emphasizing its shift from a supporting role to a strategic driver.
His academic journey laid the foundation for this expertise. At Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Patel earned a Bachelor of Commerce, mastering financial principles. He pursued a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) at Gopaldas Jhamatmal Advani Law College, merging law with business acumen. “Law is the scaffolding of success,” he says. Patel became a Chartered Accountant through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), a credential he likens to “climbing a mountain.” He is a foreign-registered lawyer with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), UK, and a Fellow member of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), Australia. By 2012, his teenage venture had evolved into Water & Shark, now spanning India, the UAE, the UK, the US, and Singapore, serving tech, real estate, and finance clients.
The MORE book, published by Bhargava’s DCOM FZE, also features Ankur Aggarwal and Rizwan Sajan. Aggarwal, Chairman of BNW Developments, has built a luxury real estate empire worth AED 19.4 billion, with projects like Aqua Arc alongside Bollywood’s Vivek Anand Oberoi. Sajan, Founder of Danube Group, rose from Mumbai’s slums to lead a conglomerate with a real estate portfolio of 16,000 units, pioneering affordable luxury. Bhargava, the book’s author, calls MORE a celebration of “excellence in real estate,” spotlighting these leaders’ stories. Yet, Patel’s legal DNA stands out, as he leads Water & Shark Capital, a platform integrating capital advisory, luxury real estate, and tax compliance. “Capital must be borderless but never structureless,” he asserts.
Patel’s Mumbai roots remain his anchor. “This city gave me the grit to start small and dream big,” he reflects, now living in Dubai with his wife, Karina Patel, a Russian scholar with a master’s in history of arts and economics. His story resonates with Narsee Monjee students and ICAI aspirants, proving education and ambition can transcend borders. As MORE elevates Dubai’s real estate narrative, Patel’s journey—from a Mumbai teenager to a global strategist—offers a blueprint for legacy-building, where law and vision converge to shape skylines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Harsh Patel's background?
Harsh Patel was born in Mumbai to Girish Chandulal Patel and Hemlata Patel. He earned a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws, and became a Chartered Accountant and a foreign-registered lawyer. He founded Water & Shark, a global consulting firm, at the age of 19.
What is the significance of Harsh Patel's inclusion in 'Masters of Real Estate'?
Patel is the only lawyer featured in the book, highlighting his role as a cross-border legal and tax strategist. His inclusion underscores the importance of legal structuring in the real estate industry.
What services does Water & Shark provide?
Water & Shark specializes in global real estate structuring, trust creation, succession planning, and compliance frameworks. They serve clients in tech, real estate, and finance across 12 countries.
Who are the other notable figures featured in 'Masters of Real Estate'?
The book also features Ankur Aggarwal, Chairman of BNW Developments, and Rizwan Sajan, Founder of Danube Group, both prominent figures in the real estate industry.
What is Patel's philosophy on real estate and law?
Patel believes that 'structures build assets, and strategy builds legacies.' He emphasizes that legal structuring is the backbone of real estate and that capital must be borderless but never structureless.
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