Harsh Patel's Legal Expertise Shapes Dubai's Real Estate Landscape
From Mumbai's bustling streets to Dubai's prestigious boardrooms, Harsh Patel's journey is a testament to the power of ambition and strategic legal acumen in the real estate industry.
Real EstateLegal StrategyDubaiHarsh PatelWater SharkReal Estate MumbaiMay 29, 2025
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 role in the real estate industry?
Harsh Patel is a cross-border legal and tax strategist who advises 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.
How did Harsh Patel start his career?
Harsh Patel launched an accountancy firm at 19 from a modest desk in a crowded office in Mumbai. This venture evolved into Water & Shark, a global consulting firm he now helms from Dubai.
What is the significance of Harsh Patel being featured in Masters of Real Estate?
Being the only lawyer featured in Masters of Real Estate (MORE) underscores Patel's role as a strategic legal and tax advisor in the real estate industry, highlighting the importance of legal structuring in the field.
What is Water & Shark Capital?
Water & Shark Capital is a platform led by Harsh Patel that integrates capital advisory, luxury real estate, and tax compliance. It emphasizes the importance of structured capital in the real estate industry.
How does Harsh Patel's background in law and finance contribute to his success?
Patel's background in law and finance, including his degrees from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics and Gopaldas Jhamatmal Advani Law College, as well as his credentials as a Chartered Accountant and a foreign-registered lawyer, provides him with the comprehensive expertise needed to navigate complex real estate transactions.
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