Meet Harsh Arora | Business Lawyer, Diversity Champion, and Mindful Leader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Harsh Arora and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Harsh, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?

I am inspired by exceptional leadership. I have watched many executives lead by example who have demonstrated traits that make people come together for a common purpose. I have also followed the path of leaders who have been generous with their time and have provided opportunities for becoming mentors. As a business attorney, I get to see different leadership styles of executives at all levels. I consider myself to be a mindful leader as I believe in consciously cultivating the ability to be present and to have an open mind, yet to remain compassionate when interacting with my team members. Most business executives who seek to find the best in others while also encouraging them to step further into their potential are able to avoid and resolve challenges effectively. The ability to harness inner power and awareness to bring energy to work and create excellent results in a business environment is not easy. As a mindful leader, I know how to get the job done with the highest quality and care possible. Leaders who recognize that each person in the team is needed, has essential skills and strengths to offer, and plays a vital role in bringing about success, are generally effective in their management skills. As a legal advisor, I am constantly reminded of the importance of leadership style by those that run the businesses that I serve because it generally has a direct correlation to their financial performance. As to my own legal team, I manage team members with an open mind and by finding the best in others while also encouraging them to step further into their full potential. I have learned, trained, and strengthened these innate capabilities by getting inspired by some of my top business executive clients which include focus, clarity, creativity, and compassion.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am a business attorney concentrating in the areas of domestic and international corporate transactions and related business dispute resolution. I counsel public and privately held companies as a boardroom advisor and serve as a courtroom advocate in high-stakes corporate matters. As an outside general counsel for public and privately held companies, I routinely engage in preventative counseling so that businesses can prevent future disputes and mitigate risks. I counsel business executives to fuel missions, knock down barriers, and shape markets. My focus is ultimately on the growth of businesses.

As to my personal background, I was raised, studied, and worked in India and Switzerland before immigrating to the United States and moving to Florida. My background has made me a global citizen as I am able to connect with and relate to diverse communities and by being multilingual. As a melting pot, our country has provided opportunities for hard working, highly skilled, and ambitious people to own and run successful businesses. I have been fascinated by the grit and determination of business executives and owners who have reached the top of the corporate ladder from the bottom and have made substantial contributions to our country’s economy.

I have also worked in the hospitality and the healthcare industries prior to becoming a business attorney, so I bring my business acumen with my legal knowledge to each transaction or controversy that I deal with. Over 16 years of practicing business law has taught me that problem solving in commercial transactions or disputes requires a deep understanding of the business operations and culture of each company. I am a proponent of learning the relevant aspects of each client’s business background and operating style to fully understand the management of the client’s business. This provides me with the information that I can use to recommend solutions and it also helps in the resolution of problems that hold back their growth.

Given my professional and personal background, I take pride in mentoring minority entrepreneurs to overcome adversities and aiding them with uplifting their careers. I am also proud of the reputation that I have earned for my work in the field of diversity and inclusion outside of my law practice. I have had the privilege to implement programs, author articles, and present educational seminars to assist legal professionals from underrepresented communities to enter and prosper within the legal profession. It has been an honor to be a diversity champion and a leader in the field of business law in South Florida. I will continue spearheading initiatives for an inclusive legal profession and to level the playing field for entrepreneurs so they can prosper.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

South Florida is an exciting place to call home because we live where people vacation and desire to move to. I lived and worked in Miami for over a decade with my family before we moved to Fort Lauderdale just north of Miami; so Miami remains a vital part of my personal and business life and therefore I feel like an ambassador to this great city that has so much to offer. My wife and I have some favorite spots for a week-long trip with friends visiting Miami that consist of visiting beaches, art galleries, historic buildings, artisanal eateries, and open-air street-art installations. A stay or a visit at The Biltmore Hotel is a must in Miami located in the heart of Coral Gables. Not too far from the Biltmore Hotel is another classic Miami must-see, The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Vizcaya Museum is a National Historic Landmark. It is a Mediterranean Revival style villa and the former estate of socialite and businessman, James Deering. I recommend a stroll in the gardens or a guided tour of the estate. One of the most up-and-coming areas in Miami is Wynwood. Since the introduction of Second Saturday Art Walk and the arrival of Art Basel in 2002, the influence and relevance of the arts community in Wynwood has become undeniable. There is thought-provoking art showcased around the district that it is enjoyable.

Miami Design District is now one of the most iconic shopping destinations in the world known for its luxury boutiques and innovative architecture and dining. It is worth taking a day to explore and shop in the Design District. Bal Harbour Shops is another quintessential Miami shopping area with great restaurants to enjoy a day out. Some of our favorite restaurants there are Le Zoo, Carpaccio, and the newly opened Aba Miami.

If our friends are bringing their kids along on the trip, an afternoon at the Frost Museum or Jungle Island is a great idea. Afterward, head over the bridge toward Miami Beach to take a walk at South Pointe Park and watch the cruise ships. The park is also surrounded by a plethora of famous restaurant options such as Carbone, Smith & Wollensky, Prime 112, or the legendary Joe’s Stone Crab. Finally, no trip to Miami would be complete without a dinner reservation at La Petite Maison. It is one of the best French-Mediterranean restaurants in the world and happens to be in Miami’s financial center in Brickell. This goes without saying, but Miami Beach and South Beach along Ocean Drive are obviously the highlights of Miami. It is a perfect destination. There are many other places and neighborhoods to visit and see in beautiful Miami such as Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Surfside, and Downtown Brickell; but one of the best ways to see Miami is by boat on Biscayne Bay or the ocean.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I am proud to be a partner at my firm, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, which is one of the largest full-service firms in the country that has progressively helped entrepreneurs with their legal needs for over 125 years. Under the leadership of the managing partner, James K. Lehman, my firm has nationally grown through acquisitions of top legal talent and of regional and statewide firms like Broad and Cassel, which solidified the firm’s presence in the State of Florida as of 2018. Regardless of my firm’s large size, we continue to help businesses of all sizes with complex legal issues. I am passionate about helping with the growth of businesses through strategic legal counseling. My firm has a very deep bench of seasoned professionals including some of the country’s top legal minds who are women and minority attorneys. I am also grateful to my colleagues and partners, James J. Wheeler and Gabriel Imperato, who have supported me and have been instrumental in the success of the South Florida offices of our firm by bringing in and encouraging strong upcoming leaders within to assure that the firm can continue its commitment to providing top-notch practices in various business industries. I have had the privilege to be involved in and lead the firm’s community-based efforts including pro-bono work, which reflects the strong-rooted culture of my firm to give back to the communities in which we serve our clients. My colleagues at the firm are not only some of the best lawyers that I have met, but they are also great people who care for South Florida and the business environment that we provide here for Floridians and those who are moving here to make it their new home and principal place of business. My firm has continued its efforts to connect South Florida to out of state businesses so that we can help our region’s economy and provide a sophisticated commercial environment where attorneys and policy advisors of my firm are aiding the economic growth of our state through top legal acumen.

Website: https://www.nelsonmullins.com/professionals/harsh-arora#main

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harsh-arora-esq-1001b523

Other: Nelson Mullins Adds Business Law, D&I Leader In Fla., NY – Law360 https://www.law360.com/pulse/articles/1537150/nelson-mullins-adds-business-law-d-i-leader-in-fla-ny

Image Credits
Alison Frank Photography