Rahul B. Patel
MANAGING PARTNER / PATEL GAINES
Business & Corporate Law
Commercial and Civil Litigation
Commercial Real Estate
Property Tax Litigation
Licensed in Texas & Arizona
Appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
to the Podiatric Medical
Examiners Advisory Board
Breaking Barriers
Rahul B. Patel is the Founding and Managing Partner of Patel Gaines, where he has led the firm's growth into one of Texas' premier real estate and business law firms, representing more than $16 billion in commercial property interests across the state. Under his leadership, Patel Gaines has built a reputation for delivering strategic, results-driven counsel in property tax litigation, commercial real estate, corporate law, business litigation, and franchise law. Known for his forward-thinking approach and unwavering commitment to client success, Rahul partners with business owners, developers, investors, and entrepreneurs to solve complex legal challenges and drive long-term growth.
Throughout his career, Rahul has achieved significant results for clients across a wide range of industries. His work includes securing a $9 million property tax savings in Treeline Park v. BCAD, successfully negotiating a $750,000 liquidated damages claim down to less than $5,000 for a franchise client, and obtaining a complete dismissal in the complex ADA litigation case, Bowman v. Kisan, LLC. His extensive franchise law experience includes representing more than 200 franchisees in matters involving business acquisitions, liquidated damages disputes, loan modifications, lease negotiations, and operational transactions. Organizations ranging from the Federal Reserve Bank to Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia have trusted Rahul to provide practical legal guidance and strategic business counsel.
In recognition of his leadership and dedication to public service, Texas Governor Greg Abbott appointed Rahul to the Podiatric Medical Examiners Advisory Board, where he contributes his legal and business expertise to matters impacting the State of Texas. This appointment reflects Rahul's commitment to serving not only his clients but also the broader Texas business and professional communities.
Rahul's excellence in the legal profession has earned him numerous honors, including recognition as a Texas Super Lawyer, Rising Star by Super Lawyers, Texas Lawyer Best Mentor, SA Magazine Top Attorney, Scene in SA Best Lawyer, San Antonio Business Journal Man of the Year, National Outstanding Lawyer, and a 40 Under 40 honoree. His legal insight and business leadership have also been featured in leading publications and media outlets, including Texas Monthly, Fortune, Forbes, Bloomberg Business, Texas Lawyer, Money, The Business Journals, The Texas Tribune, USA Today, CBS, and NBC.
Rahul also is a sought-after speaker on business and leadership topics by a wide range of national, statewide and local professional organizations.
As the visionary behind Patel Gaines, Rahul continues to lead with integrity, innovation, and a client-first philosophy. His passion for helping businesses succeed, combined with his strategic legal expertise and commitment to excellence, has established him as a trusted advisor to companies across Texas and beyond.
• Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to Texas State Advisory Board - Office of Governor
• Founder and Managing Partner of Patel Gaines PLLC, representing over $16 billion in commercial property interests statewide
• Chairman of the Board, Alamo Angels — Texas’ largest angel investment organization
• Vice-Chairman and Board Member, F45 Training Franchisee Advisory Committee (North America), supporting the global boutique fitness brand with more than 2,000 locations
• Board Member, Gleantap — a customer data SaaS platform focused on the fitness and wellness industry
• Keynote Speaker, Texas Association of Property Tax Professionals (TAPTP) Annual Conference (multiple years)
• Featured in Texas Monthly, Fortune, Forbes, Bloomberg Business, Texas Lawyer, Money, The Business Journals, The Texas Tribune, USA Today, CBS, and NBC
Awards & Recognition
• Super Lawyers
• Scene In SA Best Lawyer
• San Antonio Business Journal Man of the Year
• Texas Lawyer - Best Mentor
• San Antonio Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree
• San Antonio Business Journal South Texas Power Players Honoree
Appellate win preserving the property owner’s lawsuit after defeating a jurisdictional challenge based on alleged late tax payment.
• ML-Austin-I, LLC v. Travis Central Appraisal District — Travis County District Court
Secured a ~$18.9M jury verdict (10–2) after full trial, with the jury adopting the property owner’s equal and uniform valuation framework.
• LXMI Ashford Pointe Property Owner, LLC v. Harris Central Appraisal District — First Court of Appeals of Texas
Appellate win preserving the property owner’s lawsuit after defeating a jurisdictional challenge based on alleged failure to timely pay property taxes.
• Treeline Park v. Bexar Appraisal District — Bexar County District Court
Won a jury verdict delivering over $9M in property tax savings after taking the case through full trial.
• Bowman v. Kisan, LLC — U.S. District Court
Defended a commercial property owner in a federal ADA accessibility lawsuit, achieving a resolution that protected business operations while limiting liability exposure.
• Olive Tree Holdings v. HCAD — Harris County District Court
Secured a reduction from a notice value of ~$101.4M to ~$65.0M at settlement (about a $36.4M reduction), generating ~$700K in annual tax savings and a 14× litigation ROI.
• CAILT GEN PARK 2 LLC v. Harris Central Appraisal District — Harris County District Court
Resolved a two-year industrial valuation dispute through expert and deposition strategy, producing over $1.5M in tax savings and a 50×+ client ROI.
• Bexar County Equity Valuation Litigation — Commercial Multifamily Asset
Challenged a county valuation anchored to an outdated purchase price by presenting operational distress and post-sale market evidence to pursue a materially lower assessment.
• Franchise Litigation Matters
Represented franchise owners in disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, and franchise law violations, guiding matters through litigation and negotiated resolution.
