Contact

Muhammad Ziyaad Gattoo

Practice Head, Sector Head, Director

Muhammad Ziyaad Gattoo is a Director and Head of our Real Estate Law & Conveyancing practice. Muhammad is also Joint Head for our Commercial Real Estate sector. He focuses on all aspects of property law with a specialist focus on commercial property finance and commercial property transactions.

+27 (0)11 562 1174
muhammad.gattoo@cdhlegal.comJohannesburg
Muhammad Ziyaad Gattoo

About Muhammad Ziyaad

About Muhammad Ziyaad

Muhammad joined Hofmeyr Herbstein and Gihwala (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) as an Associate in 2006 and was promoted to Senior Associate in 2008. He became a Director in April 2010 and in 2020 he was appointed National Practice Head for Real Estate Law & Conveyancing.

Credentials

Credentials

Education

  • LLB, University of Johannesburg
  • Year of admission as an attorney; notary public and conveyancer: 2006
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

Languages

Languages

  • English

About Muhammad Ziyaad

Muhammad joined Hofmeyr Herbstein and Gihwala (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) as an Associate in 2006 and was promoted to Senior Associate in 2008. He became a Director in April 2010 and in 2020 he was appointed National Practice Head for Real Estate Law & Conveyancing.

Credentials

Education

  • LLB, University of Johannesburg
  • Year of admission as an attorney; notary public and conveyancer: 2006
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

Languages

  • English

Experience

Highly experienced in opening sectional title registers, sectional title property transfers and matters related to extensions of sectional schemes.

Specialist in commercial property finance and commercial mortgage and notarial bond registrations, including aircraft mortgages and has been involved in financing projects with a value of several billion rand.

Has good knowledge and experience relating to complex notarial deeds and notarial leases and has been involved in a number of property due diligences.

Major clients include Absa Bank Commercial Property Finance, Nedbank Corporate Finance, Rand Merchant Bank, FNB Commercial Property Finance and Shell South Africa Marketing.

Acted for the Vodacom on a property transaction worth almost R1 billion.

News

Non-compliance with servitudes: Lessons from the Great Borehole Incident of 2025
Real Estate Law & Conveyancing

Non-compliance with servitudes: Lessons from the Great Borehole Incident of 2025

South Africa is facing growing problems with unreliable water and energy services, pushing more people to turn to eco-friendly alternatives such as solar power and boreholes to stay...
The critical role of the South African Deeds Offices in property transactions and common issues that can arise during registration
Real Estate Law & Conveyancing

The critical role of the South African Deeds Offices in property transactions and common issues that can arise during registration

The 11 South African Deeds Offices play a pivotal role in the country’s immovable property transactions by ensuring the security and legality of immovable property ownership, or rights thereof....
What it means to “make your mark” in the twenty-first century
Real Estate Law & Conveyancing

What it means to “make your mark” in the twenty-first century

In the dynamic legal context of 21st-century South Africa, the traditional act of making your mark on a contract has undergone a profound transformation with the introduction of electronic...
Part 2 | Property Practitioners Act unpacked: Prescribed minimum information on letterheads and written communication
Corporate & Commercial Law

Part 2 | Property Practitioners Act unpacked: Prescribed minimum information on letterheads and written communication

The Property Practitioners Act 22 of 2019 (Act) came into effect on 1 February 2022. The Act has repealed the Estate Agency Affairs Act 112 of 1976 (Estate Agency Affairs Act) in its...
Part 1 | The Property Practitioners Act unpacked: Mandatory disclosure forms
Corporate & Commercial Law

Part 1 | The Property Practitioners Act unpacked: Mandatory disclosure forms

The Property Practitioners Act 22 of 2019 (Act) came into effect on 1 February 2022. The Act has repealed the Estate Agency Affairs Act 112 of 1976 in its entirety.

All articles by Muhammad Ziyaad
Compliance Certificates – Where, What, When & Why
Real Estate Law & Conveyancing

Compliance Certificates – Where, What, When & Why

CDH Real Estate Law experts conduct a quick conversation answering the often-asked questions about the many compliance certificates required from sellers of immovable property. These...

All podcasts by Muhammad Ziyaad

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2024 - 2025 ranked Muhammad in Band 3 for real estate.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2024 - 2025 recommended Muhammad as a leading individual for real estate.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2021–2023 recommended him for real estate.

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2024 - 2025 ranked Muhammad in Band 3 for real estate.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2024 - 2025 recommended Muhammad as a leading individual for real estate.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2021–2023 recommended him for real estate.

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