Muhammad Ziyaad Gattoo

South Africa

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
1 Protea Place, Sandton
Johannesburg, 2196
South Africa

Tel: +27 (0)11 562 1174

Email: muhammad.gattoo@cdhlegal.com
Web: www.cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com

Professional Biography

Muhammad Ziyaad Gattoo is a Director and Head of our Real Estate Law 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.

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 the Real Estate practice.

Education

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

The Real Estate Law Practice

Real estate has been a cornerstone of Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr’s practice for more than 150 years. The firm’s real estate team is renowned for providing both corporate and private clients with incisive, practical, and commercially focused legal expertise.

The Real Estate Law team at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr offers multidimensional capabilities, with extensive experience in bonds, transfers, township planning, sectional titles, property developments, property financing, subdivisions and consolidations, as well as green energy development initiatives. The Cape Town and Johannesburg teams form the foundation of what is recognised as the largest real estate law practice in South Africa.

With more than 100 real estate partners, directors, associates, candidate attorneys, secretaries, and consultants based across Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nairobi, and Stellenbosch, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr’s Real Estate Law practice is unmatched in South Africa and Kenya. The team possesses the scale and expertise to manage high volumes of real estate transactions of any size and complexity.

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) is one of South Africa’s leading full-service law firms, recognized for its depth of expertise across the corporate, commercial, and dispute resolution spectrum. With a heritage spanning more than a century, CDH has built a reputation for delivering practical, business-focused legal solutions to both domestic and international clients. The firm’s multidisciplinary teams advise many of South Africa’s top companies, state-owned enterprises, and multinational corporations operating across Africa and beyond.

CDH’s practice offering covers the full range of legal services, including mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, competition law, employment, tax, real estate, construction, intellectual property, and dispute resolution. The firm’s lawyers are regularly recognized in leading global directories such as Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 for their technical excellence, commercial insight, and deep sectoral knowledge. With offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town, CDH combines local expertise with a continent-wide reach through established relationships with top firms across Africa.

Beyond its legal work, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr is known for its commitment to transformation, diversity, and corporate citizenship. The firm actively supports community development initiatives, pro bono work, and skills development within the legal profession. Through its forward-looking approach and dedication to client success, CDH continues to play a prominent role in shaping South Africa’s legal and business landscape.