MOHAMMED YOUSHAA CADER
Lawyer
Dubai
Summary
A commercially astute Legal Counsel and Admitted Conveyancer & Notary Public with 10+ years of experience managing complex real estate and commercial transactions across the UK, UAE, and South Africa. I combine deep technical expertise in property law with the agility of a FinTech operator. Specialized in high-stakes negotiations, I have extensive experience acting as a strategic partner to executive leadership to facilitate global operational expansion, manage cross-border office leases, and streamline procurement processes. Proven track record of supporting rapid-growth organizations by balancing commercial real estate risks with aggressive business objectives in emerging and established markets. Recognized with the African Excellence Business Awards (2021 & 2022) for legal leadership excellence.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Legal Counsel
Mercor (AI & Real Estate)
08.2025 - Current
- Operational & Vendor Contracts: Lead counsel for high-value commercial procurement and vendor agreements, negotiating terms with global providers to support the company’s infrastructure scaling in the US and EMEA regions.
- Process Improvement: Spearheaded the development of standardized contract playbooks for remote office procurement and service hubs, reducing contract turnaround time by 40%.
- Cross-Border Management: Manage multi-jurisdictional legal risks for a fully distributed workforce, advising on operational setup and compliance in new territories including the Middle East.
- Drafted and reviewed contracts to ensure compliance with legal standards and organizational policies.
- Provided legal advice on regulatory matters related to Real Estate, AI technology and data privacy.
Head of Legal & Real Estate
Cader & Co. Attorneys
12.2020 - Current
- Real Estate & Commercial Transactions: As an Admitted Conveyancer, oversaw a portfolio of property transactions. Drafted and negotiated commercial leases and purchase agreements for corporate clients expanding into Dubai and South Africa.
- Strategic Expansion Support: Advised international clients on market entry strategies for the UAE, including structuring commercial leaseholds, licensing, and managing local regulatory compliance for physical offices.
- Vendor & Service Agreements: Negotiated Master Service Agreements (MSAs) and facilities management contracts, ensuring strict service level agreements (SLAs) and favorable indemnity clauses.
- Operational Excellence: Developed standardized lease templates and commercial contract frameworks that accelerated transaction timelines by 70%.
Legal Counsel, Commercial & Technology
BNP Paribas
03.2021 - 12.2023
- Global Operations Support: Provided legal support to a global financial institution, advising on commercial contracts that supported the bank’s operational infrastructure across London, Hong Kong, and Dubai.
- Procurement & Vendor Management: Led negotiations on high-stakes vendor agreements and enterprise technology contracts, achieving a 15% average cost saving through strategic commercial structuring.
- Cross-Jurisdictional Compliance: Collaborated with global real estate and facilities teams, including developers and JV's to ensure vendor contracts complied with local regulations across diverse jurisdictions, including specific financial regulations in the UAE.
- Provided legal advice on real estate transactions, mitigating risks and enhancing decision-making.
Head of Legal & Commercial
GetLaw
06.2020 - Current
- Infrastructure & Growth: Built the legal function from the ground up for a high-growth tech startup, managing all legal aspects of operational scaling including office procurement contracts.
- Commercial Negotiation: Led negotiations on 200+ commercial agreements, balancing the need for rapid business expansion with robust legal protection.
- Negotiated complex contracts with external stakeholders, ensuring favorable terms for organization.
Legal Counsel, Commercial & E-Commerce
Adidas
01.2020 - 2020
- Retail & Commercial Support: Negotiated complex commercial agreements supporting marketing and retail operations, including third-party service arrangements and vendor contracts.
- Project Management: Managed external counsel relationships and budgets across EMEA markets.
- Conducted legal research to support real estate transactions and compliance matters.
Commercial Associate, Investigations & Disputes
Deloitte
01.2019 - 2019
- Commercial Due Diligence: Conducted comprehensive legal analysis on commercial agreements and corporate transactions, providing clear, results-oriented advice to senior client stakeholders.
- Risk Analysis: Advised technology and financial services clients on complex regulatory compliance matters, developing strong analytical skills applicable to large-scale property and asset portfolios.
Commercial Attorney
Reid Attorneys Inc.
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Property & Litigation: Managed a diverse caseload including commercial property disputes and eviction proceedings. Gained foundational experience in the life-cycle of commercial leases and landlord-tenant law.
- Client Representation: Represented clients in high-stakes negotiations regarding asset management and commercial rights.
- Drafted legal documents including motions, briefs, and contracts for client representation.
- Researched case law and legal precedents to support litigation strategies.
Legal Consultant
University of the Western Cape Law Clinic
01.2017 - 2017
- Process Improvement: Designed and implemented a streamlined client intake and case-tracking system that improved operational efficiency by 50%, demonstrating an early aptitude for the exact type of "process building" required.
- Data Management: Ensured ethical data management and efficient case handling for hundreds of clients.
Education
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) (J.D Equivalent) - Law
University of The Western Cape
Cape Town, South Africa01-2016
Skills
- Real Estate & Commercial Law
- Operational Expansion
- Contract Management
- Legal Operations
- Contract drafting
- Commercial contracts
References
In compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, contact details for references will be arranged and provided upon request.
Certification
- CIPP/E & CIPP/US Certifications, International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) – In Progress
- Admitted Attorney, Notary Public, Conveyancer, South African Court Roll of Attorneys
- Postgraduate Law Certificate, University of Cape Town
- Postgraduate Certificates in Advocacy & Mediation, Law Society of South Africa
Languages
English (Native)
Afrikaans (Read)
Arabic (Read)
Timeline
Legal Counsel
Mercor (AI & Real Estate)
08.2025 - Current
Legal Counsel, Commercial & Technology
BNP Paribas
03.2021 - 12.2023
Head of Legal & Real Estate
Cader & Co. Attorneys
12.2020 - Current
Head of Legal & Commercial
GetLaw
06.2020 - Current
Legal Counsel, Commercial & E-Commerce
Adidas
01.2020 - 2020
Commercial Associate, Investigations & Disputes
Deloitte
01.2019 - 2019
Commercial Attorney
Reid Attorneys Inc.
01.2018 - 01.2019
Legal Consultant
University of the Western Cape Law Clinic
01.2017 - 2017
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) (J.D Equivalent) - Law
University of The Western Cape