Award-winning legal head and general counsel Madeleine Truter is a well-known figure in South Africa’s in-house legal community. She has played a pivotal role in Growthpoint’s ambitious expansion plans, most significantly in the creation of South Africa’s largest REIT.

Truter also managed the company’s American Deposit Receipt (ADR) program with Bank of New York Mellon, aiming to attract US investors, by giving them the opportunity to buy dollar-denominated shares in the company. ‘Madeleine’s involvement in the Growthpoint ADR program allowed her to be instrumental in putting South Africa on the map as a choice for REIT investors, and allowing small investors to obtain exposure to large commercial property’, says one industry source.

Truter has also spearheaded a number of initiatives relating to external counsel, including negotiating new fee arrangements and upskilling the existing panel. She is also recognised for her firm commitment to pro bono work, through Growthpoint’s CSI initiatives.