Some journeys are about moving forward. Others are about coming home stronger. Amanda Morrison, who spent the last three years as General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer at Advent International, is returning to Ropes & Gray LLP as Partner and Co-Leader of its global Private Capital Transactions (PCT) practice starting December 1.

For Amanda, this is more than a career move. It is a full-circle moment, returning to a place where she built her foundation, honed her leadership, and shaped some of the biggest deals in private capital.

The Advent Chapter: Leading Through Growth

At Advent International, one of the world’s leading private equity firms with over $100 billion in assets under management and investments across 44 countries, Amanda was at the center of it all.

As Managing Director and part of the Business Operations Leadership Team, she led the global legal function through a period of major expansion. Her work wasn’t just about keeping up with growth; it was about steering it with purpose and strategy.

Even as she re-enters Ropes & Gray, Amanda will continue to support Advent for a short while as interim external General Counsel, making sure her transition feels seamless for both teams. That says a lot about her sense of responsibility and commitment, she finishes what she starts.

Returning with Experience and Perspective

Amanda’s story with Ropes & Gray runs deep. She spent 14 years there before joining Advent, leading teams, mentoring young lawyers, and heading the private equity transactions practice. She was known for combining technical excellence with a human touch, someone clients trusted not just for her legal mind but for her instinct and empathy.

Julie Jones, Chair of Ropes & Gray, summed it up perfectly: “Amanda is a powerhouse in private capital. She knows our clients, our business, and our culture inside and out.”

And it makes sense. Coming back after years of working on the other side of the table gives her a fresh, inside-out understanding of what clients really need, not just legally, but strategically.

Growth, Gratitude, and the Road Ahead

Amanda describes her time at Advent as “three transformative years of leading and learning.” She’s carrying that learning back to Ropes & Gray, with the intention to help clients seize new opportunities in private capital.

Her return also highlights something powerful for anyone watching her journey: growth doesn’t mean leaving something behind. Sometimes, it means revisiting what once shaped you, with new wisdom and clarity.

Advent’s Managing Partner, John Maldonado, shared warm words of appreciation for her contributions and expressed excitement to continue collaborating with her in her new role.

A Homecoming with Purpose

Now based again in Boston, Amanda’s return isn’t just about rejoining a firm. It’s about bringing together everything she’s learned — leadership, adaptability, and vision, to help shape the next chapter of private capital at Ropes & Gray.

Her journey is a reminder that success doesn’t always follow a straight path. Sometimes, you step away to grow, and when you come back, you bring a whole new perspective that changes everything.