Amanda McGrady Morrison to become the general counsel and CLO of Advent International

Amanda McGrady Morrison to become the general counsel and CLO of Advent International

She served as the head of the global private equity transactions group at Ropes & Gray

Advent International, one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors, has appointed Amanda McGrady Morrison as the managing director. Effective this year-end, she will assume the roles of the general counsel and chief legal officer (CLO) at the firm.

Morrison will succeed James Westra, who retires at the end of the year. He served as the managing partner and CLO since 2011.

David Mussafer, the chairman and managing partner at Advent International commented, "Morrison is a talented lawyer and leader. She is a trusted advisor to our firm for many years. Her guidance, expertise and experience will be invaluable to our continued growth and innovation."

Meanwhile, appreciating Westra's contribution to the firm, Mussafer added, "Westra's positive contributions to Advent over the last 11 years are too many to list. He has been an important force in our success and is well recognized within the firm and out for his partnership, leadership, and mentorship. His influence has been felt at the firm far beyond his legal counsel. We are grateful that he will work closely with Morrison in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition."

Morrison stated, "I am thrilled to join Advent and support its mission of building great businesses. From my work alongside Westra and the firm's leadership team, I have seen firsthand how they lead with vision, passion, and collegiality in all they do. I look forward to contributing to the firm's continued success."

Earlier, serving at Ropes & Gray as head of the global private equity transactions group, Morrison has over two decades of experience. She served as the co-chair of the Women's Forum and as a member of the firm's Diversity Committee.

Morrison is recognized as one of the industry's premier private equity, corporate and M&A lawyers, advising leading private equity firms and corporate clients on complex transactions across diverse sectors.

Having earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from Wake Forest University, she has received accolades for her work, including recognitions by Chambers USA, The Deal, and The American Lawyer.

About Advent International

Founded in 1984, the firm has invested in over 395 private equity investments across 41 countries. With 15 offices in 12 countries, it has established a globally integrated team of 270 private equity investment professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Advent International focuses on investments in five core sectors - business and financial services; health care; industrial; retail, consumer, and leisure; and technology. For over 35 years, it has been dedicated to international investing and remains committed to partnering with management teams to deliver sustained revenue and earnings growth for its portfolio companies.