Matthew Hamel
About Matthew Hamel
Matthew Hamel serves as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Brown-Forman Corporation, a position he has held since 2021. He has an extensive legal career, including previous roles at White & Case and Colgate Palmolive, and is actively involved in supporting the local arts community and LGBTQ+ initiatives.
Work at Brown-Forman
Matthew Hamel serves as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Brown-Forman Corporation, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he oversees legal affairs and governance for the company, which is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. His extensive experience in corporate law and governance supports the company's operations and strategic initiatives. Prior to his current role, he served as EVP, General Counsel, and Secretary at Brown-Forman from 2007 to 2021.
Education and Expertise
Matthew Hamel earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School, completing his studies from 1983 to 1986. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Yale University, where he studied from 1978 to 1982. Additionally, he was a Fulbright Scholar at Uppsala University in Sweden from 1982 to 1983. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his legal expertise in corporate governance and compliance.
Background
Matthew Hamel has a diverse professional background, having worked in various legal roles across multiple countries. He began his career at White & Case, where he held associate positions in New York City, Stockholm, and Warsaw from 1987 to 1993. He also served as Division General Counsel for International Business Development at Colgate Palmolive from 1993 to 1999 and as Associate General Counsel at Dow Jones & Co., Inc. for a brief period in 2007.
Achievements
In addition to his corporate roles, Matthew Hamel actively supports the local arts community in Kentucky. He serves on the boards of directors for the Kentucky Opera and the Louisville Ballet. Furthermore, he leads a nationwide organization for general counsel and senior governance professionals at publicly-listed, family-controlled companies. He also acts as the executive sponsor for PRIDE, Brown-Forman's employee resource group focused on enhancing the LGBTQ+ employee experience.