MLA Places Matt Hutchins as IJW Whiskey Company’s First General Counsel

Hanover, MD (December 3, 2020) — Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), the world’s leading legal search firm, today announced the placement of Matt Hutchins as general counsel at IJW Whiskey Company. The search was led by PJ Harari, partner and co-global practice leader in MLA’s In-House Counsel Recruiting team in Southern California.

IJW Whiskey Company was launched over three years ago to operate and invest in the spirits industry and specifically in the Kentucky bourbon space. Over the last three years, IJW has amassed the largest independent inventory of bourbon in the world, surpassing 100,000 barrels in storage. While IJW’s operational headquarter is on Louisville’s’ Whiskey Row, its executive management team is located in Beverly Hills, California.

As general counsel, Matt will serve as the principal legal officer of the company, with overall responsibility for the vision and leadership of its legal strategy and services and the management of legal risk throughout the organization. Reporting to the president and principal, he will act as a trusted business partner and problem-solver on a wide range of strategic, operational, corporate and compliance matters, as well as other investments that IJW’s private equity sponsors are contemplating.

“I really enjoy helping clients like IJW Whiskey find their first general counsel, where cultural fit is as important as the ability to roll up one’s sleeves,” said PJ Harari.  “Matt was the ideal fit for their general counsel role as he brings stellar law firm training followed by experience in a lean in-house legal department.  Not only is he an extremely creative attorney who will be able to help IJW during this transformational and definitional time, but he is also hard-working, resourceful and persistent—all qualities that will help him succeed in IJW Whiskey’s nimble and fast-growing environment.”

Before joining IJW, Matt served as vice president, corporate counsel for Eros STX Global Corporation, where he managed the merger and integration of STX Entertainment and Eros International. Prior to that, he was an associate with Kirkland & Ellis LLP focusing on private equity mergers & acquisitions and distressed company transactions.  He also served on a secondment basis as legal counsel for TPG Growth in 2016 before joining STX Entertainment. He began his career as a corporate attorney in the Los Angeles office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Matt earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A. from the University of South Carolina.