Starbucks Coffee Company has named veteran vice president and assistant general counsel Matthew Swaya as chief ethics and compliance officer.

Swaya joined Starbucks Coffee Company in 1997. He has led the Litigation Practice Group responsible for non-employment litigation and the Commercial Practice Group, responsible for supporting the company's major business transactions and contracts with suppliers, vendors and business partners.

Swaya currently serves as the principal lawyer for Starbucks global labor and employment matters and is the primary lawyer to, and member of, the US Business Leadership Team and the Global Human Resources Leadership Team. With Swaya's appointment, he will lead Global Business Ethics and Compliance, the Global Labor & Employment and the Global EEO Initiatives (Affirmative Action Compliance) functions.

Prior to joining Starbucks, Swaya was a partner at law firm Lane Powell.  Previously, he worked as director of labor relations for both Pan American World Airways and Trans World Airways in New York.