Recognised for his outstanding support to the German multinational tyre company, Luis Enríquez De Rivera Morales is the current general counsel for Mexico and Latin America for Continental, encompassing a number of different jurisdictions and legal practice areas. Highlighted in the GC Powerlist: Mexico in 2016 and 2017, Enríquez has added to his already impressive credentials in recent months; during 2017 he states his involvement in the ‘implementation of a flexible work program’ on behalf of Continental’s Mexican subsidiary as a particular career highlight.

This was the first jurisdiction outside Germany in which the program was rolled out, and involved pioneering methods such as ‘telecommuting, sabbaticals and alternative working’. These initiatives display Enríquez’s innovative nature and ability to implement new ideas, resulting in ‘protection [for] employees [involving] rigid and strict rules for working shifts, overtime and working conditions’ whilst adhering to the existing local labour framework. Displaying his high level of corporate nous, Enríquez assisted the launch of three new greenfield projects as well as a global third party acquisition involving Mexican, Chilean and Argentinian components. Enríquez states that an emphasis on providing positive business-affecting results has helped bring success in his in-house career.

His motivation is to ‘change the perception of [being] a “deal breaker” to a “deal maker” by becoming a true advisor for the business. Likewise, set the bar on timely responses to the internal customers while becoming pragmatic in the different situations taking into account the outside advisors opinions but clearly defining the line when it’s an internal company decision’. Also keen to ensure the best outcomes for his staff and being an exemplar in the Mexican legal community, he is a proponent of ‘applying new policies (including Flexitime) within the legal department’, citing the example of a team member who is ‘a working mother [with] two new-borns and a toddler’. Further illustrating his commitment to diversity, Enríquez’s team consists of a ‘majority of women and is why having flex-time and mobile working policies has worked very good in giving opportunities to women.

My team has also proven to be a leader in diversity matters within the company’. In addition to his general counsel role, Enríquez is president of the Corporate Committee of the National Association of Companies Attorneys (ANADE) and secretary of the board of directors of the Mexican Rubber Industry Chamber, besides being an official translator of the English language by Mexico City’s Superior Court.