Luis E. Gomez Leads High-Stakes Class Action Defense Worldwide for Ford

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Since joining Ford Motor Company, Luis E. Gomez has made it a point to expand his impact every year. As lead counsel for class actions globally for the company, he identifies new areas of the enterprise where he can offer his legal expertise, collaborate with business partners, and mitigate risk.

Recently, for example, Gomez has turned some of his attention to Ford Model e—Ford’s electric vehicle business—supporting initiatives in a dynamic space with evolving priorities and a complex regulatory landscape. “Each part of the business presents its own challenges and opportunities,” he says. “The more time I spend with business units like Model e, the more I’m able to tailor my legal counsel to meet their needs.”

“Navigating the [legal] field early in my career, I made plenty of mistakes and often felt like I didn’t know where to turn for advice. I want to be the person I wish I had in those moments.”

Luis E. Gomez

Before joining Ford, Gomez spent more than five years in private practice, representing public and private institutions in high-stakes litigation in state and federal courts, including trials. Although he enjoyed private practice, he was drawn to the broader strategic impact that in-house practice offers. When the opportunity at Ford emerged, it felt like a natural next step: a chance to not just defend complex cases, but to shape litigation strategy from within one of the most iconic companies in American industry.

“What really struck me during the interview process was how well I got along with the incredibly smart people I met,” he says. “There was a shared sense of purpose and high standards. It felt like a place where I could contribute meaningfully and grow.”

Transitioning in-house required a recalibration of how Gomez thought about legal value. In addition to delivering discrete legal wins, he now had the opportunity to embed with the business, mitigate risk before it materializes, and ensure legal strategies advance enterprise goals.

“Value looks different in-house,” he explains. “It’s not just about being technically right on the law—it’s about helping the company move forward intelligently and confidently.”

“Luis is a remarkably effective strategist who combines his sharp legal mind with a cool and calculated approach to managing complex challenges,” says Michael L. Kidney, a partner at Hogan Lovells. “Even in the most challenging cases, Luis easily identifies the core issues, never gets flustered, and finds the keys to maximizing the chances for success most efficiently.”

Strategic Counsel at the Enterprise Level

Gomez approaches every legal issue through the lens of business partnership. In-house lawyers, he explains, are uniquely positioned to translate risk into actionable business plans, enabling innovation while protecting the company’s interests.

“We’re not here just to say what’s legally permissible—we’re here to guide the company toward the best path forward,” he says. “That means understanding the context, anticipating risk, and helping our business partners make informed decisions.”

He’s candid about the evolving role of in-house counsel—while legal departments do not generate revenue, the value they deliver is real and measurable. “We drive value by aligning legal strategy with business goals and, when possible, mitigating risk before it becomes costly.”

That mindset is especially important in Gomez’s work managing litigation around the world and maintaining successful relationships with his outside counsel partners.

Managing Litigation Globally and Driving Performance Across Jurisdictions

Gomez oversees a portfolio of high-stakes class action litigation, primarily in the United States, with select matters in jurisdictions abroad, including Latin America and the Middle East. In every case, he ensures Ford is represented at the highest level.

“No one person can be an expert in every jurisdiction,” he says. “That’s why I prioritize building real trust with my outside counsel partners. It starts with getting to know them—not just their work, but how they think and what drives them.”

Those relationships are cultivated with intention—ideally long before issues escalate. That foundation enables candid conversations, creative problem-solving, and shared accountability when challenges arise.

“I expect a high level of execution from my outside counsel. Having been in their position, I understand the challenges they face and what it takes to deliver excellent work product,” Gomez says. “I look for partners who bring that same level of care and ownership to the table.”

Modernizing In-House Legal Practice

Alongside his litigation work, Gomez is focused on how legal departments can evolve to meet the growing complexity of global business. He is a strong advocate for modernizing legal operations by championing the use of technology, process improvement, and data-driven tools to create more value across the enterprise.

“The pace and scale of risk today demand more efficient systems,” he says. “We’re constantly thinking about how to deliver more insight from available data, more efficiency, and more consistency—without compromising quality.”

He sees artificial intelligence as an essential tool in litigation management that can identify patterns and outliers and support legal decision-making at scale.

“AI should not replace legal judgment,” Gomez says. “But it can definitely enhance it. It gives us clarity and the ability to focus our attention where it matters most.”

For Gomez, innovation isn’t just about the tools themselves, but how they’re deployed. He believes legal departments must use all available tools to operate more like business units: focused on their contributions to enterprise outcomes, curbing costs, systems thinking, and continuous improvement.

“Legal teams can’t afford to be reactive or bound by historical practices,” he says. “We must be forward looking, data-driven, and operationally efficient if we’re going to meet the moment.”

Building the Pipeline and Paying It Forward

Beyond his work at Ford, Gomez is committed to strengthening the legal profession by expanding access, visibility, and opportunity, particularly for Latinx and first-generation law students and young lawyers. As secretary of the Hispanic Bar Association of Michigan and chair of the Detroit Bar Association’s In-House Counsel Section, he leads with a focus on transparency, mentorship, and impact.

“I didn’t grow up around lawyers,” he says. “Navigating the field early in my career, I made plenty of mistakes and often felt like I didn’t know where to turn for advice. I want to be the person I wish I had in those moments.”

To that end, Gomez has organized events aimed at demystifying in-house careers. He’s also helped lead Ford’s Law Career Academy in partnership with the Henry Ford Learning Institute, an initiative focused on introducing high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to careers in law.

“To me, mentorship is largely about removing barriers,” he says. “The profession is stronger when the path is visible, and when people feel empowered to walk it.”

For Gomez, investing in others is a lifelong mission. “If I’ve learned anything, it’s that leadership in the Latinx/Hispanic legal community is about how you use your position to improve the path for those coming behind you.”

Gomez continues to evolve in his role, driven by a deep belief that legal departments must do more than manage risk: they must lead with clarity and work to enable business success. Whether advising on litigation strategy, modernizing legal operations, or mentoring the next generation of lawyers, he remains focused on creating lasting value—both inside and outside the Blue Oval.

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